A 0.5 kg mass attached to a spring (k = 200 N/m) oscillates with amplitude A = 0.1 m. Find: (a) the angular frequency and period, (b) the maximum velocity and acceleration, and (c) the velocity when x = 0.05 m.
Differential equation approach to SHM, springs, and pendulums
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2
d2x
=
−kx
dt2d2x+ω02x=0
where ω0=k/m is natural angular frequency.
General Solution
x(t)=Acos(ω0t+ϕ)
or equivalently:
x(t)=C1cos(ω0t)+C2sin(ω0t)
where A is amplitude and ϕ is phase constant.
Velocity and Acceleration
v(t)=dtdx=−Aω0sin(ω0t+ϕ)
a(t)=dtdv=−Aω02cos(ω0t+ϕ)=−ω02x
Maximum velocity:vmax=Aω0
Maximum acceleration:amax=Aω02
Energy in SHM
Kinetic energy:KE=21mv2=21mA2ω02sin2(ωϕ)
Potential energy:PE=21kx2=21kA2cos2(ω0t+ϕ)
Total energy:E=KE+PE=21kA2=constant
(Using k=mω02)
Initial Conditions
Given x0=x(0) and v0=v(0):
A=x02+ω02v02
tanϕ=−ω0x0v0
Period and Frequency
Period:T=ω02π=2πkm
Frequency:f=T1=2πω0=2π1mk
Simple Pendulum
For small angles (sinθ≈θ):
dt2d2θ+Lgθ=0
ω0=Lg
T=2πgL
Physical Pendulum
Extended object rotating about pivot:
Torque: τ=−mgdsinθ≈−mgdθ
where d is distance from pivot to center of mass.
Idt2d2θ=−mgdθ
ω0=Imgd
T=2πmgdI
Torsional Pendulum
Restoring torque: τ=−κθ
where κ is torsional constant.
Idt2d2θ=−κθ
ω0=Iκ
Two-Body Oscillator
Two masses m1 and m2 connected by spring with constant k:
Reduced mass:μ=m1+m2m1m2
ω0=μk
System oscillates as if single mass μ attached to spring k.
Vertical Spring
Mass hanging from spring:
Equilibrium: kxeq=mg
Displacement from equilibrium: y=x−xeq
mdt2d2y=−ky
Same SHM equation! Period independent of gravity:
T=2πkm
ω=mk=0.5200=400
ω=20 rad/s
T=ω2π=202π
T=0.314 s
(b) Maximum velocity and acceleration:
vmax=ωA=(20)(0.1)
vmax=2.0 m/s
(Occurs at x = 0)
amax=ω2A=(20)2(0.1)=400(0.1)
amax=40 m/s2
(Occurs at x = ±A)
(c) Velocity at x = 0.05 m:
Energy method:
21kA2=21kx2+21mv2
kA2=kx2+mv2
v2=mk(A2−x2)=ω2(A2−x2)
v2=(20)2[(0.1)2−(0.05)2]=400[0.01−0.0025]
v2=400(0.0075)=3.0
v=1.73 m/s
2Problem 2hard
❓ Question:
A physical pendulum consists of a uniform rod (length L = 1.0 m, mass M = 2.0 kg) pivoted at one end. Find: (a) the period of small oscillations, (b) the angular frequency, and (c) compare to a simple pendulum of the same length.
💡 Show Solution
Given:
L = 1.0 m
M = 2.0 kg
Rod pivoted at end
(a) Period:
For physical pendulum:
T=2πmgdI
where:
I = 31ML2 = moment about pivot
d = L/2 = distance to CM
T=2πMg(L/2)M
T=2π3(9.8)2(1.0)
T=2π0.0680=2π(0.261)
T=1.64 s
(b) Angular frequency:
ω=T2π=1.64
ω=3.83 rad/s
(c) Comparison to simple pendulum:
Simple pendulum with length L:
Tsimple=2πg
Tsimple=2.01 s
TsimpleT
Rod oscillates 23% faster
Reason: Rod's effective length is Leff=32L= m
3Problem 3medium
❓ Question:
Derive the differential equation for a mass-spring system and solve it for initial conditions: at t = 0, x = 0.08 m and v = 0 (given: m = 2.0 kg, k = 50 N/m). Find the equation of motion x(t).
💡 Show Solution
Given:
m = 2.0 kg
k = 50 N/m
At t = 0: x₀ = 0.08 m, v₀ = 0
Differential equation:
Newton's second law:
F=ma−kx=mdt2d2x
dt2d2x
Or: dt2d2x+ where
General solution:
x(t)=Acos(ωt+ϕ)
Find constants:
ω=mk
At t = 0:
x(0)=Acos(ϕ)=0.08
v(0)=−Aωsin(ϕ)=0
From v(0) = 0: sin(ϕ)=0 → ϕ=0 or π
Since x(0) > 0 and cos(0)=1: choose ϕ=0
A=0.08 m
Final answer:
x(t)=0.08cos(5t) m
where t is in seconds.
Velocity:
v(t)=−0.4sin(5t) m/s
Acceleration:
a(t)=−2.0cos(5t) m/s2
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Yes, this page includes 3 practice problems with detailed solutions. Each problem includes a step-by-step explanation to help you understand the approach.