Simple harmonic motion
Simple harmonic motion is a type of periodic motion in which an object undergoes oscillatory motion. The restoring force exerted by the object exhibiting SHM is proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position. The force is directed towards the mean position. We see many examples of SHM around us, common ones are the motion of a pendulum, spring and vibration of strings in musical instruments, and so on.
Simple Pendulum
A simple pendulum comprises a heavy mass (called bob) attached to one end of the weightless and flexible string.
Oscillation
In Physics, oscillation means a repetitive motion that happens in a variation with respect to time. There is usually a central value, where the object would be at rest. Additionally, there are two or more positions between which the repetitive motion takes place. In mathematics, oscillations can also be described as vibrations. The most common examples of oscillation that is seen in daily lives include the alternating current (AC) or the motion of a moving pendulum.
The physics of a pendulum with a rod and a pendulum with a massless string are similar under the following conditions:
- The rod and the string are both suspended from a fixed pivot point.
- The bob of the pendulum is small and point-like.
- The amplitude of the pendulum's motion is small.
Under these conditions, the rod and the string can be treated as massless, and the pendulum can be modeled as a simple pendulum.
The physics of a simple pendulum is governed by the following equation:
where:
- is the period of the pendulum
- is the length of the pendulum
- is the acceleration due to gravity
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