3.3. Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

Try these first

1. 1.

   Describe Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) in your own words.

   Hint

   Think about motions like swings or pendulums.

2. 2.

   Identify one example of SHM from everyday life.

   Hint

   What moves back and forth smoothly?

3. 3.

   What defines Simple Harmonic Motion?

   • Constant speed motion
   • Sinusoidal oscillation around an equilibrium
   • Linear motion

   Hint

   Think of how a pendulum moves.

4. 4.

   True or False: In SHM, velocity and acceleration remain constant.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Recall how the pendulum speeds up and slows down.

5. 5.

   A mass on a spring undergoes SHM with a period of 2 seconds. Calculate the frequency of this motion.

   Hint

   Use the formula f = 1/T.

6. 6.

   If the maximum displacement (amplitude) of a pendulum in SHM is 0.5m, what is the displacement at π/2 radians?

   Hint

   Remember that sin(90°) equals 1.