

This equation proves that acceleration of the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement. This scenario could either be vertical in which case gravity is involved as shown in Fig 1 or horizontal on a flat surface as shown in Fig 2.įor an oscillation particle like the one discussed above, let displacement = x, and its acceleration defined by the equation: Simple harmonic motion is any motion where a restoring force is applied that is proportional to the displacement and in the opposite direction of that displacement.Ī very common example of simple harmonic motion is a mass or particle attached to a spring, as more the particle is stretched or pulled, the more it experiences a force that pulls it back to the rest position which means it accelerates backwards.

Swing: Swings in parks are a good illustration of simple harmonic motion.

This motion is used to represent a variety of real-life scenarios in our daily lives. Hint:Simple harmonic motion is a type of periodic motion in mechanics and physics in which the restoring force on a moving object is directly proportional to the magnitude of the object's displacement and acts towards the object's equilibrium position.Ī simple harmonic motion occurs when an object moves to and fro or back and forth along the same line (SHM).
