"In mechanics and physics, simple harmonic motion (sometimes abbreviated SHM) is a special type of periodic motion an object experiences due to a restoring force whose magnitude is directly proportional to the distance of the object from an equilibrium position and acts towards the equilibrium position."
Simple harmonic motion describes the motion of any system where the restoring force is proportional to the displacement from the neutral position and is always directed towards that position.
Oscillation: The movement of a body back and forth around a central position is known as oscillation.
Periodic Motion: The motion that repeats itself after a certain time interval is known as periodic motion.
Amplitude: The maximum displacement of the oscillating body from the mean position is known as amplitude.
Frequency: The number of oscillations per unit time is known as frequency.
Phase: The position of the oscillating body at a particular instant of time is known as its phase.
Simple Harmonic Motion: A type of oscillation in which the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement is known as simple harmonic motion.
Hooke's Law: It states that the force required to extend or compress a spring is proportional to the amount of extension or compression.
Damped Harmonic Motion: A type of motion in which frictional forces slow down the motion and cause the amplitude to decrease with time is known as damped harmonic motion.
Resonance: The phenomenon of a system having a tendency to vibrate with increasing amplitude at a specific frequency is known as resonance.
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion: The total energy of an oscillating system is the sum of its kinetic and potential energy.
Simple Pendulum: A mass hanging from a fixed point that oscillates under the influence of gravity is known as a simple pendulum.
Forced Oscillation: A type of oscillation in which an external force is applied to the oscillating body is known as forced oscillation.
Coupled Oscillations: When two or more oscillating systems are interconnected and their motions are interdependent, it is known as coupled oscillations.
Damped Forced Oscillation: A type of oscillation in which the damping force decreases the amplitude of the motion and an external force drives the oscillation is known as damped forced oscillation.
Spring-mass system: A classic example of Simple Harmonic Motion in which a mass attached to a spring oscillates back and forth with the force of the spring acting as the restoring force.
Pendulum: A pendulum that is allowed to oscillate back and forth due to the gravitational force acting as the restoring force is another example of Simple Harmonic Motion.
Liquid in a U-tube: When the liquid in a U-tube is displaced from its position of equilibrium, the weight of the liquid acting as the restoring force produces Simple Harmonic Motion.
Vibrating string: The motion of a string that is vibrated by plucking or striking it exhibits Simple Harmonic Motion.
"[...] a restoring force whose magnitude is directly proportional to the distance of the object from an equilibrium position and acts towards the equilibrium position."
"It results in an oscillation that is described by a sinusoid which continues indefinitely."
"Simple harmonic motion can serve as a mathematical model for a variety of motions, but is typified by the oscillation of a mass on a spring when it is subject to the linear elastic restoring force given by Hooke's law."
"[...] when it is subject to the linear elastic restoring force given by Hooke's law."
"The motion is sinusoidal in time and demonstrates a single resonant frequency."
"Yes, other phenomena can be modeled by simple harmonic motion, including the motion of a simple pendulum."
"[...] the net force on the object at the end of the pendulum must be proportional to the displacement."
"[...] it is only a good approximation when the angle of the swing is small; see small-angle approximation."
"Simple harmonic motion can also be used to model molecular vibration."
"Simple harmonic motion provides a basis for the characterization of more complicated periodic motion through the techniques of Fourier analysis."
"[...] whose magnitude is directly proportional to the distance of the object from an equilibrium position."
"It results in an oscillation that is described by a sinusoid which continues indefinitely (if uninhibited by friction or any other dissipation of energy)."
"[...] a restoring force whose magnitude is directly proportional to the distance of the object from an equilibrium position and acts towards the equilibrium position."
"Simple harmonic motion can serve as a mathematical model for a variety of motions."
"The motion is sinusoidal in time and demonstrates a single resonant frequency."
"[...] the oscillation of a mass on a spring when it is subject to the linear elastic restoring force given by Hooke's law."
"Simple harmonic motion can serve as a mathematical model for a variety of motions."
"It is only a good approximation when the angle of the swing is small; see small-angle approximation."
"Simple harmonic motion provides a basis for the characterization of more complicated periodic motion through the techniques of Fourier analysis."