โš™๏ธap physics c: mechanics review

Simple harmonic motion (SHM)

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025

Definition

Simple harmonic motion refers to the repetitive back-and-forth motion of an object about an equilibrium position, where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from that position.

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