Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข 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.
Periodic motion: Periodic motion refers to any type of motion that repeats itself after a certain interval of time.
Equilibrium position: The equilibrium position is the stable point where the net force acting on an object is zero, resulting in no acceleration or change in velocity. It serves as a reference point for measuring displacements in simple harmonic motion.
Amplitude: Amplitude represents the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position during one complete cycle of simple harmonic motion.