SHM Flashcards
When an pendulum approaches equilibrium position what happens?
It increases in speed.
When the pendulum reaches maximum amplitude what happen to the speed?
It slows down.
Displacement
The distance from the equilibrium position
Amplitude
The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
Period
The time taken to complete one full oscillation.
Frequency
The number of complete oscillations per unit time.
When two pendulums reach maximum amplitude at the same time what is the phase difference?
0 rads
Simple harmonic motion
The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to its displacement proportional to its displacement and acts in the opposite direction to the displacement ( towards the equilibrium position)
What is the gradient of an acceleration against displacement graph?
- angular frequency squared.
Since the gradient is constant it means that the angular frequency is constant.
What is the time period independent of?
The amplitude of an oscillator.
When does the amplitude of an oscillator remain constant?
When there is not energy loss/ transferred to surroundings.
At maximum displacement what is velocity?
ZERO
When the amplitude at t=0 is at the equilibrium which equation do you use?
x=Acos(wt)
When the amplitude is at maximum displacement at t=0 what is the equation?
X= Acost(wt)
When does the total energy of a SHM remain constant?
When there is no losses due to frictional forces.
