When there is no force applied to it, it is at its equilibrium position. Now, consider there is a spring that is fixed at one end. Oscillations of a pendulum are an example of simple harmonic motion. Simple Harmonic Motion Definition – Simple harmonic motion is the motion in which the object moves to and fro along a line.įor instance, Have you seen a pendulum? When we swing it, it moves to and fro along the same line.
Browse more Topics under Oscillationsĭownload the Cheat Sheet of Oscillations below Simple Harmonic Motion is a great example of an oscillatory motion. In these examples, the particle performs the same set of movements again and again in a periodic motion, and oscillation is one such set of movements. For example, the motion of the hands of a clock is a periodic motion, the rocking of a cradle, swinging on a swing, leaves of a tree moving to and fro due to wind breeze, and so on. We see many examples of periodic motion in our day-to-day life. Now, we need to know what periodic motion is, so as to understand simple harmonic motion. Periodic motion is the motion that repeats itself in equal intervals of time.
