Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

Simple harmonic motion is a periodic motion, which means that it repeats itself after a regular interval of time.

What is simple harmonic motion in simple terms?

Simple harmonic motion (SHM) is a type of motion in which the object or air molecules vibrate back and forth in a regular, repeating pattern. The motion is sinusoidal, which means that it can be represented by a sine or cosine function.

What is simple harmonic motion in sound?

In sound, simple harmonic motion is the vibration of air molecules that results in a clean, single tone, a “pure tone”. The frequency of the vibration is the pitch of the sound, and the amplitude of the vibration is the loudness of the sound.

What is a real-life example of simple harmonic motion?

A real-life example of simple harmonic motion is the oscillation of a pendulum. The pendulum swings back and forth in a regular, repeating pattern. Another example is the vibration of a tuning fork. The tuning fork vibrates at a specific frequency, which produces a pure tone.

What does simple harmonic motion do?

Simple harmonic motion is the underlying principle of many different types of waves, including sound waves. Sound waves are created by the vibration of air molecules. The vibrations of the air molecules cause the pressure of the air to change, which is what we hear as sound.