UNIT 6. SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

At the end of this unit the student should be able to:

- Define and identify the following terms on a displacement versus

  time graph: equilibrium position, amplitude, period and frequency

- Define simple harmonic motion

- Use the reference circle to describe the displacement, velocity and

  acceleration

- Describe and apply Hooke's law and Newton's second law to

  determine the acceleration as a function of displacement

- Apply the principles of conservation of mechanical energy for an

  object moving with simple harmonic motion

- Derive and apply the equation to obtain the period of a mass- spring

  system

- Derive and apply the equation to obtain the period of a simple

  pendulum

- Demonstrate proficiency in solving problems involving horizontal and

  vertical mass-spring systems

- Define resonant frequency and give examples of resonance