Simple harmonic motion
What Simple harmonic motion means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Simple harmonic motion
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Reference: AQA
Oscillatory motion where the acceleration is directly proportional to displacement from equilibrium and always directed towards that equilibrium point, expressed as a = −ω²x.
Oscillation in which the acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and always directed towards that equilibrium position.
An idealised model in which the period is independent of amplitude, including a pendulum swinging through a small angle.
Motion where the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to its displacement from the equilibrium position and is always directed towards that position.
Topics that use Simple harmonic motion
- Simple harmonic motion (SHM) (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Point and spherical masses (OCR A-Level)
- Simple harmonic oscillations (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Angular frequency
- Amplitude
- Critical damping
- Defining equation of simple harmonic motion
- Direction of gravitational force
- Displacement
- Energy and motion at equilibrium and maximum displacement
- Escape velocity
Using Simple harmonic motion in the exam
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