Simple Harmonic Motion

Abstract

Having considered linear, circular and rotational motion, we now move on to vibrational motion, or oscillation, such as that of a pendulum, where an object is displaced from some central equilibrium position, then released so that it oscillates backwards and forwards about it. Such behaviour can often be described in terms of simple harmonic motion, which is characterised by an acceleration towards the equilibrium position that has a magnitude proportional to the displacement from it.