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1. Simple Harmonic Motion

Simple Harmonic, Periodic and Oscillation Motion

Simple harmonic motion can be described as an oscillatory motion in which the acceleration of the particle at any position is directly proportional to the displacement from the mean position. It is a special case of oscillatory motion.

All the Simple Harmonic Motions are oscillatory and also periodic but not all oscillatory motions are SHM. Oscillatory motion is also called the harmonic motion of all the oscillatory motions wherein the most important one is simple harmonic motion (SHM).

In this type of oscillatory motion displacement, velocity and acceleration and force vary (w.r.t time) in a way that can be described by either sine (or) the cosine functions collectively called sinusoids.

The study of Simple Harmonic Motion is very useful and forms an important tool in understanding the characteristics of sound waves, light waves and alternating currents. Any oscillatory motion which is not simple Harmonic can be expressed as a superposition of several harmonic motions of different frequencies.

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