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Simple Harmonic Motion

Grace Lewis

Grace Lewis

7 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) in AP Physics 1, focusing on period, amplitude, frequency, and equilibrium. It explains kinetic and potential energy transformations within SHM, using the mass-spring system as a primary example. Key equations and problem-solving strategies are provided, along with practice questions and exam tips covering common pitfalls and high-value topics like energy conservation and period calculations.

AP Physics 1: Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) - The Night Before 🚀

Hey there, future physics master! Let's get you prepped for SHM. This unit is all about periodic motion, think pendulums and springs. It's a smaller part of the exam (~2-4%), but mastering it will boost your confidence and show off your understanding of forces and energy!

Big Ideas at Play

  • Big Idea #3: Force Interactions - Forces describe how objects interact. SHM is a great example of forces at work, like the restoring force of a spring.
  • Big Idea #5: Conservation - Energy transforms but is always conserved. In SHM, we see kinetic and potential energy constantly trading places.

🔗 Key Concepts

🧮 Key Equations

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6.1 ⏱️ Period of Simple Harmonic Oscillators

What is a Simple Harmonic Oscillator?

A simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) is anything that moves back and forth with a consistent rhythm. Think of a pendulum swinging or a mass bouncing on a spring. The key is that they follow Hooke's Law: the force pulling them back to the center is proportional to how far they've moved from that center. It's like the system is always trying to get back to its happy place.

Key Concept

The restoring force in SHM is always directed towards the equilibrium position and is proportion...

Question 1 of 12

Which of the following is a good example of Simple Harmonic Motion? 💫

A car driving at constant speed

A ball rolling down a hill

A pendulum swinging back and forth

A rocket launching into space