http://www.ck12.orgCHAPTER
(^10) Simple Harmonic Motion
Chapter Outline
10.1 Harmonic Period and Frequency
10.2 Springs
10.3 Pendulum
Introduction
The Big Idea
The development of devices to measure time, like the pendulum, led to the analysis ofperiodic motion. Such
motion repeats itself in equal intervals of time (called periods) and is also referred to asharmonic motion.When an
object moves back and forth over thesame pathin harmonic motion it is said to beoscillating.If the distance such
an object travels in one oscillation remains constant, it is calledsimpleharmonic motion (SHM). A grandfather
clock’s pendulum and the quartz crystal in a modern watch are examples of SHM.