Springs

Simple harmonic motion

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• A restoring force $F = -kx$ gives simple harmonic motion: $x = A\cos(\omega t)$.
• Period $T = 2\pi\sqrt{m/k}$. It doesn't depend on the amplitude.
• The speed is greatest at equilibrium, and zero at the turning points.

Steps

1. Bounce
2. Pull it further
3. Simple harmonic motion
4. Compute a period
5. Four times the mass
6. Fastest point
7. Top speed