Simple Harmonic Motion |
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| The red
particle follows a circular path with radius R in anti-clock
wise direction (considered positive) with a uniform speed. Its x
and y projections are shown in light-blue and orange
respectively. If the angular position of the red
particle is denoted by q then its x
and y coordiantes are R cos
φ and R sin φ (with x to the right, y upward,
and origin at the center of the circle). Since the motion of the particle
round the circle is uniform, q = ωt + φ (where ω is the
angular velocity and φ is the initial angular position of the red
particle). In the applet, φ = 0 and q is shown by the small,
blue-filled arc at the center. The phase is
reset to zero after every revolution. In practice it would increase by
2π radians for every revolution.
The
motion of the light-blue particle can be represented as |
Applet Menu |