C.1.1—Conditions for SHM Topic Practice
C.1.1—Conditions for SHM Topic Practice
Decide whether motion is simple harmonic by testing force or acceleration against displacement and checking the direction of the restoring effect.
How this is tested
- use an F-x or a-x graph with negative gradient through the origin to identify the SHM condition
- explain from a model assumption or force expression that the net force is proportional to -x toward equilibrium
- reject a proposed model for SHM if the force is not restoring, even when its size depends on displacement