Article
Article
Harmonic motion
Article By:
Keller, Joseph M. Department of Physics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.308600
A periodic motion that is a sinusoidal function of time. It is often called simple harmonic motion. It is the simplest possible type of vibratory motion. The motion is symmetric about its midpoint, at which the velocity is greatest and the acceleration is zero. At the extreme displacements or turning points, the velocity is zero, and the acceleration is a maximum. The motion is characterized by a unique frequency (without overtones).
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