9.1. Simple Harmonic Motion
This chapter follows on from the core waves material looked at in Chapter 4. We begin by looking at simple harmonic motion - which was initially introduced in section 4.1. Here we go into a bit more of the mathematical ideas behind simple harmonic motion. This requires a bit of understanding about graphical representations of trigonometric functions (and ideally how to differentiate them).
Before we get started, I wanted to highlight some of the similarities between SHM and circular motion (Section 6.1). Both a pendulum and a roundabout have an associated frequency of oscillation/ rotation. There are a number of further similarities that are nicely highlighted in this video below:
The section has been divided up as follows:
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SHM Equations - introducing some of the interesting mathematics behind SHM
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Pendulum and Mass Spring systems - two key examples of simple harmonic motion
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Energy in SHM - looking at energy changes throughout an oscillation
Simple Harmonic Motion Equations
We pick up where we left off in section 4.1 - but now we come to bring in a bit of the mathematics involved in SHM. Before we begin, make sure you are confident sketching sine and cosine graphs, as these are important here.
Video Lessons
Chris Doner | Motion in SHM | IB Specific | ||||
Khan Academy | Simple Harmonic Motion Equations | |||||
Science Shorts | SHM Introduction | |||||
Study Nova | SHM Intro (Lecture) | SHM Equations (Lecture) |
Resources
IB Physics | Topic 9 Notes | |||||
IB-Physics.net | Chapter 9 Summary | IB Revision Notes | ||||
Isaac Physics | SHM Equations | |||||
Mr. G | 9.1 Teaching Notes | 9.1 Student Notes | ||||
Physics and Maths Tutor | Further Mechanics Definitions | Further Mechanics Key Points | Further Mechanics Detailed Notes | Further Mechanics Flashcards | A Level Resources - content slightly different |
Questions
Cambridge University Press | Topic 9: Add Qs | Topic 9: Add Qs MS | Topic 9: MCQs | CUP Website Link | Freely available online | |
Dr French's Eclecticon | Simple Harmonic Motion | Simple Harmonic Motion Solutions | Link to Dr French's Site | Extension: Pre-University Material | ||
Grade Gorilla | 9.1 (SHM) MCQ | Topic 9 (Waves) End Quiz | Quick IB Specific Mixed MCQs | |||
Isaac Physics | Oscillators | |||||
Mr. G | 9.1 Formative Assessment | Topic 9 Summary Qs | IB Specific Questions | |||
Physics and Maths Tutor | SHM (AQA 1) | SHM MS (AQA 1) | SHM (AQA 2) | SHM MS (AQA 2) | A-Level Qs: overlapping content | |
Physics and Maths Tutor | MCQ Periodic Motion 3 (AQA 2) | MCQ Periodic Motion 3 MS (AQA 2) | x | A-Level Qs: overlapping content | ||
Physics and Maths Tutor | Oscillations (Edexcel 1) | Oscillations MS (Edexcel 1) | Oscillations (Edexcel 2) | Oscillations MS (Edexcel 2) | A-Level Qs: overlapping content | |
Physics and Maths Tutor | MCQ Periodic Motion 1 (AQA 2) | MCQ Periodic Motion 1 MS (AQA 2) | MCQ Periodic Motion 2 (AQA 2) | MCQ Periodic Motion 2 MS (AQA 2) | A-Level Qs: overlapping content |
Pendulum and Mass Spring Systems
There are plenty of examples of systems that obey simple harmonic motion, but by far the two most commonly studied are the pendulum and the mass-spring system.
Video Lessons
Khan Academy | Pendulums | Vertical Springs (Extension) | ||||
Science Shorts | Pendulum and Spring SHM |
Resources
IB Physics | Topic 9 Notes | |||||
IB-Physics.net | Chapter 9 Summary | IB Revision Notes | ||||
Mr. G | 9.1 Teaching Notes | 9.1 Student Notes | ||||
Physics and Maths Tutor | Further Mechanics Definitions | Further Mechanics Key Points | Further Mechanics Detailed Notes | Further Mechanics Flashcards | A Level Resources - content slightly different |
Questions
Cambridge University Press | Topic 9: Add Qs | Topic 9: Add Qs MS | Topic 9: MCQs | CUP Website Link | Freely available online | |
Dr French's Eclecticon | Simple Harmonic Motion | Simple Harmonic Motion Solutions | Link to Dr French's Site | Extension: Pre-University Material | ||
Grade Gorilla | 9.1 (SHM) MCQ | Topic 9 (Waves) End Quiz | Quick IB Specific Mixed MCQs | |||
Mr. G | 9.1 Formative Assessment | Topic 9 Summary Qs | IB Specific Questions | |||
Physics and Maths Tutor | Pendulum/ Mass Spring (AQA 2) | Pendulum/ Mass Spring MS (AQA 2) | A-Level Qs: overlapping content |
Energy Changes in Simple Harmonic Motion
Video Lessons
Chris Doner | Energy in SHM | IB Specific | ||||
Study Nova | Energy in SHM (Lecture) |
Resources
IB Physics | Topic 9 Notes | |||||
IB-Physics.net | Chapter 9 Summary | IB Revision Notes | ||||
Isaac Physics | Energy in SHM | |||||
Mr. G | 9.1 Teaching Notes | 9.1 Student Notes | ||||
Physics and Maths Tutor | Further Mechanics Definitions | Further Mechanics Key Points | Further Mechanics Detailed Notes | Further Mechanics Flashcards | A Level Resources - content slightly different |
Questions
Cambridge University Press | Topic 9: Add Qs | Topic 9: Add Qs MS | Topic 9: MCQs | CUP Website Link | Freely available online | |
Dr French's Eclecticon | Simple Harmonic Motion | Simple Harmonic Motion Solutions | Link to Dr French's Site | Extension: Pre-University Material | ||
Grade Gorilla | 9.1 (SHM) MCQ | Topic 9 (Waves) End Quiz | Quick IB Specific Mixed MCQs | |||
Mr. G | 9.1 Formative Assessment | Topic 9 Summary Qs | IB Specific Questions |
Additional Resources
IB Questions
A question by question breakdown of the IB papers by year is shown below to allow you to filter questions by topic. Hopefully you have access to many of these papers through your school system. If available, there may be some links to online sources of questions, though please be patient if the links are broken! (DrR: If you do find some broken links, please contact me through the site)
Questions on this topic (Section 9) are shown in royal blue.
Use this grid to practice past IB questions topic by topic. You can see from the colours how similar the question topic breakdown is year by year. The more you can familiarise yourself with the IB question style the better - eventually you will come to spot those tricks and types of questions that reappear each year.