We've been talking about pendulums, spring-mass systems, and how they relate to simple harmonic motion. For this week's comments, I'd like to hear some more about simple harmonic motion... ... Why is it called "simple"? What is simple about it. Also, what does the word "harmonic" mean in this context? Is it related to music at all? What are some other examples (besides those mentioned in class) or simple harmonic motion?
I'm thinking that simple harmonic motion is called simple because just about every part of a system stays constant. The amplitude of a wave doesn't change, its period won;t change. and its wavelength is fairly constant. It may also be because the period is proportional to its restoring force and displacement. In other types of motion everything might change or at least be a lot more difficult to calculate.
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