For the object on the spring, the units of amplitude and displacement are meters whereas for sound oscillations, they have units of pressure (and other types of oscillations have yet other units). The units for amplitude and displacement are the same, but depend on the type of oscillation. The maximum displacement from equilibrium is called the amplitude X. If the net force can be described by Hooke’s law and there is no damping (by friction or other non-conservative forces), then a simple harmonic oscillator will oscillate with equal displacement on either side of the equilibrium position, as shown for an object on a spring in Figure 1. Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is the name given to oscillatory motion for a system where the net force can be described by Hooke’s law, and such a system is called a simple harmonic oscillator.
They are also the simplest oscillatory systems.
The oscillations of a system in which the net force can be described by Hooke’s law are of special importance, because they are very common. By the end of this section, you will be able to:
