Difference between Periodic, Oscillation, and Simple Harmonic Motion

There are some differences between Periodic motion, Oscillatory Motion, and Simple Harmonic Motion, which are listed as follows:

Periodic MotionOscillatory MotionSimple Harmonic Motion
The motion of an object is said to be 
periodic if it moves in such a way that it 
repeats its path at regular intervals of time.
The to-and-fro motion of an object from its mean position is defined as oscillatory motion.Simple Harmonic Motion is the motion of an object, around a mean position in which the acceleration of the particle is directly proportional to the displacement of the particle.
Some Examples of Periodic motion include 
the motion of hands in a clock, the movement of the Earth around the Sun, and a simple pendulum.
Examples of oscillatory motion include a simple pendulum, a vibrating tuning fork, AC current, waves such as sound waves, ocean waves, or light waves, etc.Examples of SHM are the motion of
a spring system i.e., a mass attached to the end of a spring, swings, and the motion of a cantilever. 
Periodic motion is not always harmonic.Oscillatory Motion is not always periodic,SHM is an example of Periodic and Oscillatory motion.

Read More,

Simple Harmonic Motion

Simple Harmonic Motion is a fundament concept in the study of motion, especially oscillatory motion; which helps us understand many physical phenomena around like how strings produce pleasing sounds in a musical instrument such as the sitar, guitar, violin, etc., and also, how vibrations in the membrane in drums and diaphragms in telephone and speaker system creates the precise sound. Understanding Simple Harmonic Motion is key to understanding these phenomena. 

In this article, we will grasp the concept of Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM), its examples in real life, the equation, and how it is different from periodic motion.

Table of Content

  • SHM Definition
  • Types of Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Equations for Simple Harmonic Motion
  • Solutions of Differential Equations of SHM
  • SHM JEE Mains Questions

Similar Reads

Simple Harmonic Motion Definition (SHM Definition)

Simple harmonic motion is an oscillatory motion in which the acceleration of particle at any position is directly proportional to its displacement from the mean position....

Terminology Related to Simple Harmonic Motion

There are various terminologies related to SHM (Simple Harmonic Motion) some of which are explained as follows:...

Types of Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

There are two types of SHM, which is:...

Difference between Linear SHM and Angular SHM

There are some key differences between Linear and Angular SHM, some of which is as follows:...

Equations for Simple Harmonic Motion

Let’s consider a particle of mass (m) doing Simple Harmonic Motion along a path A’OA the mean position is O. Let the speed of the particle be V0 when it is at position P (at some distance from point O)...

Solutions of Differential Equations of SHM

The solutions to the differential equation for simple harmonic motion are as follows:...

Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

A system performing SHM is called a Harmonic Oscillator. The energy of the particle performing the SHM is discussed below in the particle....

Simple Harmonic, Periodic, and Oscillation Motion

It seems that Simple Harmonic, Periodic, and Oscillation Motions are the same but they are indeed different. Now let’s learn about them in detail....

Difference between Periodic, Oscillation, and Simple Harmonic Motion

There are some differences between Periodic motion, Oscillatory Motion, and Simple Harmonic Motion, which are listed as follows:...

Sample Questions on Simple Harmonic Motion

Question 1: Why is Harmonic Motion Periodic?...

FAQs on Simple Harmonic Motion

1. What is Simple Harmonic Motion?...

SHM JEE Mains Questions

1. A damped harmonic oscillator has a frequency of 5 oscillations per second. For every 10 oscillations, the amplitude of the oscillator drops to half. Find the time taken to drop the amplitude to 1/1000 of the original value....