What is the phase difference between the displacement and acceleration of a particle in simple harmonic motion?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the phase difference between the displacement and acceleration of a particle in simple harmonic motion?
0 degrees
90 degrees
180 degrees
270 degrees
In simple harmonic motion, the acceleration is always directed towards the mean position and is 180 degrees out of phase with the displacement.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the phase difference between the displacement and acceleration of a particle in simple harmonic motion?
Solution: In simple harmonic motion, the acceleration is always directed towards the mean position and is 180 degrees out of phase with the displacement.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that simple harmonic motion (SHM) is a type of periodic motion where a particle moves back and forth around a central point, called the mean position.
Step 2: Recognize that the displacement of the particle is the distance from the mean position at any point in time.
Step 3: Know that the acceleration of the particle in SHM is always directed towards the mean position.
Step 4: Realize that when the particle is at its maximum displacement (farthest from the mean position), the acceleration is at its maximum value, directed back towards the mean position.
Step 5: Understand that when the particle is at the mean position, the displacement is zero, and the acceleration is at its maximum value.
Step 6: Conclude that the acceleration reaches its maximum value when the displacement is at its maximum value but in the opposite direction, meaning they are 180 degrees out of phase.
