The piston in the cylinder head of a locomotive has a stroke (twice the amplitude) of 1.0 m. If the piston moves with simple harmonic motion with an angular frequency of 200 rad/min, what is its maximum speed?
Angular frequency of the piston, ω = 200 rad/ min.
Stroke = 1.0 m
Amplitude, \(A=\frac{1.0}{2}=0.5\) m
The maximum speed (vmax) of the piston is give by the relation:
νmax=Aω
=200×0.5=100m/min
A spring having with a spring constant 1200 N m–1 is mounted on a horizontal table as shown in Fig. 13.19. A mass of 3 kg is attached to the free end of the spring. The mass is then pulled sideways to a distance of 2.0 cm and released.

Determine (i) the frequency of oscillations, (ii) maximum acceleration of the mass, and (iii) the maximum speed of the mass
In Exercise 13.9, let us take the position of mass when the spring is unstreched as x = 0, and the direction from left to right as the positive direction of x-axis. Give x as a function of time t for the oscillating mass if at the moment we start the stopwatch (t = 0), the mass is
(a) at the mean position,
(b) at the maximum stretched position, and
(c) at the maximum compressed position.
In what way do these functions for SHM differ from each other, in frequency, in amplitude or the initial phase?
Simple Harmonic Motion is one of the most simple forms of oscillatory motion that occurs frequently in nature. The quantity of force acting on a particle in SHM is exactly proportional to the displacement of the particle from the equilibrium location. It is given by F = -kx, where k is the force constant and the negative sign indicates that force resists growth in x.
This force is known as the restoring force, and it pulls the particle back to its equilibrium position as opposing displacement increases. N/m is the SI unit of Force.
When a particle moves to and fro about a fixed point (called equilibrium position) along with a straight line then its motion is called linear Simple Harmonic Motion. For Example spring-mass system
The restoring force or acceleration acting on the particle should always be proportional to the displacement of the particle and directed towards the equilibrium position.
When a system oscillates angular long with respect to a fixed axis then its motion is called angular simple harmonic motion.
The restoring torque (or) Angular acceleration acting on the particle should always be proportional to the angular displacement of the particle and directed towards the equilibrium position.
Τ ∝ θ or α ∝ θ
Where,