Thread: Some advanced subsidiary level physics.

im not quite sure where this belongs, but ill write in this sub forum.

Can anyone help me to define and tell me the usage of these physic terms, but is mathematical in approach?

-Simple Harmonic Motion
-Projectiles
-Elastic Strings
-Impulse and Momentum


thank you

If Im not mistaken, Simple Harmanic Motion refers to an oscillating body that acceleration is always pointing towards the equilibrium point. A simple pendulum or a mass-spring for example.
Momentum is the product of mass and velocity (m*v); impulse is merely the change in momentum(delta m*v).

Originally Posted by Heinsbergrelatz

im not quite sure where this belongs, but ill write in this sub forum.

Can anyone help me to define and tell me the usage of these physic terms, but is mathematical in approach?

-Simple Harmonic Motion
-Projectiles
-Elastic Strings
-Impulse and Momentum


thank you

Simple harmonic motion is the motion that corresponds to that which results from the release of an ideal stretced spring with a mass attached. It is described by the differential equation . Many phenomena are described by this differential equation and they are all called simple harmonic motion by someone. That which is undergoing simple harmonic motion is often called a harmonic oscillator. Harmonic oscillators occur in many places in physics. Read the first volume of The Feynman Lectures on Physics and you will see a master, Richard Feynman, elucidate a great deal of physics through models based on the harmonic oscillator.

A projectile is any object that is moving along a trajectory constrained only by forces such as gravity and air resistance. A bullet is a projectile. So is a spit ball.

An elastic string is a string that obeys Hook's law in the form of a linear relationship between strain and Young's modulus. It is an approximation that is usually valid for small deformations. A guitar string could normally be considered to be an elastic string.

Impulse and momentum are really the same thing. If P is momentum them P=mv=ft. The word "impulse" is commonly used along with the expression of momentum as force x tiime, while momemtum is commonly used along with the expression of momentum as mass x velocity.