Harmonic motion
Harmonic motion is any oscillation that is proportional to either $\sin(\omega t)$ or $\cos(\omega t)$. The motion of the blue ball is described by the position vector, $$\vec{r}=A\cos(\omega t)\,\hat{x},$$where $A$ is the amplitude of the motion and $\omega$ is the angular frequency. The time it takes for one period is $T=\frac{2\pi}{\omega}$. The velocity is the derivative of the of the position vector, $$ \vec{v}=-\omega A\sin(\omega t)\,\hat{x}.$$The acceleration is the derivative of the velocity, $$ \vec{a}=-\omega^2 A\cos(\omega t)\,\hat{x} = -\omega^2 \vec{r}.$$The force is the mass times the acceration, $\vec{F}=m\vec{a}$, $$\vec{F}=-m\omega^2 A\cos(\omega t)\,\hat{x}= -m\omega^2 \vec{r}.$$The force is proportional to the position vector, $\vec{F}=-m\omega^2\vec{r}$. This has the form of a linear spring force, $\vec{F}=-k\vec{r}$ where we make the identification $k=m\omega^2$. An object of mass $m$ attached to a linear spring with spring constant $k$ executes harmonic motion with an angular frequency $\omega =\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$. |