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Theme C — Wave Behaviour

C.1.7 Calculating Energy Changes in SHM — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 10 parts Lesson 9 of 37 1 quiz

📚 IB Physics HL Hub / Topical Revision
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Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
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Lesson summary

C.1.7 Calculating Energy Changes in SHM — IB PHYSICS HL notes: Derive and use EP = ½mω²x², EK = ½mω²(x0² − x²) and ET = ½mω²x0² for any simple harmonic oscillator.Restoring force — in SHM F = −mω2xEffective constant — k = mω2So the same energy formulae apply to springs, pendulums…

  • Maximum kinetic energy
  • Total energy
  • Same result
  • Dependence
  • Derivation
  • Substitution

Part 1 of 8Effective spring constant

Restoring force
  • Restoring force in SHM F = −mω2x
Effective constant
  • Effective constant k = mω2
  • So the same energy formulae apply to springs, pendulums and any other SHM

Part 2 of 8Total energy

Maximum kinetic energy
  • Maximum kinetic energy from v = ωx0 cos ωt, EK = ½mω2x02 cos2ωt
  • Its maximum is ½mω2x02
Total energy
  • ET = ½mω2x02
  • At that point the potential energy is zero
Same result
  • Same result using v = −ωx0 sin ωt gives the same expression
Dependence
  • ET is proportional to the square of the amplitude and the square of the frequency

Part 3 of 8Potential energy

Equation
  • EP = ½mω2x2
Derivation
  • EP = ET − EK = ½mω2x02(1 − cos2ωt) = ½mω2x02 sin2ωt
Substitution
  • Substitution x = x0 sin ωt gives EP = ½mω2x2
Maximum
  • EP,max = ½mω2x02 = ET = EK,max

Part 4 of 8Kinetic energy–displacement relation

Substitution
  • Substitution put v = ±ω√(x02 − x2) into EK = ½mv2
Equation
  • EK = ½mω2(x02 − x2)
Values
  • Values maximum ½mω2x02 at x = 0 and zero at x = ±x0
Sum check
  • EK + EP = ET for every x

Part 5 of 8Energy fractions

Kinetic fraction
  • EK/ET = 1 − (x/x0)2
Potential fraction
  • EP/ET = (x/x0)2
At half amplitude
  • 25% potential and 75% kinetic
Equal energies
  • Equal energies occur at x = x0/√2 ≈ 0.71x0
Ratios
  • Ratios mass and ω cancel in fractions

Part 6 of 8Energy against time

Potential energy
  • EP = ½mω2x02 sin2ωt
Kinetic energy
  • EK = ½mω2x02 cos2ωt
Frequency
  • Frequency each varies at twice the frequency of the motion
Average
  • Average each has an average of ET/2 over a cycle

Part 7 of 8Graphs and damping

EK against x2
  • EK against x2 a straight line with gradient −½mω2 and intercept ET
  • It can be used to find ω experimentally
Energy graph intercepts
  • Energy graph intercepts the energy-axis intercept is ET and the x-intercepts are ±x0
Damping
  • Damping the energy changes with the square of the amplitude ratio
Pendulum
  • Pendulum k = mg/L and ω2 = g/L for small angles

Part 8 of 8More from the specification

1
Simple Harmonic Motion Defining Relation
  • For an oscillating object, acceleration is directly proportional to its displacement from equilibrium and directed towards that equilibrium position: a = -ω^2 x,
  • where ω is the angular frequency.
2
Velocity and Kinetic Energy in SHM
  • When an object passes through its central equilibrium position (x = 0), velocity and kinetic energy reach maximum values,
  • while displacement and potential energy become zero.
3
Time Period and Angular Frequency
  • The oscillation period T of an SHM system is independent of amplitude (isochronous) and relates to angular frequency by T = 2π / ω = 1 / f.
4
Phase Difference in Oscillating Systems
  • In simple harmonic motion, velocity leads displacement by a phase angle of π/2 radians (90°),
  • while acceleration is in complete antiphase relative to displacement.
    • (π radians or 180° phase difference)
5
Simple Harmonic Motion Defining Relation
  • For an oscillating object, acceleration is directly proportional to its displacement from equilibrium and directed towards that equilibrium position: a = -ω^2 x,
  • where ω is the angular frequency.
6
Velocity and Kinetic Energy in SHM
  • When an object passes through its central equilibrium position (x = 0), velocity and kinetic energy reach maximum values,
  • while displacement and potential energy become zero.
7
Time Period and Angular Frequency
  • The oscillation period T of an SHM system is independent of amplitude (isochronous) and relates to angular frequency by T = 2π / ω = 1 / f.
8
Phase Difference in Oscillating Systems
  • In simple harmonic motion, velocity leads displacement by a phase angle of π/2 radians (90°),
  • while acceleration is in complete antiphase relative to displacement.
    • (π radians or 180° phase difference)
9
Angular frequency
  • Ω = 2π/T = √(k/m) for a spring.
10
Gravitational potential
  • Work done per unit mass in bringing a test mass from infinity to the point.
11
Angular displacement
  • Angle turned, in radians.
12
Phase angle
  • The angle φ in x = x0 sin(ωt + φ) that fixes the state of the oscillation at t = 0.
13
Displacement-time graph
  • A graph of displacement against time whose gradient is velocity.
14
Velocity-time graph
  • A graph of velocity against time whose gradient is acceleration and area is displacement.
15
Displacement
  • Change in position.
16
Position
  • Location relative to a reference point.
17
Period
  • Time for one revolution.
18
Equilibrium
  • State with zero net force.
19
Velocity
  • Rate of change of displacement.
20
Acceleration
  • Rate of change of velocity.
21
Oscillation
  • Repeated back-and-forth motion.

Key terms

TermMeaning
Kinetic energy in SHMEK = ½mω2(x02 − x2).
Potential energy in SHMEP = ½mω2x2.
Total energy in SHMET = ½mω2x02.
Effective spring constantk = mω2 for any SHM.
Energy fractionEP/ET = (x/x0)2.

Avoid these mistakes

Using EP = mgh or ½kx2 with the wrong constants — use ½mω2x2 for any SHM.
Forgetting to square the amplitude.
Stating EK = ½mω2x2 — that is the potential energy.
What the symbols mean:
Mixing up ω and f in energy formulae — ω = 2πf.
What the symbols mean: ω = angular frequency (rad s−1) · f = frequency (Hz) · T = period (s)
Thinking equal energies occur at x = x0/2 — they occur at x0/√2.

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