Simple Harmonic Motion, Circle

This animation presents the relationship between simple harmonic motion and circular motion:

Constant Circular Motion

Simple Harmonic Motion, X-axis

Simple Harmonic Motion, Y-axis

 

X


Y

The yellow ball is in constant circular motion.

The red ball is in simple harmonic motion. The x-position of the yellow ball is the x-position of the red ball. So we say that the red ball tracks the x-displacement of the yellow ball.

The green ball is in simple harmonic motion. The y-position of the yellow ball is the y-position of the green ball. The green ball tracks the y-displacement of the yellow ball.