Identification of simple harmonic motion – Rankers Physics
Topic: Oscillation
Subtopic: Equation of SHM

Identification of simple harmonic motion

Which of the following examples does not represent SHM?
Oscillations of a spring block system
Motion of ball bearing inside smooth curved bowl, when released slightly away from equilibrium position
Motion of oscillating mercury column in vertical U-tube
Rotation of earth about its own axis

Solution:

Rotation of the Earth about its axis is a periodic motion but not oscillatory. Since it has no restoring force or back-and-forth motion about a mean position, it is not simple harmonic motion.

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