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Which of the following is an example of simple harmonic motion? a. The height of the water in Monterey bay b. A ball bouncing on a sidewalk c. A police car shining a spotlight into buildings as it drives by d. Calculating the angle of elevation for a building

Question

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Which of the following is an example of simple harmonic motion? a. The height of the water in Monterey bay b. A ball bouncing on a sidewalk c. A police car shining a spotlight into buildings as it drives by d. Calculating the angle of elevation for a building

fwizbang · Answer

None of the above? Are you given other information?

asiannerd · Answer

No but an example I got was a spring or the vibrations on a guitar string

asiannerd · Answer

@fwizbang

fwizbang · Answer

I imagine the height of the water is periodic, but not necessarily sinusoidal/SHM. Its probably the answer they're looking for...(Depending on what you assume about the bouncing ball, its could be periodic too.)

asiannerd · Answer

I think its the ball bouncing

fwizbang · Answer

Technically simple harmonic motion is sinusoidal, like the position of the mass on a spring. The bouncing ball(even ignoring friction) isn't sinusoidal.

asiannerd · Answer

Is it the waves then?

fwizbang · Answer

That's what I'd guess they're looking for...It's not a very well written question.

asiannerd · Answer

yeah

asiannerd · Answer

what would you choose

fwizbang · Answer

If I had to pick, Id go with the water level in the bay.

.sam. · Answer

There's no harmonics involved in the height of the water in Monterey bay. A ball bouncing on a sidewalk though goes up and down which simulates a SHM.

fwizbang · Answer

ts a poorly posed question, but here's my logic.

The water level in the bay is determined by the tides, which are periodic, with a twelve hour cycle (Because of the moon)and a monthly cycle(due to the gravitational force from the Sun). Sp its periodic, but not really SHM.

The (vertical)bouncing ball with no friction is periodic, but not sinusoidal, so its not really SHM
either.

The police thing depends on what you assume about the motion of the light....

The height of a building is a calculation, not motion of any kind..

asiannerd · Answer

but I thought a simple harmonic motion had to be continuous

fwizbang · Answer

Simple harmonic motion is motion with a linear restoring force, which works out to be continuous and periodic. (The first three are all continuous motion.)