Question

Which of the following expressions represent simple harmonic motion?

• A. $x=asin(\omega t+\varphi )$
• B. $x=acos(\omega t+\delta )$
• C. $x=asin\omega t+bcos\omega t$
• D. $x=asin\omega tcos\omega t$

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C)

$x=asin\omega t+bcos\omega t$

Simple harmonic motion is represented by a sine function or a cosine function or a linear combination of them with the same frequency. Hence the correct choices are (a), (b) and (c). The choice (d) which is a product of the two functions does not represent a simple harmonic motion.