VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION
Once you know the position of the oscillator for all times, you can
work out the velocity and acceleration functions.
x(t) = A cos (wt
+ f)
The velocity is the time derivative of the position so:
v(t) = -A w
sin (wt + f)
The change from cos to sin means that the velocity is 90o
out of phase with the displacement-when x = 0 the velocity is a maximum
and when x is a maximum v = 0. This is seen nicely in the page on the connection
between SHM and circular motion.
The acceleration is the time derivative of the velocity so:
a(t) = -A w2
cos (wt + f)
Notice also from the preceding that:
a(t) = -w2x The acceleration
is exactly out of phase with the displacement. This can also be seen in
the page on the connection between SHM and circular
motion