The motion of a mass bobbing freely up and down with no resistance on the end of a spring is an example of [i]simple harmonic motion[/i]. You can explore this motion in the interactive figure.[br][br]Point [math]M[/math] represents a mass at the rest position. Drag point [math]M[/math] above or below the rest position. Click on the Start Animation button to explore how the position and the velocity of the mass changes with time.

[i]Developed for use with Thomas' Calculus, published by Pearson.[/i]