Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A displacement is , with in cm and in s. Is the motion periodic? If so, find its period.
A periodic motion repeats after a fixed time, the period . An oscillation is a periodic motion to and fro about a mean position. The frequency is , in hertz (Hz).
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Each part. The first part has , so . The second has , so .
Step 2. Both together. We need a time that holds a whole number of each. The multiples of are , , and so on. The multiples of are , , and so on. The first one in both lists is .
Answer: yes, it is periodic, with . In that time the first part makes oscillations and the second makes .
Watch out. The motion is periodic, but it is not SHM. SHM is a single sine or cosine.
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