The relativistic extension of one‐dimensional simple harmonic motion is developed in the Lagrangian formalism. The relativistic equations of motion are derived and solved analytically. The motion with respect to proper time is analyzed in terms of an effective potential energy. While the motion remains bounded and periodic, the effect of time dilation along the world line is to cause it to become anharmonic with the period increasing with amplitude and the curvature concentrated at the turning points.
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© 1994 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1994
American Association of Physics Teachers
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