Periodic motion: a motion that repeats itself over and over. One of the key characteristics of a periodic system is the time required for the completion of one cycle of its repetitive motion- period. Period (t): time required for one cycle of periodic motion; unit: s. Frequency (f): the number of oscillations per unit of time, the inverse of the period; f= 1/t; unit: 1/s, s-1t. Hertz (hz): a special unit for the measurement of frequency; The smaller the period the larger the frequency. Simple harmonic motion: motion of an object that is repeated oscillations in a period of time t. An example of shm comes with springs; when at equilibrium they are neither stretched no compressed and at position x=0. When a spring is displaced from equilibrium, it exerts a restoring force whose magnitude is proportional to the distance it displaced from equilibrium.