[Physics] Why is angular frequency $\omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$ dimensionally correct

classical-mechanicsdimensional analysisfrequencyharmonic-oscillatoroscillators

So I'm learning about simple harmonic motion, and I came to the part where the differential equation

$$\frac{\mathrm d^2x}{\mathrm dt^2} = -\frac{k}{m} x$$

is solved and simplified to

$$x(t) = A\cos(\omega t – \phi)$$

So here, I don't get why the angular frequency equals the following value

$$\omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$$

I tried to see if this has any evident reasonament to see why this is dimensionaly correct (especially with the square root). I already search for different posts here on Physics where it's explained, but the maths behind them are too complicated for me, and also they didn't answer why this is dimensionally correct.

Best Answer

Seeing that it is dimensionally correct should be easy. Just plug the units and check that they match.

$F=kx$, so $k$ must be newtons/meters. Remember that newtons are $kg\ m/s^2$. So, check that

$$ \frac{k}{m}=\frac{N/m}{kg}=\frac{kg/s^2}{kg}=\frac{1}{s^2}=s^{-2}$$

So the square root indeed has units of $s^{-1}$, which is angular frequency. Dimensionally, it fully makes sense.

If you ask about why this is like this, well, do not try to relate it to angular frequency so soon. You just check that the value $\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$ will appear very often, so you decide to give it a name. Let's call it $\omega$. You can call it with any other letter, but later on you will see that it is very related to an angular velocity, so it is a good name. Just that.