Student Exploration: Simple Harmonic Motion
Vocabulary: controlled experiment, harmonic motion, oscillation, pendulum, period, spring,
spring constant
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. A
...
Student Exploration: Simple Harmonic Motion
Vocabulary: controlled experiment, harmonic motion, oscillation, pendulum, period, spring,
spring constant
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. A bungee jumper launches herself off a bridge. How would you describe her motion?
When jumper launches herself, she falls quickly till the bungee stretches to its full length and
rebounds continuously until it comes to a stop.
2. A child goes to the playground and gets on a swing. How would you describe his motion?
When the child is pushed on the swing the child continues in a constant back and forth
motion (oscillation), which eventually comes to a stop.
3. What do the motions of the bungee jumper and swinger have in common?
They both have this similar oscillating motion.
Gizmo Warm-up
Harmonic motion is repeating back-and-forth or upand-down movement. The Simple Harmonic Motion
Gizmo™ allows you compare the harmonic motions of
a spring and a pendulum.
To begin, open the TOOLS tab on the bottom right and
drag one arrow to the bottom of the spring so that the
weight just touches the tip of the arrow, as shown. Drag
a second arrow so that the pendulum just touches the
tip of the arrow when it swings to the left.
1. When the spring touches the arrow, click the green button on the stopwatch. Count the
movements, or oscillations. Click the green button again after the tenth oscillation.
A. What is the time for 10 oscillations of the spring? ___06.20secs__________
B. Divide this time by 10 to find the period of the spring: __0.62_____________
2. Click the red button to reset the stopwatch. Use the same procedure on the pendulum.
What is the period of the pendulu
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