Oscillations

Essential Questions

• How can oscillations be used to make our lives easier and more comfortable?

• How can an astronaut be “weighed” in space?

• How could you measure the length of a long string with a stopwatch?

• What do a child on a swing, a beating heart, and a metronome have in common?

Learning Objectives

Defining Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

• Describe simple harmonic motion.

Frequency and Period of SHM

• Describe the frequency and period of an object exhibiting SHM.

Representing and Analyzing SHM

• Describe the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of an object exhibiting SHM.

Energy of Simple Harmonic Oscillations

• Describe the mechanical energy of a system exhibiting SHM.

Printable Learning Targets