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Oscillations

Lesson 2

Learning
outcomes
1- verify and use the equation of period
of a spring

Home Work

Starter
Do the activity in the
next slide and question 1
in worksheet

SHM summary

Mass on a vertical spring


Is a mass on a vertical spring a simple harmonic oscillator?
Consider a spring of natural length L0, which extends
by length x when a mass is suspended from it.

L0

applied force = kx
where k is the spring constant.
i.e.

T = kx

a = F/m, therefore:

a=

kx
m

k and m are constant, so this is SHM.

mg

Time period for a mass on a spring


If a mass on a vertical spring undergoes oscillation with acceleration given by
a=

kx
m
L0

and the condition for SHM is a = 2x


then

= 2f =

f = 1/T, therefore

k
.
m
2
T

T = 2

k
m

x
T

m
k

The time period for a vertical mass on a


spring is only dependent on k and m.

mg

Activity

In groups of two perform


the experiments

Plenary

Analyse the data and


answer the questions on
the experiments

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