📚 Topic Summary
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is a special type of periodic motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement, and acts in the opposite direction. Think of a mass on a spring or a pendulum swinging with a small angle. The object oscillates back and forth around an equilibrium position. The time it takes for one complete cycle is called the period, and the maximum displacement from equilibrium is the amplitude.
This lab activity lets you explore SHM firsthand! You'll investigate how factors like mass and spring constant affect the period of oscillation. By collecting data and analyzing it, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the relationships that govern SHM. Get ready to experiment and unlock the secrets of oscillatory motion!
🧪 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their correct definitions:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Amplitude |
A. The time for one complete oscillation. |
| 2. Period |
B. The maximum displacement from equilibrium. |
| 3. Frequency |
C. A force that returns a system to equilibrium. |
| 4. Restoring Force |
D. Number of oscillations per unit of time. |
| 5. Equilibrium |
E. The point where the net force is zero. |
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words: spring constant, mass, period, SHM, equilibrium.
In ____, the restoring force is proportional to the displacement. For a mass-spring system, the ____ relates the force to the displacement. The ____ of oscillation depends on both the ____ and the ____. The system oscillates around the ____ position.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Explain how increasing the mass of an object in a mass-spring system affects its period of oscillation. Use the formula for the period of a mass-spring system, $T = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}$, where $T$ is the period, $m$ is the mass, and $k$ is the spring constant, to support your explanation.