Exploration 16.1: Spring and Pendulum Motion

Animation 1 Animation 2

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The animations depict the motion of a mass on a spring and a pendulum, respectively.  Restart.   

  1. For Animation 1, plot the period of the motion vs. amplitude.  Drag the ball from equilibrium, varying the amplitude from 1 m to 10 m in 1-m steps.
  2. For Animation 2, plot the period of the motion vs. amplitude.  Drag the ball from equilibrium, varying the amplitude from 0.1 radian to 1.0 radian in 0.1-radian steps.
  3. What can you say about the period's dependence on amplitude for each animation?

 

 

Exploration authored by Mario Belloni.
Script authored by Morten Brydensholt, Wolfgang Christian, and Mario Belloni.
© 2004 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Company