Oscillations

Introduction

There are many forms of oscillations. A string on a guitar, a vibrating tuning fork, and a monkey swinging on a vine are examples. Regardless of whether an oscillation is simple or complex, the motion can be described using a sine function or a combination of sine functions. Moreover, since sine functions are related to the components of position of a point moving in a circular path, there are close connections between circular motion and oscillations.

Objectives

In this activity, you will

• Explore these connections using a video of three oscillating systems: a pendulum, a mass on a spring, and a dot on a rotating disk.