Lesson Plan #:AELP-PHS0043
Simple Harmonic Motion
An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan
Submitted by:
Lauren Tanner, Barnett Elementary. Payson, UT
Endorsed by:
These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the
Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from
14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural,
western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education.
CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that
allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers
that they have met at the Workshops.
Date:
May 1994
Grade Level(s):
4, 5, 6
Subject(s):
OVERVIEW:
Simple harmonic motion (SHM) is a special type of regular oscillation. It is a
common and familiar phenomenon and occurs whenever an object that is in equilibrium
(under the action of forces) is disturbed slightly from its equilibrium position.
There are many simple demonstrations of SHM that can be done as hands-on experiments
that will show this phenomenon clearly.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the theory
of simple harmonic motion (SHM) by performing hands-on, practical application
experiments.
OBJECTIVES: Each student will demonstrate SHM by performing a series of
demonstrations of regular oscillation and explaining the theory behind the
experiment to a partner.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS: metronome, strings of various lengths, bobs of
different weights, diving board, World Book Science Book, Physics Today p.54-55.
Terms:
kinetic energy
momentum
potential energy
harmonic
motion
oscillation
friction
acceleration
gravity force
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
- The pendulum -
Show the movement of a simple pendulum bob and explain SHM. When the bob is hanging
downward it is in equilibrium position. When it is disturbed, it executes SHM.
Gravity pulls it back to equilibrium position but momentum carries it past that
position to another point. It relies on acceleration due to gravity to deep
swinging. Try different lengths of string and different weights of bobs and see
what happens. Which moves slower, a heavy bob or a light bob? What
difference in acceleration is observed due to length of string? What else did
you observe?
- The metronome -
This inverted compound pendulum executes SHM when set into motion by a force.
The period of swing can be altered by varying the position of the small weight on
the arm of the metronome. How does the weight set near the top of the arm affect
the swing of the arm, faster or slower? What happens when the weight is moved to
the bottom of the arm? Is the swing equal on each side of the position of
equilibrium?
- A diving board -
This oscillates with SHM after the diver has started into his dive. Before this when
the diver is bouncing to gain maximum height, the board undergoes forced
oscillation. Observe a diver as he makes a dive, or set up a simulation of a dive
in the classroom.
Can you think of any other practical applications of SHM?
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
Take a visit to Hansen Planetarium (Salt Lake City, Utah) or any other science
museum that may have a swinging pendulum. Explain the movement of the pendulum in
relation to the rotation of the earth. This is a fine example of SHM. While there
go to a star show!