- Simple Harmonic (and non-harmonic) Motion § Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations

Key to Catalog Listings

Size: from small [S] (benchtop) to extra large [XL] (most of the hall)
Setup Time: <10 min [t], 10-15 min [t+], >15 min [t++]
Rating: from good [★] to wow! [★★★★] or not rated [—]

See the complete key to catalog listings.

Search the Catalog

Simple Harmonic Motion Demonstrator

[S | t | ★★★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, uniform circular motion, periodic motion
Relation between circular motion and linear displacement on overhead projector.

[In-Depth Description]

Circular Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion

[L | t+ | ★★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, uniform circular motion, periodic motion
Simultaneous shadow projection of circular motion and bouncing weight on spring.

[In-Depth Description]

Masses on Springs

[S/M | t++ | —]
Numerous combinations of springs and masses to bounce.

1.47 Slug Oscillator

[L | t++ | ★★★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, mass on spring, sine waves
Large mass on spring; traces displacement/time on passing acetate sheet.

[In-Depth Description]

Skyhook Pendulum

[M | t+ | —]
The combination of a 70 Newton ball suspended by a 100 N spring scale is used to investigate forces in one and two dimensional motion of the pendulum.

Physical Pendulum

[M | t | ★★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, oscillations, stationarity
A rigid rod executes simple harmonic motion about an adjustable pivot point.

[In-Depth Description]

Reversible (Kater's) Pendulum

[M | t | ★★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, oscillations, gravitational acceleration
A physical pendulum with two adjustable knife edges for an accurate determination of "g".

[In-Depth Description]

Non-uniform Physical Pendulum

[M | t | ★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, period of oscillation, moment of inertia
Half wood and half metal physical pendulum with suspension points at both ends.

[In-Depth Description]

Cycloidal Pendulum

[M | t+ | —]
A pendulum is made to swing on a cycloidal path thereby making it isochronous, regardless of amplitude.

Torsional Pendulum

[M | t+ | —]
Oscillation of mass on wire in torsional mode.

[In-Depth Description]

Torsional Cube Pendulum

[M | t | —]
A torsional pendulum with a cubic mass; by suspending the cube along various symmetry axes, the moment(s) of inertia can be verified.

Pendulum Waves

[S | t | ★★★★]keywords: simple harmonic motion, periodic motion, quantum revival, aliasing
Fifteen independent pendulums of monotonically increasing lengths dance together to produce visual traveling waves, standing waves, beating, and (seemingly) random motion.

[In-Depth Description]

Damped Mass-Spring Oscillator

[M | t+ | —]
Vertical mass-spring oscillator which can be driven at various frequencies with and without damping.

Driven Oscillator

[L | t+ | —]
Single air track glider, with and without variable frequency driver, variable damping, and oscilloscope position vs. time display.

[In-Depth Description]

SEE ALSO: Single Spring Oscillation simulation; Disk Oscillator simulation

Air Track Oscillator

[L | t++ | —]
Glider with reflector makes use of sonar Mac that measures displacement, velocity, and acceleration of simple harmonic motion.

Mass with Two Vertical Springs

[M | t | —]
Normal modes of vibration of a single mass with three degrees of freedom.

Tuning Forks

[M | t | ★★] | keywords: simple harmonic motion, harmonics, sympathetic vibrations, beats
Selection of mounted tuning forks and rubber hammer.

[In-Depth Description]

SEE ALSO: Ripple Tank Applet (select Setup:Two Sources and 2 Src, 2 Freq from the drop-down menus)

x3 oscillator

[L | t++ | —]
An oscillator whose restoring force is not proportional its displacement; air-track and air-table versions for 1 and 2-dimensions.

Contact Us

Our Official Facebook Page
Mailing Address: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Campus Location: Science Center B-08A | Tel: (617) 495-5824 | Email: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu

Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations

Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations: - Simple Harmonic (and non-harmonic) Motion