An oscillation is a physical phenomenon characterized by the fact that the confi

Question

An oscillation is a physical phenomenon characterized by the fact that the configuration of a physical system repeats (or almost repeats) itself over and over again. Simple harmonic oscillations are a special case of this. An oscillation is simple harmonic if the period (the time for one cycle) does not depend on the amplitude (the maximum displacement from equilibrium). In the following set, identify the oscillations that are simple harmonic, the ones that are approximately simple harmonic, and the ones that are not simple harmonic. Please comment on why/how you make your identifications. The pendulum in a grandfather clock A boat in water pushed down and released A child on a swing A mass hanging from a spring A ping pong ball bouncing on the floor.

Explanation / Answer

1. The pendulum in a grandfather clock is simple harmonic motion, the pendulum in clock oscillates to and fro motion about mean position for every cycle, takes two seconds to complete one oscillation,(Second's Pendulum).

2. A boat in water pushed down and released is approximately simple harmonic.

3. child on a swing is a simple harmonic motion, in the absence of all other damping forces, like air resistance then the swing comes exactly to the same point in every cycle.

4.A mass hanging from a spring is simple harmonic motion, if the mass of the spring is negligible, mass makes verticle oscillations.

5. A ping pong ball bouncing on the floor is not a simple harmonic motion under normal conditions , if the collision is perfectly elastic collision, only it may be treated as simple harmonic collision.

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