Physics Home > Teaching Labs > Mechanics > Damped, Driven Harmonic Motion

Topics

Points of Emphasis

Prerequisites

Lab Activities

In this lab students are asked to:

1. Determine the natural oscillating frequency of an undamped oscillator.
   
   
2. Determine what effect the damping force has on the value of this natural oscillating frequency, and what effect it has on the motion in general.
   
   
3. Explore the behavior of a damped, driven oscillator.
   
   
4. Compare the results of the quantitative measurements with theoretical predictions about the behavior of this system.
   
   

Course Level

Introductory

Student Handouts

Equipment

Number of set-ups available: 1 Per lab station: 1 oscilloscope 1 30 V DC power supply 1 oscillator 1 BNC T connector 5 BNC cables 1 bottle of glycerin 1 35 cc syringe/plastic tube extension 1 I-V converter and filter box 1 sawblade apparatus

Notes

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Site contact: largent@Dartmouth.EDU

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