Simple Harmonic Motion

Physics D, F and Honors Physics worked with simple harmonic motion, building on the lab investigations we have been conducting for the fast few days. Physics F and Honors Physics completed their labs yesterday and today, F Block began to define SHM and describe why both pendulums and mass-spring systems demonstrate this type of motion. Honors Physics moved forward to describing SHM in terms of period, frequency and amplitude. These descriptors will be used to describe waves, also, so we'll make sure all vocabulary in this chapter is nailed down tightly before we move on to sound and light. We also looked at the formulas for calculating the period of a simple pendulum (which we explored in lab) and for a mass-spring system. Make sure you can use those formulas and explain why other variables don't impact the period of the motion. Physics D completed their lab unit and will take on describing SHM tomorrow in class.

Intro Physics reviewed their work with gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy today and then took a look at conservation of energy. We discussed the Law of Conservation of Energy and why, though it is always valid, conservation of mechanical energy is not, in the presence of friction. We discussed the nature of energy conversions and used the example of a ball tossed in the air to demonstrate the conversions between kinetic and gravitational potential energy. We'll look at that relationship in more detail in lab tomorrow.