Harmonic+Motion

Physics with Math -> **Harmonic Motion** Next

We start with the simple harmonic motion of a up-down spring. //Harmonic// means "oscillating". media type="custom" key="9447360"

We see that the graph is a wave - so this means it is probably a sine or cosine function. We will wait a bit to decide which one exactly.

**Questions** (answers below):
 * What changes horizontally? What would be the label for the horizontal axis?
 * What changes vertically? What would be the label for the vertical axis?

This spring oscillates up and down. We can make springs that oscillates back and forth. Do you know anything else that oscillates back and forth, back and forth, back and forth ...? Scroll down for a hint or go to the next page to see an answer.

Answer 1: Time changes horizontally. Answer 2: The position of the ball changes vertically. Hint: Tick, tock, tick, tock goes the grandfather clock.