Physics FOR THE IB DIPLOMA

WavesActivity: Simple harmonic motion energy

graphs The following graphs will all have ‘Time, t’ on the x axis.

Label the y axes of the three graphs ‘Kinetic energy/J’, ‘Potential energy/J’ and ‘Total energy/J’.

Set a pendulum in motion with a suitable length so that it oscillates with a frequency and speed that are easily observed. Observe the pendulum.

Questions1 At what displacement is the velocity at its maximum?

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2 At what displacement is the velocity zero?

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3 Where will the kinetic energy be a maximum and where will it be zero?

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4 Sketch the curves on the axes on the next page.

5 In what way do your sketches not describe perfectly the pendulum’s energy values?

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6 How might you change your curves to show this?

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© Colin Cuthbert/Hodder & Stoughton Limited

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Physics FOR THE IB DIPLOMA

© Colin Cuthbert/Hodder & Stoughton Limited 2