Unit 6: Oscillations




     The world around us is full of objects that move back and forth...from children on swings, to our vocal chords, to the pistons inside the cylinders of the engines of our cars.  Generally, these oscillations are referred to as periodic motion.  A special case of periodic motion is called simple harmonic motion and it is this type that we will emphasize in our study of oscillations. If this seems like a lot to take in, don't worry, you get into the swing of it...no pun intended.

Suggested timeframe: 2 weeks

Big Ideas:
1. Simple harmonic oscillations are defined by specific mathematical relationships.
2. Simple harmonic oscillations are executed by a variety of mechanical devices.
3. A simple pendulum executes approximate simple harmonic motion.