Lesson Plan

State Hooke's law F = −kx and explain the meaning of the restoring force and the force constant

Define oscillation, periodic motion, period, frequency, amplitude, and equilibrium position, and use f = 1/T

Calculate the period and frequency of a mass-spring oscillator and explain why amplitude does not affect them

Describe the restoring force on a simple pendulum and calculate its period using T = 2π√(L/g)

Use a pendulum's period and length to determine the local acceleration due to gravity

5.5

"In equation form, Hooke's law is F = −kx, where x is the amount of deformation ... produced by the restoring force F, and k is a constant that depends on the shape and composition of the object. The restoring force is the force that brings the object back to its equilibrium position; the minus sign is there because the restoring force acts in the direction opposite to the displacement." "The mass m and the force constant k are the only factors that affect the period and frequency of simple harmonic motion. The period of a simple harmonic oscillator is given by T = 2π√(m/k)." "For small angle oscillations of a simple pendulum, the period is T = 2π√(L/g). The only things that affect the period of a simple pendulum are its length and the acceleration due to gravity."