PURPOSE: To illustrate the behavior of a driven and damped oscillator.

DESCRIPTION: A moveable glider, attached by stretched strings to a end of the air track at one end and an oscillator motor at the other, executes SHM when displaced and released. The oscillator can be driven by the variable frequency motor driver and damped by a sail attached to the glider. The natural frequency of the glider can be changed by adding mass to the glider.

SUGGESTIONS: You can do this demo without the oscillator motor. Just attach the spring to the ring stand at one end.

EQUIPMENT: Drive motor, ring stand, glider, springs, weight set, sail, and air track.

SETUP TIME: 50 min.

KEYWORDS: driven and damped oscillator