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Simple Harmonic Motion
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2000 DeepScience.com
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Definition
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM). The motion
that occurs when an object is accelerated towards a mid-point. The size
of the acceleration is dependent upon the distance of the object from
the mid-point. Very common type of motion, eg. sea waves, pendulums, springs
Experiments
We placed a test tube
in a container of water and stabilised the test tube by holding a
pen inside it. The test tube was able to bob up and down in the water.
The motion of the test tube was SHM. |
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We tied a piece of soap
(we couldn't find any cheese) to a sink plug chain (the plug had long
since gone) and swung it to and fro. Wow - it's a pendulum. The bob
(the soap in this case) follows SHM |
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Found
a pump with a handle. When we shone the overhead projector at the
pump handle it made a shadow on the screen. The shadow of the handle
moved up and down on the screen according to SHM if we were turning
the handle at a constant speed. |
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