This Java applet allows the user to view and adjust the parameters of the equation for damped harmonic motion. The user can vary the mass, spring constant, damping coefficient and initial values of the function, and the applet plots the resulting displacement vs. time for the given parameters. Some probing questions are asked to get the user to think about some limits of the equation and the plotting program.
Type of Material:
Java applet
Recommended Uses:
Tutorial, in-class demo, homework
Technical Requirements:
Java applet
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The major goal is for students to understand different solutions of the damped harmonic oscillator in terms of k, c, m, and y(0) and v(0).
Target Student Population:
Intermediate and advanced undergraduates.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic knowledge of differential equations and the concept of damped harmonic motion
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This is a flexible applet that allows the user to visualize the equation of displacement vs. time for the damped harmonic oscillator. The user can change the parameters and the graph automatically re-plots. The applet also plots the envelope if there is one. The questions for the user in the instructions are good to provoke the user to think about the limits of the equation.
Concerns:
Units are not supplied and axes have no numbers or labels. It is purely qualitative.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This is effective as an easy to use plotting tool, enabling the user to quickly see the qualitative results of changing a parameter.
It is effective for demonstrating underdamped and overdamped motion. Students can discover the conditions for the different types of motions in terms of the constants given.
Concerns:
The parameters are limited in scope, and the applet has limited use as it is simply a plotting tool without any numbers on the axes.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The applet has a straight-forward and easy-to-use interface with sliders used to change the parameters? values. The curve automatically re-plots when a parameter?s value is changed.
Concerns:
The extra lines that are plotted are distracting.
Creative Commons:
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