It is shown that a rigid rod, suspended horizontally by two springs, may be used to demonstrate all of the principal features of coupled harmonic oscillations. This simple system is easy to set up and analyze and has some interesting features not possessed by other coupled oscillation demonstrations. The coupling between translational motion of the center of mass (c.m.) and rotational motion about the c.m. can be easily adjusted by changing the springs and their points of attachment to the rod. The normal modes have simple interpretations as pure rotations about points away from the c.m. With proper choice of the parameters these points are located at the points of attachment of the springs. Surprisingly it is possible to measure normal mode frequencies without exciting pure normal mode motion.
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June 1992
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June 01 1992
A novel coupled oscillation demonstration
Frank G. Karioris;
Frank G. Karioris
Department of Physics, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
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Kenneth S. Mendelson
Kenneth S. Mendelson
Department of Physics, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
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Am. J. Phys. 60, 508–513 (1992)
Article history
Received:
August 26 1991
Accepted:
November 12 1991
Citation
Frank G. Karioris, Kenneth S. Mendelson; A novel coupled oscillation demonstration. Am. J. Phys. 1 June 1992; 60 (6): 508–513. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.16864
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