Lecture 13: Potential Energy - Energy Considerations to Derive Simple Harmonic Motion
recorded by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT
published: Oct. 10, 2008, recorded: October 1999, views: 32175
released under terms of: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike (CC-BY-NC-SA)
See Also:
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec13_01.m4v (Video - generic video source 110.7 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec13_01.rm (Video - generic video source 112.3 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec13_01.flv (Video 111.7 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec13_01_352x240_h264.mp4 (Video 154.3 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec13_01.wmv (Video 453.9 MB)
Download subtitles: TT/XML,
RT,
SRT
Related content
Report a problem or upload files
If you have found a problem with this lecture or would like to send us extra material, articles, exercises, etc., please use our ticket system to describe your request and upload the data.Enter your e-mail into the 'Cc' field, and we will keep you updated with your request's status.
Description
>>PLEASE TAKE A QUICK SURVEY<<
1. Gravitational Potential Energy:
A review is given of the spatial dependence of the gravitational potential energy both close to the Earth's surface and at large distances from Earth. The gravitational force pulls objects in the direction of decreasing potential energy.
2. Calculating U(x) from F(x) and Vice Versa:
The potential energy, U(x), of a spring system is derived and sketched as a function of displacement x. The force can be derived if the function U(x) is known: F(x)=-dU(x)/dx.
3. Equilibrium Points:
The minima and maxima of potential energy are positions where the net force is zero. At the stable equilibrium points the 2nd derivative of U(x) is positive, at the unstable equilibrium points the 2nd derivative is negative.
4. Parabolic Potential Energy Well ==> SHO:
Using the parabolic shape of the potential energy for a spring, and the conservation of mechanical energy, it is shown that the mass on the spring oscillates as a simple harmonic oscillator (SHO).
5. Circular Potential Energy Well ==> SHO:
Using a circular potential energy well and the conservation of mechanical energy, it is shown that for SMALL ANGLES, the oscillations are simple harmonic. A circular track with very large radius is used to demonstrate this.
6. Sliding on a Circular Track ==> SHO:
The known radius of a circular air track is used to predict the period of oscillation of a sliding object (small angles!), and a measurement is made to confirm this. The process is repeated for a ball bearing rolling in another circular track. The period of oscillation can now not be predicted in a similar way as was possible in the case of the air track. Why? ==> No, it has nothing to do with friction!
Link this page
Would you like to put a link to this lecture on your homepage?Go ahead! Copy the HTML snippet !
Reviews and comments:
could have done with a few more demonstrations
i could not figure out the problem of the second air track demonstration, anybody has any idea?
To someone who commented in 2010, Li, asking about the second demonstration... The ball slowed down, therefore the timing was more than the predicted. That is because the motion of the ball. It is rolling, therefore it 'spends' some energy into stoping the motion going up and rolling motion.
Hi all!
We have translated this entire course for you from English into 11 languages.
Check this video and give us some feedback in this short survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6DMBC3Q
Write your own review or comment: