AP Physics 1 Set 7

simple harmonic motion

occurs when an object is moving back and forth around some equilibrium point. Caused by a restoring force

spring constant

k, how large the restoring force becomes when the objects stick together is displaced a distance c from the equilibrium position. Hooke’s Law: F = -kx

amplitude

maximum displacement measured from the equilibrium position that an object reaches during simple harmonic motion

elastic potential energy

energy stored by virtue of a system being stretched or compressed

cycle

round-trip. for example, from position x = A over to x = -A and back again to x = A

period (of oscillations)

amount of time it takes to complete a cycle; T

frequency (of oscillations)

number of cycles that can be completed per unit time; f

hertz (Hz)

one cycle per second

effective spring constant

overall spring constant that results from several springs being stretched or compressed

simple pendulum

consists of a weight of mass, m, attached to a string or a massless rod that swings, without friction, about the vertical equilibrium position