Using a Styrofoam Sphere and Video Analysis to Demonstrate the Linearly Resisted Harmonic Oscillator (Journal Article)

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Abstract: Harmonic motion, undamped or damped, is one of the representative topics in introductory-level physics.1 However, because it is one of the most interesting applications of Newton’s laws of motion, as well as of differential equations, the same subject matter is also discussed in relatively advanced texts in classical mechanics.2–4 In the teaching of it, experimental demonstrations of the associated theory play an important and beneficial role. This explains the substantial body of works that have already entered the literature. These related literature entries differ from each other primarily in the aspect of the data analyses and data acquisitions used. As a result, they have varying degrees of accessibility and convenience. For one, using a smart cart and a smartphone, some authors have demonstrated damped harmonic motion.5 For another, Tracker, a well-established physics modeling tool, has also been used to study the system.6 Furthermore, a sonic motion detector that subsequently analyzes the data using the commercial Logger Pro7 has been used for a similar purpose. Likewise useful in studying the system is the microcontroller Arduino.