Masses and Springs
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Original Sim and Translations |
Topics
- Periodic Motion
- Hooke's Law
- Conservation of Energy
- Newton's Laws
- Measurement
- Vectors
Description
Hang masses from springs and adjust the spring constant and damping. Transport the lab to different planets, or slow down time. Observe the forces and energy in the system in real-time, and measure the period using the stopwatch.
Sample Learning Goals
- Determine the factors which affect the period of oscillation
- Find the value of g on Planet X
- Design an experiment to determine the mass of an unknown object
- Describe the relationship between the velocity and acceleration vectors, and their relationship to motion, at various points in the oscillation
- Explain how the free-body diagram of the mass changes throughout its oscillation
- Explain the Conservation of Mechanical Energy using kinetic, elastic potential, gravitational potential, and thermal energy
Teacher Tips
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Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Video Primer
Teacher-Submitted Activities
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Authors | Level | Type | Subject |
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| Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
MC | Physics |
| Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
HW Lab Demo |
Physics |
| Conservation of Energy using Masses and Springs (homework version) (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS | HW | Physics |
| Conservation of Energy using Masses and Springs (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS | Lab | Physics |
| Masses and Springs Homework Determine Unknowns (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
HW | Physics |
| Hooke's Law (Hands-on & PhET) |
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Elyse Zimmer | HS | Lab | Physics | |
| Experimental Design with Forces |
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UTeach Middle School PhET Team | MS | Lab | Physics | |
| Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
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Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | Chemistry Physics Earth Science Biology |
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| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Earth Science Physics Chemistry Biology |
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| Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Biology Chemistry Physics |
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| Spring Mass Experiment | Gaurang Patel | HS UG-Adv UG-Intro |
Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
| PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C | Roberta Tanner | HS | Other | Physics | ||
| Energy in a Coil Spring | Norman Burtness | UG-Intro HS |
Lab | Physics | ||
| Hooke's Law Lab | Clark Andersen | HS | HW Lab |
Physics | ||
| Qualitative Introduction to Energy | Steve Banasiak | MS HS |
Lab | Physics | ||
| Oplossing (Veren en massa's) | Roland Van Kerschaver | HS | Lab | Mathematics Physics |
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| Massa's en veren | Roland Van Kerschaver | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
| Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | UG-Intro Other HS MS |
Discuss Demo HW Other Guided |
Other Earth Science Physics |
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| Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS UG-Adv Grad MS Other |
Guided Lab HW Other |
Physics Earth Science Other |
Browse legacy activities.
The new HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.
iPad:
iOS 11+ Safari
iPad compatible sims
Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.
Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims
Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.
Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.
Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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