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
Conservation of Energy using Masses and Springs (homework version) (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
MC Remote Lab HW |
Physics |
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 |
Demo Lab 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 updated by Diana López | HS MS |
Other | Chemistry Biology Earth Science Physics |
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How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | Chemistry Earth Science Physics Biology |
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PHET: Masses and Springs 2021 | Robin Ritland | MS | Lab Guided Remote |
Physics | ||
Video: Self-paced Investigation on Hooke's Law Virtual Lab | Louis Wong | HS MS |
HW Remote Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
Harmonic oscillator | Marko Vargović | HS | Lab HW Guided Remote |
Physics | ||
Elastic potential energy, work and Hooke’s law. | Mariya Almallah | UG-Intro HS |
Remote Lab |
Physics | ||
Hooke's Law and The Spring Constant | Alya AlOwais | HS UG-Intro |
Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
Guided Discovery (Chinese/English) for Freshman University Physics: 4. Rotations & Oscillations | Charity Grace White (白愛恩), Ammanuel Assefa, Byron Lin (林彥孝), Jonathon David White (白小明) | UG-Intro | Guided Remote Lab |
Physics | ||
Guided Discovery (Chinese/English) for Freshman University Physics: 3. Energy & Momentum | Janet Chen (陳衫豫), Aien Charity Grace White (白愛恩), Jonathon David White (白小明) | UG-Intro | Remote Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
Video: Self-paced Investigation on Simple Harmonic Motion of a spring-mass system | Louis Wong | MS HS |
HW Lab Guided Remote |
Physics | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Biology |
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Factors Affecting The Frequency of A simple Harmonic Oscillator | Ferdinand Bautista | MS HS |
Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
Simple Harmonic Motion (Pendulum & Spring) | Nawal Nayfeh | UG-Intro HS |
Lab Remote |
Physics | ||
Virtual Lab - Hooke's Law and Spring Systems | Tristan O'Hanlon | UG-Intro HS |
Remote Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
Spring Oscillators Activity | Silas Laycock | UG-Intro HS |
Lab Guided Remote |
Physics | ||
Simple Harmonic Motion Virtual Modeling Lab PhET | Julie Farhm | HS | Remote Lab |
Physics | ||
Hooke's Law, Spring Constant, and Energy HONORS | Steve Banasiak | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Hooke's Law and Spring Constant with Energy: Regular Level | Steve Banasiak | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics | Jaya Ramchandani | HS | Other | Physics | ||
Spring Mass Experiment | Gaurang Patel | UG-Intro UG-Adv HS |
Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C | Roberta Tanner | HS | Other | Physics | ||
Energy in a Coil Spring | Norman Burtness | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | Physics | ||
Hooke's Law Lab | Clark Andersen | HS | HW Lab |
Physics | ||
Qualitative Introduction to Energy | Steve Banasiak | MS HS |
Lab | Physics | ||
Energía Mecánica |
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Trish Loeblein (traducción de Diana López) | UG-Intro HS MS |
MC HW Guided Lab Discuss Remote |
Physics |
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) |
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Diana López | MS HS |
Other | Chemistry Physics Biology Mathematics |
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Introducción a la Física: medidas, unidades y relación entre variables |
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Diana López | HS UG-Intro |
HW Lab Remote Guided |
Physics | |
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) |
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Diana López | UG-Intro HS |
Other | Mathematics Physics Chemistry |
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大一物理引導式自我發現 (中文/英文): 轉動和振蕩 | Charity Grace White (白愛恩), Ammanuel Assefa, Byron Lin (林彥孝), Jonathon David White (白小明) | UG-Intro | Remote Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
大一物理引導式自我發現 (中文/英文): 能量與動量 | Janet Chen (陳衫豫), Charity Grace White (白愛恩), Jonathon David White (白小明) | UG-Intro | Remote Lab Guided |
Physics | ||
Harmonijski oscilator | Marko Vargović | HS | Lab Remote Guided HW |
Physics | ||
Oplossing (Veren en massa's) | Roland Van Kerschaver | HS | Lab | Physics Mathematics |
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Massa's en veren | Roland Van Kerschaver | HS | Lab | Physics | ||
Moteur en PhET | Bernard Lacour | Other | Lab | Physics | ||
Laboratório virtual - Sistema Massa-mola | Tiago Paes | Grad UG-Intro |
Remote Guided Lab |
Physics | ||
Estática (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | Other HS MS UG-Intro |
HW Discuss Demo Other Guided |
Earth Science Physics Other |
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Dinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET | Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales | HS MS Grad Other UG-Adv |
Other HW Lab Guided |
Physics Other Earth Science |
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Elasticidad de un resorte | FRANKLIN MOLINA | UG-Intro | MC | Physics | ||
Guia para trabajar Masa - Resorte con aplicación de gráficas en Excel | Luis Fernando Londoño Zea | HS MS |
Guided HW Remote Discuss |
Physics | ||
JUGANDO CON MUELLES | Laureano Costarrosa | HS | Remote Guided Lab HW Discuss |
Physics | ||
LEY HOOKE Y MOVIMIENTO ARMÓNICO | Pedro Salgado | HS UG-Intro |
Lab HW Remote Guided |
Physics Astronomy |
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Movimiento Armonico Simple: El pendulo y el resorte (Simple Harmonic Motion:pendulum and spring | Carmen Maldonado | UG-Intro HS |
HW Remote Lab Guided Demo |
Physics |
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