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Elastic Pendulum

Purpose

To demonstrate a non-linear coupling resonance and stable fixed points.

Equipment

Elastic pendulum on mount.

Images

g2-42

Description

Start the spring oscillating vertically; the energy will then couple back and forth between pendular motion and vertical spring motion. Stationary combinations of these two oscillations (corresponding to normal modes in a linear resonance) can also be produced, by pulling the weight simultaneously down and to the side. Adding an additional weight to the spring destroys the resonance, resulting in less than total transfer of energy between the pendulum and spring motion. This non-linear coupling resonance occurs when the spring (vertical) frequency is twice the frequency of a pendulum of the le

References

Lecture-Demonstration Supplemental Information Sheet: Coupled Spring-Pendulum.