Work through the list without notes. If you cannot do a statement, follow its link, then come back. Guide = study guide; Practice = practice questions.
Understanding
- I can define period and frequency, give their units, and convert between them with T = 1/f. (Guide: “Period and frequency”; Practice Q1)
- I can explain why more mass lengthens, and a stiffer spring shortens, the period of a spring–object oscillator. (Guide: “The object–spring oscillator”)
- I can explain why the bob’s mass does not affect a pendulum’s period, using force and inertia. (Guide: “The simple pendulum”; Practice Q7)
- I can state that a spring’s period does not depend on g, and that neither period depends on amplitude for SHM. (Guide; Practice Q3)
Calculation
- I can use T = 2π√(m/k) to find a period, a mass or a spring constant. (Guide: Worked example 1)
- I can use T = 2π√(ℓ/g) to find a period or the length needed for a given period. (Practice Q4)
- I can predict the factor by which a period changes when m, k, ℓ or g changes, including two changes at once. (Guide: factor-of-change table; Practice Q2, Q4(c))
- I can derive T = 2π√(d/g) for a hanging spring from kd = mg. (Practice Q6)
Skills and reasoning
- I can explain why T² against m (or ℓ) is a straight line and find k (or g) from its slope. (Guide: Worked example 2, Figure 1; Practice Q5)
- I can plan a timing experiment: time many cycles, start at equilibrium, change one variable and control the rest. (Guide: “Measuring a period well” and “Designing an experiment”; Practice Q7)
- I can use data to support or refute a claim about what a period depends on. (Practice Q7)
- I can use ℓ ∝ T² to correct a pendulum that runs fast or slow. (Guide: Worked example 3)
All ticked? Move on to Topic 7.3, Representing and Analyzing SHM, or return to the course roadmap.