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 name the system whose energy I am tracking: spring–object, or pendulum bob–Earth. (Guide: “The system and its energy”)
- I can explain why the total energy of an ideal oscillator stays constant. (Guide: “The system and its energy”)
- I can say where kinetic energy is zero and where potential energy is largest, and explain why. (Guide: “Trading energy back and forth”; Practice Q1)
- I can explain why changing the amplitude changes the total energy but not the period. (Guide: “Changing the amplitude”; Practice Q2)
Calculation
- I can use E = ½kA² to find the total energy or the amplitude. (Guide: Worked examples 1 and 3; Practice Q4)
- I can find the maximum speed of a spring oscillator or a pendulum bob from energy. (Guide: Worked examples 1 and 2; Practice Q4, Q7)
- I can find the speed at any displacement using ½mv² + ½kx² = ½kA². (Guide: Worked example 1; Practice Q4)
- I can find the kinetic and potential energy fractions at a given displacement, such as x = A/2. (Guide: “Common misconceptions”; Practice Q3)
Reasoning and representations
- I can read k, A, U and K from an energy–position graph and sketch the K curve. (Guide: Figure 1; Practice Q5)
- I can draw energy bar charts for an oscillator at different positions. (Guide: “Energy bar charts”; Practice Q7)
- I can describe how K and U change with time over one period. (Guide: Figure 2)
- I can use measured speeds and amplitudes to find k and test a claim about energy. (Practice Q6)
- I can explain why a heavier pendulum bob is no faster at the bottom. (Guide: Worked example 2; Practice Q7)
All ticked? Unit 7 is complete. Move on to Topic 8.1, Internal Structure and Density, or return to the course roadmap.