Vertical Spring Simulator
Explore Vertical Spring Simulator as an interactive EJS simulation for mechanics.
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1. Watch or Launch
Launch the Interactive
Open the simulation, adjust the controls, and compare what changes on screen before answering the concept-check questions.
2. Big Ideas
What Students Can Learn
- Relate spring force to extension or compression.
- Identify equilibrium as the position where resultant force may be zero.
- Recognise damping as a resistive effect that reduces oscillation amplitude.
- Use force and motion evidence to distinguish restoring force from damping.
Guiding Question
How do spring stiffness and damping change the motion after the object is displaced?
3. Try the Investigation
Displace the System
Move the object away from equilibrium and predict the restoring direction.
Change Spring Stiffness
Compare the motion for a weaker and stronger spring.
Add Damping
Increase damping and observe how the amplitude changes over time.
Explain Energy Loss
Use the motion pattern to explain how damping affects mechanical energy.
4. Teacher Notes
Lesson Use
Use the model to connect force laws to time-dependent motion.
Discussion Prompts
Ask: Where is equilibrium? Which direction is the restoring force? What does damping change?
Teaching Moves
Ask students to sketch force direction at several positions before running the model.
5. Concept Check
These questions are generated from the topic and the concept illustrated by the simulation. Use them after students have explored the model.
Concept Score
Correct first attempts build a streak and unlock higher point multipliers on this device.
1. What does a spring force usually try to do?
2. What happens to oscillation amplitude when damping is increased?
3. In a simple spring model, what does greater extension usually produce?
4. Why identify the equilibrium position?
5. What should students use as evidence for damping?
7. Learning Pulse
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