Teacher Demonstration
Use the live model as a shared screen demonstration before students try their own predictions and observations.
Physics / Newtonian Mechanics
Horizontal Spring Mass Model Virtual Lab
Explore Horizontal Spring Mass Model Virtual Lab as an interactive EJS simulation for mechanics.
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.
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2. Big Ideas
Key idea Resonance occurs when periodic driving transfers energy efficiently to an oscillator. The key evidence is a large amplitude response when the driving frequency is close to the natural frequency.
What Students Can Learn
- Identify the driving frequency and the system's natural response.
- Compare amplitude at different driving frequencies.
- Recognise damping as a factor that limits amplitude.
- Use graph or motion evidence rather than just saying vibration is present.
Guiding Question
Which driving frequency produces the largest response, and how does damping affect it?
3. Try the Investigation
Start Away from Resonance
Observe the response at a low or high driving frequency.
Sweep the Frequency
Change the driving frequency in steps and compare amplitude.
Locate the Peak
Find the frequency range with the largest steady response.
Test Damping
If damping is available, compare how the peak response changes.
4. Teacher Notes
Lesson Use
Use this to show that timing matters, not only force size. Resonance is about energy transfer at the right frequency.
Discussion Prompts
Ask: What is being driven? Which setting gives the largest amplitude? What happens when damping increases?
Teaching Moves
Make students record amplitude for several frequencies before naming the resonance condition.
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.
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Answer each question once to build your streak.
1. What indicates resonance?
2. What should be varied to find resonance?
3. What does damping usually do to resonance?
4. Why is timing important?
5. What evidence should students cite?
Expert Challenge
Unlocks after 3 correct concept-check answers on this page.
1. In a spring SHM model, what should an expert use to decide restoring-force direction?
2. At maximum displacement in a spring oscillator, what should the model show conceptually?
3. What fair comparison tests the effect of spring constant?
4. What is the expert correction for 'the mass is at equilibrium, so energy has disappeared'?
5. What makes a spring SHM explanation expert-level?
7. Learning Pulse
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