Coupled Oscillators and Waves

Presenter: Jordan Braun

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Michiael Jones

Department: Physics & Astronomy

Funding Source/Sponsor: Class Project

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rk_7mHfaGoXS_9IlXYAKUQSPgPSSK1Zj

Abstract:
Oscillators are a key component of a physicist’s toolkit for solving real-world problems. By using simpler trigonometric functions, we are able to describe much more complicated systems. In doing so, we are able to mathematically describe these systems and create equations of motion for the system. In order to model oscillations, we chose to use an array of pendulums, for each individual pendulum is able to represent part of a system. While the idea of oscillators may seem simple to a physics student, it is often not the case for others who take a physics or astronomy course as part of their general education, so we need a better way to describe the topic. By creating a physical model with corresponding equations of motion, we will be able to show the students how oscillators work rather than only describing them.