Take a closer look at springs and get to grips with the nature of these mathematical models by considering a range of examples as diverse as pendulums and molecules.
Why do mundane objects like springs win a place in the physics curriculum? This course will explain why they are of such interest to physicists. Going beyond the curricular treatment of springs and simple harmonic motion, students will explore the nature of the mathematics used to model springs and probe the nature of mathematical models in physics more generally. In the process, we will study examples as diverse as pendulums and molecules, finishing with an introduction to topics in materials science. After this course, students will have a deeper understanding of mathematical functions in physics and how they can be applied.
Course Content
7 LESSONS
7 HOURS Total Length
Lesson 1
Abstraction and Mathematical Modelling: What is a Spring?
60 minutes
Lesson 2
Hooke's Law as a Differential Equation
60 minutes
Lesson 3
Simple Harmonic Motion I
60 minutes
Lesson 4
Simple Harmonic Motion II
60 minutes
Lesson 5
Spring-Like Models: Pendulums
60 minutes
Lesson 6
Spring-Like Models: Molecular Vibrations
60 minutes
Lesson 7
Beyond Hooke's Law: Springs and Materials Science
60 minutes
Key Skills
Calculus with Trigonometry
Solving Differential Equations
Analogical Reasoning
Use of Models in Physics
Educator
Sunil P
Maths and Physics Specialist
Having been an Educator for a number of years, Sunil is now studying for his PGCE and is a highly qualified maths and physics educator.