Which is the better analogy to use when teaching SHM to first years? Would it be the mass-on-a-spring or a series LC circuit?

Question

Which is the better analogy to use when teaching SHM to first years?  Would it be the mass-on-a-spring or a series LC circuit?

anonymous · Answer

spring-mass system is better understood by beginners..

anonymous · Answer

What about when we start talking about damping?  Would the spring-mass system still be the better system or maybe it would be easier to talk about adding a variable resistor to our circuit?

anonymous · Answer

damping through resistor is easily understood due to the fact that it is localized and viscous damping is not that easy...but still an intro to SHM is more intuitive with spring-mass system..also i personally liked the viscous damping due to the fact that it involved relating between different sections of my physics course - SHM and Resistive forces...