Question

Which of the following is an example of simple harmonic motion?

A. A police car shining a spotlight into buildings as it drives by

B. A ball bouncing on a sidewalk

C. Calculating the angle of elevation for a building

D. The height of the water in Monterey Bay

***my answer: C

not too sure tho. :/ is that right?

Answer 1

@jim_thompson5910 :)

Answer 2

simple harmonic motion is something that is repetitive usually.

Answer 3

ex a pendulum or a spring ~

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_harmonic_motion

Answer 5

yes... but i'm not sure... cuz the height of water changes right? with the tide and stuff?

and a police shining its headlights through buildings as it drives by is irregular, depending on speed, distance between buildings and such right?

and a ball bouncing on a sidewalk goes up and down and up and down right? but wouldn't it slow down at the end when it loses momentum? would it be that then? cuz pendulums lose momentum as well right?

and idk, would C. calculating the elevation of a building be considered constant? and repetitive?

Answer 6

There's only one answer that reflects an object in any kind of motion.

Answer 7

so it has to be an object?

Answer 8

so would that make the answer B. A ball bouncing on a sidewalk ??

Answer 9

i would say B because that's the only one in which displacement is proportional to force. because potential energy = mass * gravity * height

Answer 10

the waves change because of the moon, the police car... well we have no clue when that comes, and the angle of elevation of a building..? nothing is moving ... well hopefully the building isn't :)

Answer 11

haha okay i see :) thank you!!!

Answer 12

A cop driving a car doesn't have any harmonics associated with it.
There are no harmonics involved in calculating the height of a building.
There are no harmonics involved in height of water.

Answer 13

okay, thanks! :D

Answer 14

I would say D because the height of the water in the bay is a lot like the height of the water in the open ocean

Answer 15

both go up and down in a period and wave like fashion (think of a sine wave)

Answer 16

but would it change with the tide? so would it not be repetitive? :/ math is confusing :(

Answer 17

Yes, waves have harmonics.

But that is not the same as "the height of the water in monterey bay".

Answer 18

hmm then idk, physics was never my thing lol

Answer 19

haha okay :P

lol this is physics? :/ my teacher gave it as math... weird lol :P

Answer 20

You want harmonics?

Look up "ringing waveform".

Then compare that to the way a ball bounces on the sidewalk.

Answer 21

wait so is it B? Or D?

cuz i did a science fair project on pendulums and i know that they are considered repetitive even tho they slow and then come to a halt... so is that the same with a ball bouncing?

Answer 22

Yes, it is.

Answer 23

ohhh okay haha thank youuu :)

Answer 24

And the answer is B