The behavior of an unbalanced rocking cylinder is investigated as an example of a non-isochronous oscillator. The dependence of the period on the maximum angular swing is found to be more pronounced than in the pendulum case and tunable with a suitable choice of masses and moments of inertia. Computer acquisition of the force exerted on the horizontal plane allows comparison of the dynamical behavior of the system with computational predictions. The system deserves consideration for theoretical and experimental investigations in undergraduate physics courses for the nontrivial effects arising from the displacement of the center of mass from the geometrical cylinder axis and the anharmonic character of the oscillations.
A non-isochronous rocking oscillator
FILIPPONI, Adriano
2014-01-01
Abstract
The behavior of an unbalanced rocking cylinder is investigated as an example of a non-isochronous oscillator. The dependence of the period on the maximum angular swing is found to be more pronounced than in the pendulum case and tunable with a suitable choice of masses and moments of inertia. Computer acquisition of the force exerted on the horizontal plane allows comparison of the dynamical behavior of the system with computational predictions. The system deserves consideration for theoretical and experimental investigations in undergraduate physics courses for the nontrivial effects arising from the displacement of the center of mass from the geometrical cylinder axis and the anharmonic character of the oscillations.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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