Teaching Physics with the Physics Suite

Edward F. Redish

Home | Action Research Kit| Sample Problems | Resources | Product Information

Thinking Problems: Oscillations and Waves

Problem Name Multiple-Choice/Short Answer Multiple-Choice/Multiple Response Representation Translation Ranking Tasks Mechanism-Based Reasoning Problems Estimation Problems Qualitative Questions Essay Questions
O1. Where's the force? (*)
X
         
X
 
O2. Swinging a (*)
X
        
X
 
O3. Graphing a pulse on a string: 1 (*)
X
 
X
     
X
 
O4. Oscillating energies    
X
     
X
 
O5. Oscillating graphs (*)
X
 
X
     
X
 
O6. Motion in a standing wave
X
 
X
     
X
 
O7. Overlapping pulses (*)
X
 
X
     
X
 
O8. Displacement and velocity patterns in waves (*)
X
 
X
     
X
 
O9. Equations for sinusoidal waves (*)    
X
        
O10. Pendulum graphs(*)  
X
X
     
X
 
O11. Swingin' in the rain (*)          
X
   
O12. To what angle?        
X
     
O13. What's wrong with cos?                
O14. Where is the energy?    
X
 
X
     
O15. The damped oscillator        
X
X
   
O16. Catching a pellet and oscillating        
X
     
O17. Bungee jump (*)        
X
X
   
O18. Waves and velocities
X
 
X
         
O19. Making a pulse move (*)    
X
         
O20. Comparing waves    
X
         
O21. Combining pulses (*)
X
 
X
         
O22. Moving a non-symmetric triangular pulse (*)    
X
         
O23. Which wave is which?
X
 
X
         
O24. Spring vs. string              
X
O25. Parsing a pulse            
X
 
O26. Modified harmonics
X
         
X
 
O27. Spring vs. string: graphs  
X
X
     
X
 
O28. Explaining the wave equation              
X
O29. Propagating a Gaussian pulse    
X
     
X
 
O30. Varying a pulse (*)  
X
       
X
 
O31. Interpreting an oscillatory equation    
X
     
X
X
O32. Reflecting on a textbook error            
X
X
O33. Building a pipe organ        
X
X
   
O34. Arranging the patio speakers        
X
 
X
 
O35. Graphing a pulse on a string: 2 (*)
X
 
X
     
X
 
O36. Moving with the pulse (*)    
X
     
X
 
O37. Cancelling pulses (*)            
X
 
O38. The online mass-spring lab (*)    
X
 
X
 
X
 
O39. Hanging mass on a spring    
X
         
O40. Doing the wave              
X
O41. Without missing a beat! (*)    
X
 
X
 
X
 
O42. SHO Energies (*)    
X
         
O43. Oscillating spring video (*)    
X
 
X
     
O44. Pulse at a boundary (*)
X
     
X
     
O45. Explaining pulses            
X
X
O46. Mass hanging on a spring
X
             
O47. More moving pulses    
X
         
O48. SHO Variables (*)  
X
X
         
O49. Oscillating difficulties (*)              
X
O50. Comparing mass-spring and pendulum: 1 (*)    
X
 
X
 
X
 
O51. Comparing mass-spring and pendulum: 2 (*)        
X
     
O52. The on-line pendulum lab (*)        
X
     
O53. Graphing a pulse - 3 (*)    
X
         
O54. Adding pulses
X
 
X
         
O55. Sinusoidal wave on a beaded string (*)    
X
         
O56. Propagating a Gaussian pulse - 2 (*)    
X
         

(*) Problems marked with an asterisk have web solutions available. Click on the asterisk to go to the solution. A password is required. Contact redish@umd.edu to get access.

Page last modified January 12, 2012