MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts

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published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
written by the Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics

This video displays normal modes in a vibrating system through the motion of air carts connected by springs on an air track. When this system is at resonant frequency, symmetrical patterns called normal modes appear. The normal modes are shown in both driven and undriven cases, and the demonstration is repeated for systems of two, three, and five coupled carts. The video includes a short explanation of the demonstration. It is appropriate for AP or advanced high school physics courses.

This resource is part of a video demonstration collection created by the Physics Department at MIT.

Editor's Note: The study of linear oscillations lies at the heart of numerous applications in the engineering sciences. A single spring-and-mass system obeys simple harmonic motion (SHM). A system of coupled oscillators is more complex, and can be an effective way to introduce normal modes of vibration. Driven oscillators exhibit motion that results from a periodic external force, which is the basis for many engineering applications including pacemakers and microwave oscillators for mobile communication. See Related Materials for an interactive Java simulation that addresses the same concept.

https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-couple...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Oscillations & Waves - Oscillations = Coupled Oscillations = Normal Modes	- Lower Undergraduate - High School - Informal Education - Upper Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Demonstration - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
General Public
Formats:: application/flash
video/mpeg
video/quicktime
video/mp4
Mirror:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a…
Access Rights:: Free access
License:: This material is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 license.
Rights Holder:: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords:: MIT physics videos, coupled oscillators, driven oscillator, oscillators, physics demonstrations, physics videos, sinusoidal motion, springs
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created July 10, 2012 by Gnana Subramaniam
Record Updated:: August 19, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: June 1, 2009
Other Collections:: The PSRC

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<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=12209">Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics. MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 1, 2009.</a>

AIP Format

Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics, (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 2009), WWW Document, (https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts).

AJP/PRST-PER

Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics, MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 2009), <https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts>.

APA Format

Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics. (2009, June 1). MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts

Chicago Format

Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics. MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 1, 2009. https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts (accessed 21 April 2025).

MLA Format

Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics. MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. 1 June 2009. 21 Apr. 2025 <https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts>.

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@misc{ Author = "Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics", Title = {MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts}, Publisher = {Massachusetts Institute of Technology}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {21 April 2025}, Month = {June 1, 2009}, Year = {2009} }

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%Q Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics %T MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts %D June 1, 2009 %I Massachusetts Institute of Technology %C Cambridge %U https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts %O application/flash

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Technical Services Group @ MIT Physics, %D June 1, 2009 %T MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts %I Massachusetts Institute of Technology %V 2025 %N 21 April 2025 %8 June 1, 2009 %9 application/flash %U https://techtv.mit.edu/collections/physicsdemos/videos/3033-coupled-air-carts

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MIT TechTV: Coupled Air Carts:

Is Part Of MIT Tech TV: Physics Demos

A link to the full collection of physics video-demonstrations produced by the MIT Technical Services Group.

relation by Caroline Hall

Is Simulated By Coupled Oscillators and Normal Modes Model

A Java simulation demonstrating the motion of a coupled oscillator system of two masses connected by three springs. Users can adjust initial position, spring constant, driving force, and damping coefficient.

relation by Caroline Hall

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