Harmonic Oscillator with Magnetic Restoring Force

Objective: Build a harmonic oscillator whose restoring force is provided by magnets aligned so as to repel each other.

One version of this experiment (using two index cards taped together) is suggested by Robert Ehrlich in his book Why Toast Lands Jelly-side Down (though the experiment apparently did not originate with Erhlich).

Another version is suggested by the construction of a magnetic train.

Progress:

Fall 2001 (Timofeev and Turischev) Reproduced the original version with paper and tape. Samples of their apparati are available in the ACE Lab as this is written. Compared to linear damping model. The major drawback is that the damping occurs so quickly. The data fits the computation well, but if more friction could be eliminated, the modeling could be more interesting.

Fall 2002 (Nahn Dinh, Vishal Patel) Constructed train with side walls (not completely levitating). Modeled with constant friction.