Resonance Lab: Driven Oscillators
Shake five springs and masses at different frequencies and see the one whose natural frequency matches swing wildly.
Five masses on springs hang from a shaker. Change the shaking frequency and see which one swings the most: the one whose natural frequency matches. Drag the yellow line on the graph to set the frequency.
About the Resonance Lab: Driven Oscillators
Free resonance lab: driven oscillators. Shake five springs and masses at different frequencies and see the one whose natural frequency matches swing wildly. Drag, change the sliders and see the result live. No sign-up, works on phone and computer. Built for physics, the resonance lab: driven oscillators runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Shake five springs and masses at different frequencies and see the one whose natural frequency matches swing wildly. Use it to explore physics ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Resonance Lab: Driven Oscillators
- Use the controls to change Shaking frequency, Shaking amplitude, Damping. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Pick an option such as Low tone, Middle, High tone to switch modes or load an example.
- Press "Stop the masses" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Choose the middle preset and find which mass swings the most.
- Slowly drag the shaking frequency across the graph and watch the masses take turns.
- Raise the damping and see the peaks flatten.
- Set the frequency very high and check that the masses barely move.
Key ideas you can learn
- Every oscillator has a natural frequency at which it likes to swing.
- Driving it near that frequency makes the swings grow large. This is resonance.
- More damping lowers and widens the resonance peak.
- Off resonance the mass barely moves even if the shaking is strong.
Where this is used in the real world
Bridges, buildings, musical instruments, radio tuners, MRI machines and swings all depend on resonance, sometimes to be used and sometimes to be avoided.
Who is this simulation for?
Physics students in middle school, high school and first-year university, teachers who want a quick demonstration for the projector, and anyone revising for exams. It works well for flipped classrooms because students can explore before the lesson.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is resonance?
Resonance happens when something is pushed at its natural frequency, so each push adds to the motion and the amplitude grows.
Why does damping matter?
Damping removes energy every swing. With heavy damping the resonance peak is smaller and flatter, which is why cars have shock absorbers.
Is the Resonance Lab: Driven Oscillators free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Resonance Lab: Driven Oscillators work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.