GCSE physics: starter for teaching concepts of frequency and period

This resource is a practical demonstration starter for teaching about frequency and period, common to all physics 'Waves' topics at GCSE - and could also be used as a refresher at A level. It uses widely available equipment, is simple to set up, and engages students at the start of a lesson/topic with a 'mystery' for them to predict and discuss...

The first slide in the PowerPoint shows a photograph of a simple practical demo set up, involving 100g, 200g, 300g... masses hanging from identical springs, with the masses propped up on rulers so they have a small displacement above their equilibrium position. The question asks students to consider which one will oscillate with the greatest frequency - and more importantly, how would they *know* if they were right when the green boxes are knocked out?

The second slide features examples of what is meant by the term 'frequency' and the unit hertz.

The third slide has a skeleton table and brief instructions for investigating the period and calculating the frequency of the different oscillating masses. Students with stopwatches can use the 'time ten oscillations then divide by ten' technique, then use the frequency = 1/period formula to find frequency.