In my intro to differential equations class, we were assigned a project from the textbook in which we are to find out own harmonic oscillator. Here are some details:
" In the text, we claim that the harmonic oscillator can be used as a simple model for many different situations. The key ingredients are a restoring force, which pushes the system back toward a rest position, and (perhaps) a damping force.
For this lab, you are to find such a system. It may be mechanical, biological, psychological, political, financial, or whatever. You will have to do some analysis on your system, so you will need to be able to obtain some data on its “motion.” You can either record the data yourself or use published data (with proper references). "
The report should include a second-order differential equation and/or a system of differential equations, as well as a direction field and/or phase plane.
I need help finding good real life examples of systems with the properties mentioned above. But mainly, I need help finding actual data from online sources that I can use for this project. And it must be something other than your classic spring-mass system.
Thank you!