Blood Clots in a Classical Mechanics Course: Simulating Driven, Damped Oscillators Using Finite Element Analysis

Oscillations exist in nearly all aspects of life. From the suspension of cars, the movement of the ocean, and the beat of your heart, oscillators such as these are present in medical and physical applications alike. Yet, despite their central role in classical mechanics and ongoing physics research, students often perceive oscillators as abstract concepts disconnected from real-world applications in the laboratory. We used Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software to build realistic simulations of oscillators tailored for classroom settings. These simulations depict a wide range of scenarios, from a simple mass on a spring to a pedestrian footbridge, and even a blood clot within a blood vessel. Using these simulations, we created a set of four in-class tutorials to be used across three 75-minute class periods. Students are able to interact with each simulation to produce animations, construct displacement spectra, and easily experiment with driven damped oscillators by toggling the properties of the simulation. Creating these simulations of driven-damped oscillators allows current physics research to be incorporated into the classroom, enhancing its accessibility for students. By making physics research tangible and engaging, we hope to empower students to delve into the exciting world of oscillations and their many real-world applications.