Question

a flagpole is a harmonic oscillator, flexing back and forth with a steady period. If you want to increase the amplitude of the pole's motion by pushing it near its base, when should you push - as it flexes toward you or away from you?

Answer 1

To increase the amplitude of a flagpole's motion, you should push it when it is flexed towards you. This enhances the motion and increases the amplitude due to resonance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to increase the amplitude of a flagpole's motion, you should push it when it is flexed towards you. This is because the force exerted when pushing the pole in the direction it is already flexing enhances the motion and increases the amplitude. This phenomenon is known as resonance, where a small-amplitude driving force can produce a large-amplitude response, similar to a parent pushing a child on a swing at just the right frequency to increase the amplitude of their swings.