Oscillations Flashcards

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1
Q

Define displacement:

A

the distance from the equilibrium position in a particular direction

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2
Q

Define amplitude:

A

the maximum displacement of the oscillator from its equilibrium position

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3
Q

Define period:

A

the time taken for the oscillator to complete one complete oscillation

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4
Q

Define frequency:

A

the number of oscillations per unit time

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5
Q

Define simple harmonic motion:

A

acceleration is directly proportional to its displacement from its equilibrium position and is directed towards the equilibrium position

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6
Q

What is phase difference in terms of oscillations?

A

the fraction of an oscillation one oscillator leads or lags behind another

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7
Q

What equipment can you use to show that an oscillator keeps a steady time?

A

a motion sensor attached to a laptop or a data logger

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8
Q

When does kinetic energy have a maximum value?

A

when displacement is 0

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9
Q

What are free oscillations?

A

the motion of a mechanical system oscillating without any external forces

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10
Q

What is natural frequency?

A

the frequency of free oscillations

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11
Q

What is applied in a forced oscillations?

A

external periodic driving force

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12
Q

What is driving frequency?

A

the frequency of a driving force

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13
Q

When are oscillations in a mechanical system damped?

A

when an external force acts on the system which reduces the amplitude of the oscillations

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14
Q

What is damping caused by?

A

frictional forces

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15
Q

What happens to the amplitude when light damping is used?

A

it decreases by the same fraction each time

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16
Q

When is an oscillator in resonance?

A

when it has maximum amplitude when being forced to oscillate

17
Q

What happens at resonance to the driving frequency?

A

it is equal to the natural frequency of the forced oscillator

18
Q

What does the forced oscillator absorb from the driver at resonance?

A

maximum energy

19
Q

What is the frequency at maximum amplitude also known as?

A

resonant frequency

20
Q

What happens as the amount of damping is increased?

A
  • amplitude of the vibration at any frequency decreases

- the maximum amplitude occurs at a lower frequency than the natural frequency

21
Q

Name some examples of resonance:

A

tuning circuit of a radio, MRI scanner and wind instruments