Oscillations Flashcards
What is displacement in simple harmonic motion?
The distance from the equilibrium position.
What is amplitude?
The maximum displacement.
What is the period?
The time taken to complete one full oscillation.
What is frequency?
The number of oscillations per unit time.
What quantity has the same symbol as angular frequency?
Angular velocity.
What is a free oscillation?
An oscillation where after an initial force is applied, the oscillating system is left and it begins to damp due to frictional forces.
What is a forced oscillation?
An oscillation where a force is repeatedly applied so that the amplitude does not damp over time.
When an oscillating object experiences damping, what factors remain constant?
The time period and frequency of the object.
When does resonance occur?
When the driving frequency of a forced oscillation is equal to the natural frequency of the oscillating object. When an object resonates, its amplitude increases until the object breaks or it experiences damping.
What is a fiducial mark?
A mark used to provide a clear point to start and stop measurements.
What makes a simple harmonic oscillator isochronous?
Its time period is independent of its amplitude.
When does an oscillating object have maximum kinetic energy?
When it is moving past the equilibrium position. (It has maximum velocity here).
When does an oscillating object have maximum potential energy?
When it is has maximum amplitude.
Examples of resonance?
- Swinging legs on a swing to swing higher.
- Wobbly bridges.
