Oscillations Flashcards
What is displacement?
The distance an object moves from its equilibrium position. It may be positive or negative.
What is amplitude?
The maximum displacement. I is always positive.
What is frequency?
The number of oscillations per unit time at any point.
What is the period of an oscillation?
The time taken for one complete pattern of oscillation at any point.
What is phase difference?
The fraction of a complete cycle or oscillation between two oscillating points, expressed in degrees or radians.
What is simple harmonic motion?
How a body will oscillate if its acceleration is directly proportional to its displacement from a fixed point and always directed towards that point.
What is the velocity at maximum displacement of an oscillating mass?
zero
What is the acceleration at maximum displacement of an oscillating mass?
Maximum acceleration
What is the velocity when an oscillating mass passes through the equilibrium position?
Maximum velocity
What is the acceleration when an oscillating mass passes through the equilibrium position?
zero
What does it mean when the period of an object with simple harmonic motion is isochronous?
The period is constant and independent of the amplitude of the oscillation.
What does the graph look like of energy against displacement of a body in simple harmonic motion?
The total energy is a straight line. The potential energy is a u-shaped line. The kinetic energy is an n-shaped line. The total energy is located above the two curves.
What is damping?
Forces that reduce the amplitude of an oscillation with time due to energy being removed from the oscillating system.
What are the two types of damping?
Heavy and light damping.
What are free oscillations?
Oscillations that occur when there is no external periodic force. The system oscillates at its natural frequency.
