SHM revision Flashcards
To revise SHM
What is the period of oscillation?
The time for one complete cycle of oscillation.
If a trolley is at equilibrium attached to two springs, when pushed in one direction, what will the trolley do and why?
It will accelerate toward the equilibrium point. The extended spring provides a restoring force.
What is natural frequency?
The frequency of free oscillations of an oscillating system.
What are forced vibrations?
Making an object oscillate at a frequency that is not it’s natural frequency
When does resonance occur?
When the driving force or oscillation matches the natural frequency of the system.
What is the outcome of resonance?
An increase in amplitude of the system’s oscillation.
What is damping?
The term used to describe the removal of energy from an oscillating system.
What are the four levels of damping?
Light Heavy Critical over damped
Describe light damping of a system
The system oscillates over a long time frame before coming to rest. The amplitude of the oscillations follow an exponential decay envelope.
Describe over damped
The oscillating system returns to zero over an extended time frame. (No discernible oscillation)
Describe critical damping
The oscillating system returns to the zero position of the oscillation after one quarter of a time period. Does not affect frequency.
Define a free oscillator
Oscillations where there is no periodic force acting on the system
Define a forced oscillator
A system is forced to oscillate by an external periodic force
For an object undergoing SHM where does it have the greatest velocity?
At the equilibrium position
For an object undergoing SHM where does it have zero velocity?
At the amplitudes