Simple Harmonics

Question 1

SHM

Answer 1

SHM occurs when an object moves such that it’s acceleration is always directed towards a fixed point and is proportional to its distance from the fixed point (a=-w^2x)

Question 2

Period, T

Answer 2

The time taken for one complete cycle

Question 3

Amplitude, A

Answer 3

Maximum displacement from equilibrium position of an object

Question 4

Phase

Answer 4

The phase of an oscillation is the angle in the equation x=Asin(wt+e)

Question 5

Frequency, f

Answer 5

The number of oscillations per second (Hz)

Question 6

Free oscillations

Answer 6

When an oscillatory system (such as a mass on a spring or a pendulum) is displaced and released

Question 7

Damping

Answer 7

The drying away, due to resistive forces, of the amplitude of free oscillations

Question 8

Critical Damping

Answer 8

Resistive forces on the system are just large enough to prevent oscillations occurring at all when the system is displaced and released

Question 9

Forced Oscillation

Answer 9

These occur when a sinusoidally varying driving force is applied to an oscillatory system, causing it to oscillate with the frequency of the applied force

Question 10

Resonance

Answer 10

If, in forced vibrations, the frequency of the applied force is equal to the natural frequency of the system, rhetorical amplitude of the resulting oscillations is large, this being resonance