What is Oscillation: Definition and 766 Discussions

Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. The term vibration is precisely used to describe mechanical oscillation. Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum and alternating current.
Oscillations occur not only in mechanical systems but also in dynamic systems in virtually every area of science: for example the beating of the human heart (for circulation), business cycles in economics, predator–prey population cycles in ecology, geothermal geysers in geology, vibration of strings in guitar and other string instruments, periodic firing of nerve cells in the brain, and the periodic swelling of Cepheid variable stars in astronomy.

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  1. K

    A gong that makes damped oscillation

    Homework Statement A gong makes a loud noise when struck. The noise gradually gets less and less loud until it fades below the sensitivity of the human ear. The simplest model of how the gong produces the sound we hear treats the gong as a damped harmonic oscillator. The tone we hear is related...
  2. K

    Oscillation amplitudeWhat is the amplitude of the oscillation?

    Homework Statement A 1.4-kg cart is attached to a horizontal spring for which the spring constant is 60 N/m . The system is set in motion when the cart is 0.27m from its equilibrium position, and the initial velocity is 2.6 m/s directed away from the equilibrium position. A. What is the...
  3. DrPapper

    Plane Wave Equation Propagation and Oscillation Directions

    Homework Statement Write down the equation for a plane wave traveling in perpendicular to the plane x+y+z=constant traveling in the direction of increasing x, y, and z. Homework Equations From the given information how do I determine the unit vector that goes next to E(0)? How do I determine...
  4. TorNaGul

    What's the electromagnetic effect on a pendulum oscillation?

    Hello, This is just a curiosity of mine, after noticing light falling on a metal pendulum while doing a simple pendulum period measure, in the laboratory, using a mathematical pendulum at a small angle. Given that, there is a (very small) effect on the pendulum caused by the light falling...
  5. J

    I On liquid oscillation excitation

    (I'm new to the Forum, so if I violate the rules unknowingly, please do let me know) So, during a recent research, I analyzed the frequency spectrum of our hand's oscillation while walking. As it turns out, it contains distinct harmonic frequencies (around 1.8*n Hz), and the second among them...
  6. Crush1986

    Can the Undamped Forced Oscillation Homework Be Solved Using Complex Numbers?

    Homework Statement \ddot x +\omega_0 x = \frac{F_0}{m}sin{\omega_0 t} Homework Equations y_h=C_1 cos{\omega_0 t} + C_2 sin{\omega_0 t} The Attempt at a Solution [/B] So, I complexified this problem, hoping to make it easier. I saw that I couldn't let X_p = Ae^{i \omega_0 t -...
  7. D

    What Is the Maximum Speed of a Mass in a Driven Damped Oscillator?

    Homework Statement A small block (mass 0.25 kg) attached to a spring (force constant 16 N/m) moves in one dimension on a horizontal surface. The oscillator is subject to both viscous damping and a sinusoidal drive. By varying the period of the driving force (while keeping the drive amplitude...
  8. Blitzmeister

    Infinite Square Well Frequency of Oscillation

    Homework Statement Consider a particle in an infinite square well potential that has the initial wave-function: Ψ(x,0) = (1/√2) [Ψ_1(x) + Ψ_2(x)] where Ψ_1(x) and Ψ_2(x) are the ground and first excited state wavefunctions. We notice that <x> oscillates in time. FIND the frequency of...
  9. Remixex

    Ansatz for Hysteretic oscillation

    Homework Statement Given X'' + iG^2 X + w^2 X = 0 G^2 = h/m w^2= k/m What would be a good "educated guess" to solve that differential equation? My oscillations and waves teacher asked this on a test and since I didn't see anything depending on the speed of the object X assumed it was a really...
  10. A

    What causes a trailer to fishtail on the highway?

    I had a somewhat unnerving experience recently. I had bought a travel trailer (caravan for UK readers) and was towing it home when it started to sway from side to side. The oscillations built up to an extreme amplitude of 90 degrees, limited by the trailer hitting the side of the tow vehicle. I...
  11. goonking

    Fundamental frequency of oscillation in 2 ropes

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution if the material are the same in both strings, then the density should be the same. v = sqrt (tension/μ) tension in the first string should be 30 kg x 9.8 m/s^2 = 294 N next, v = λƒ and string#2 needs to have twice the...
  12. Aishik Rakshit

    Difference Between Shm & Oscillation

    What is the difference between simple harmonic motion and oscillation?
  13. A

    Classical Books for statistical thermodynamics and oscillatory motion

    Can someone recommend me some good textbooks or articles that contain or focus on statistical thermodynamics and/or oscillatory motion (preferably with advanced math, not just stories)?
  14. Devin

    What is the frequency of proton oscillation?

    How do protons oscillate? Do they move back and forth with a constant velocity, or sort of like a mass on a spring? If so, what is the frequency of oscillation? Thanks
  15. K

    What is the stretch of the spring?

    Homework Statement A spring scale hung from the ceiling stretches by 6.3 cm when a 1.2 kg mass is hung from it. The 1.2 kg mass is removed and replaced with a 1.4 kg mass. What is the stretch of the spring? F=mg U (spring force) = 1/2kx^2 Homework Equations The units of cm need to be...
  16. I

    Find the frequency of the oscillation of a horizontal beam.

    Homework Statement A uniform meter stick of mass M is pivoted on a hinge at one end and held horizontal by a spring with spring constant k attached at the other end. If the stick oscillates up and down slightly, what is its frequency? [Hint: Write a torque equation about the hinge.] The length...
  17. K

    Vibration Vs Oscillation Vs Wave: What's the difference?

    Hi all, I am confused about the terms: Vibration, oscillation and waves. Is vibration and oscillation same or are they different? My understanding is vibration is associated with flexible/deformable bodies and oscillation for rigid bodies. Waves not really having an idea! Any examples of...
  18. F

    What is the resonance frequency for oscillating electrons in a metallic net?

    hello I suppose electrons oscillate, so do electrons have resonance frequency? ie. a frequency where the amplitude is maximum? and where can I find it? thanks
  19. wolram

    Baryon oscillation peak a cosmological standard ruler

    This came up in the arxivs and had me thinking can this be true? arXiv:1506.05478 [pdf, ps, other] Is the baryon acoustic oscillation peak a cosmological standard ruler? Boudewijn F. Roukema, Thomas Buchert, Hirokazu Fujii, Jan J. Ostrowski Comments: 4 pages, 2 figures Subjects: Cosmology and...
  20. S

    Frequency of oscillation for a hanging mass on a spring?

    Homework Statement 0.54 kg mass hang vertically from a spring with k= 75 Nm. If the mass is displaced 3 cm vertically and allowed to oscillate, what is the frequency of oscillation? Homework Equations T= 2(pi) ((sqrt)(m/K)) F= 1/T The Attempt at a Solution T= 2(pi) ((sqrt)(0.54/75)) =...
  21. T

    Solving the Mystery of a Frictionless Ramp & Spring

    So this sounds homework question but I promise its not. At least its not mine. I saw it on a website because someone made it funny because of what they answered (drew an elephant if you know the one I'm talking about) Anyway, so the problem was a block of mass m = 5 kg falls starting at rest at...
  22. nuuskur

    Why does the soundwave reach its maximum at 3.5ms and a distance of 0.157m?

    Given a soundwave with wavelength ##\lambda = 0,628 m## and a period ##T = 2 ms##. The stopper is started at the exact moment when the wave is at its minimum, call it ##-A##. After ##3.5ms## and ##0,157m## from the point of origin, the wave has reached its maximum, ##A##. Why is it so...
  23. ChrisVer

    Neutrino Oscillation in matter

    Hi, I have some problem in deriving \Delta m_M^2 as given in eq.35 here: http://www.slac.stanford.edu/econf/C040802/papers/L004.PDF When I tried to derive the eigenvalues of H_M (eq.33) I got: m^2 = (\cos 2 \theta -x)^2 + \sin^2 2 \theta which is only one eigenvalue. Any help? In...
  24. M

    How do two springs act as a simple harmonic oscillator in a spring-mass system?

    Hello forum. Panhellenic exams begin in less than 10 days and stress is slowly but steadily been overtaking me these last few months. I've been solving problems out of a physics book, and i got stuck in one which involves mechanical oscillations (spring-mass system). 1. Homework Statement A...
  25. A

    Electric Fields: Oscillating point charge

    Homework Statement Reading a journal from that crazy old retired physics professor on the hill, you stumble upon a scheme to generate high frequency (HF) radio waves (λ = 10 m). It requires generating an electric field that diverges from a point and increases in strength linearly with respect...
  26. V

    Oscillation of a mass connected to a spring displaced

    Homework Statement A mass m hangs on a spring of constant k. In the position of static equilibrium the length of the spring is l. If the mass is drawn sideways and then released,the ensuing motion will be a combination of (a) pendulum swings and (b) extension and compression of the spring...
  27. sushichan

    Oscillation of point charge due to electric field

    Homework Statement [/B] 14. Two positive point charges of magnitude Q and 9Q are a distance d apart, as shown in Figure 2.22 (image attached). a) Calculate the electric field strength at point P, a distance d/4 from Q. A third positive point charge is placed at P and is then displaced a bit to...
  28. tg85

    Neutral particle oscillation and energy conservation

    I have question that I've been thinking about for some time now, and that I can't get my head around. I an experimentalist without education in quantum field theory, and my quantum mechanics introduction courses were a long time ago, so bear with me please. As far as I understand, neutral kaons...
  29. Alex Mercer

    Sprockets+Roller chain+Rotation >Linear oscillation; how?

    Hello there! I am a high school student, and I am really interested in Physics, esp. electronics and mechanics; I am not an expert or something, so please don't take it hard on me. Yesterday, I was bored and I messed around and successfully made a catapult...
  30. M

    Graphing Oscillating Objects: Can You Find the Spring Constant?

    How could you graph a potential energy vs. time graph only knowing the position vs. time graph and the velocity vs time graph for a hanging object oscillating up and down on a string?
  31. goonking

    What is the frequency of oscillation for a human leg as a pivoting rod?

    Homework Statement Consider a human leg to be a rod of uniform density pivoting about one end. What will the frequency of oscillation be for a leg with a length of 0.82 meters?Homework Equations I believe we need the imagine the leg as a rod, so the moment of inertia would be = 1/3 m L2 The...
  32. O

    Find the amplitude of the resulting simple harmonic motions

    Homework Statement An 8.0 lb block is suspended from a spring with a force constant of 3.0 lb/ in. A bullet weighing 0.10 lb is fired into the block from below with a speed of 500 ft/sec and comes to rest in the block. a) Find the amplitude of the resulting simple harmonic motions b) What...
  33. Calpalned

    Reduced oscillation on higher altitudes

    Homework Statement If a simple pendulum is taken from sea level to the top of a high mountain and started at the same angle of five degrees, it would oscillate at the top of the mountain a) slightly slower b) slightly faster c) at exactly the same frequency d) not at all - it would stop e)...
  34. S

    Error source of SHM experiment

    Homework Statement Investigating the effect of mass on the period of oscillation. This experiment is about SHM of a floating cylinder, and the theory is explained in this website: http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/64154/shm-of-floating-objects Also, I'm attaching a diagram of my...
  35. blooperkin

    Understanding Oscillatory Objects: Exploring Equilibrium and Amplitude

    Homework Statement [/B] Homework Equations [/B] x = x₀cos(wt) (or x = -x₀cos(wt) , depending on the graph shape) x = x₀sin(wt) ω = 2π / TThe Attempt at a Solution [/B] I am confused as I have never encountered any oscillatory object with a thickness. Because if I take the middle of...
  36. gasar8

    Tension in string and oscillation

    We've got a 0,5m string attached to a frame and has its own fundamental frequency at 440Hz. We cool our system for 15°C. What is the proper frequency now? String length l=0,5m String section S=0,02 mm^2 String density ρ=7800 kg/m^3 Young module E=2*10^5 N/mm^2 Fundamental frequency ν=440Hz ΔT=...
  37. S

    Simple Harmonic Motion oscillation amplitude

    Homework Statement A mass on a spring has an angular oscillation frequency of 2.56 rad/s. The spring constant is 27.2 N/m, and the system's kinetic energy is 4.16 J when t = 1.56 s. What is the oscillation amplitude? Assume that the mass is at its equilibrium position when t = 0.a. 63.1 cm b...
  38. S

    Phase of Simple Harmonic Motion: Determining the Phase at a Specific Time

    Homework Statement A body oscillates with simple harmonic motion along the x-axis. Its displacement varies with time according to the equation x = 5sin(pi*t + pi/3). The phase (in rad) of the motion at t = 2s is a) (7pi)/3 b) pi/3 c) pi d) (5pi)/3 e) 2pi Homework EquationsThe Attempt at...
  39. M

    Eddy currents and Torsion Pedulum

    I am having difficulties writing my damped oscillations lab report. We were asked to write a short essay on eddy currents (creation,direction advantage and disadvantage) and their relationship with torsion pendulums. Also,we have to explain if the copper wheel in the torsion pendulum could be...
  40. D

    Determining the oscillations of an electron within a sphere

    Homework Statement Using an electron as a point particle of charge −e inside a positively charged sphere of radius R ≈ 10^(−10) m and total charge +e, find the density ρ(r) of the positive charge for which the electron oscillates harmonically about the center of the sphere assuming that the...
  41. L

    Oscillating Hydrofoil Frequency

    Homework Statement Evening, As part of a project we are building a pico oscillating hydroelectricity generation system. Our system is based on the flow of a river providing lift onto a hydrofoil, which is then connected to a flywheel via a mechanism, the energy and rotational speed in the...
  42. R

    Anharmonic Oscillation | Calculate Period w/ Gaussian Quadrature

    Homework Statement Assume that the potential is symmetric with respect to zero and the system has amplitude ##a## suppose that ##V(x)=x^4## and the mass of the particle is ##m=1##. Write a java function that calculates the period of the oscillator for given amplitude ##a## using Gaussian...
  43. A

    Euler method for modeling simple harmonic oscillation

    Hello! An assignment for my computational modeling course is to demonstrate the use of the Standard Euler method for modeling a simple harmonic oscillator; in this case, a mass attached to the end of a spring. I have the two coupled first-order differential equations satisfying hookes law...
  44. R

    Period of Oscillation Homework Statement

    Homework Statement Assume that the potential is symmetric with respect to zero and the system has amplitude ##a##, show that the period is given by : ##T=\sqrt{8m}\int^a_0\frac{dx}{\sqrt{V(a)-V(x)}}.## Homework Equations ##E = \frac12 m(\frac{dx}{dt})^2+V(x)##The Attempt at a Solution For a...
  45. M

    How can the period of oscillation be determined using energy considerations?

    Homework Statement Attached Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I've managed to do parts i) and ii) with not much bother. But as for iii) then I haven't a clue how to show that the period of oscillation is given by that. I've always been under the impression it is simply given by...
  46. V

    How many oscillations until a damped block comes to rest?

    Homework Statement A block of mass m is attached to a spring of spring constant k. It lies on a floor with coefficient of friction μ. The spring is stretched by a length a and released. Find how many oscillations it takes for the block to come to rest. Homework Equations d2x/dt2 + k/m x = +_...
  47. Nathanael

    What is the Time Period of a Pivoted Rod with Attached Springs?

    Homework Statement [/B] A system consisting of a rod of mass M and length L is pivoted at its centre P. Two springs of spring constants k1 and k2 are attached as shown. They are relaxed when the rod is horizontal. What is the time period of the rod if it is given a slight angular displacement...
  48. Charles Stark

    Natural Oscillation Frequencies

    Homework Statement Over the years, buildings have been able to be built out of lighter and lighter materials. how has this affected the natural oscillation frequencies of buildings and the problems of resonance due to passing trucks, airplanes, or by wind and other natural sources of vibration...
  49. O

    How Do You Measure the Length of a Pendulum with Non-Spherical Bobs?

    Hello, I should preface that we are not physicists. We are just a few relatively ordinary guys that committed to building a large pendulum wave (6ft tall, 8ft long). The construction went very well. The frame and the individual pendulum are all strung up. We have a rather ingenious rig that...
  50. E

    First Year Forced Oscillator Problem

    Homework Statement Damping is negligible for a 0.164 kg mass hanging from a light 6.70 N/m spring. The system is driven by a force oscillating with an amplitude of 1.77 N. At what frequency will the force make the mass vibrate with an amplitude of 0.500 m? There are two possible solutions...
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