What is Oscillations: Definition and 517 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. D

    Forced oscillations in a discrete system

    Hello Everyone! Homework Statement There exists a very large (discrete) system of N coupled masses, each of mass "m", where every pair is connected via a spring of constant "K". Assuming all motion is horizontal, find the amplitude of the oscillations of an nth mass in the system, under the...
  2. A

    Does Displacing Electron Gas in a Slab Create a Harmonic Oscillator?

    Consider a slab infinite in x,y direction but very thin in z direction. As a classical model assume that we displace the electron gas surrounding the static iron cores slightly. With this picture, does the electron gas then consitute a harmonic oscillator? The electric field from an infinite...
  3. J

    Oscillations of a vehicle driving on a sinewave ground

    Homework Statement In my homework I have to determine how do the speed (constant speed) (V) of damped mass and geometric characterictis of ground (b, h) influence on oscillation values of a model represented on a picture below. Model represents a vehicle driving on a sine wave ground. I...
  4. S

    Period of small oscillations

    Q: http://gyazo.com/1ee7eee0134c25a23b4ad7a6972e1e46 part a) I have drawn the graph and calculated ## V'(x) = \dfrac{3\lambda x^2 (x^4 + a^4) - \lambda x^3(4x^3)}{(x^4+a^4)^2} = 0 ## and found using the graph that the value of x when the particle is in a stable equilibrium is ## x=...
  5. Y

    Oscillations in an LRC Circuit

    Homework Statement (image attached) For the circuit of Fig.30.17 in the textbook, let C = 13.0nF , L = 27.0mH , and R = 80.0Ω . A). Calculate the oscillation frequency of the circuit once the capacitor has been charged and the switch has been connected to point a B). How long will...
  6. djh101

    Solving ODE Oscillations: Find T for Buoy & Train Round Trip

    1. A spherical buoy of radius r floats half-submerged in water. If it is depressed slightly, a restoring force equal to the weight of the displaced water presses it upward; and if it is then released, it will bob up and down. Find the period of oscillation if the friction of the water is...
  7. N

    Frequency of Oscillations in an Electrostatically Charged Bead in a Tube

    Homework Statement Bead (mass point - mass m and charge q) is free to move in a horizontal tube (without friction). The tube is between two spheres (separated by a distance 2a) with charges Q = − q. What is the frequency of small oscillations around the equilibrium point of the bead...
  8. T

    Small oscillations of a spring-pendulum

    Homework Statement A spring of rest length L (no tension) is connected to a support at one of the ends and has a mass m attached to the other. Write the Lagrange equations. Discuss the movement for small departures from equilibrium. Homework Equations I did the first part, and I found...
  9. J

    Exercise on collisions and oscillations

    Hi, I tried to solve this problem myself and I'd like someone to check it :) Thanks already! A ball is rolling towards a block, which is connected to a spring. Assume no friction occurs. The initial velocity of the ball is 10 m/s. The spring constant is k = 5 N/m. Mass of the ball = 5 kg and...
  10. S

    Deflection and oscillations in a homemade microgram balance.

    Hi, As part of a larger hobby project, I'm building a microgram balance based on the one described at Sci-Toys.com, but I believe my questions are appropriate for the "general physics" forum. Background: I purchased a 36" threaded steel rod, connected it to a razor, and then put it on a...
  11. E

    Damped Oscillations in an RLC circuit

    Homework Statement A single loop circuit consists of a 7.2 ohm resistor, a 11.9 H inductor, and a 3.4*10^-6 F capacitor. Initially the Capacitor has a charge of 6.3*10^-6 C and the current is zero. Find the charge on the capacitor N complete cycles later for N=5.Homework Equations 2. Homework...
  12. B

    Exploring the Possibility of Dark Matter Oscillations

    Hi everyone, i was thinking this. I saw in here someone said that, our heads atoms are osscilating with high frequency than feet. Since aftee seeing it, i was thinking if every atom osscilating, is that dark matter are not osscilating? What do you think?
  13. S

    Oscillations and waves-reflection through the surface of a medium

    what gives rise to eigenfrequencies?
  14. ShayanJ

    Exploring 'Cold' Electrons & Plasma Oscillations

    In some texts about plasmas, the plasma oscillations are discussed at the extreme of no Thermal motion. One example is the one in wikipedia: But I can't accept that approximation.Because it is assuming that we have a kind of motion called thermal motion and other kinds which arise from other...
  15. S

    Can You Solve This Circuit with Mutual Inductance and Capacitance?

    Homework Statement In the given picture, I need to formulate some kind of solution to find functions for the current, knowing that the two inductances create a mutual inductance (coupling) The Attempt at a Solution I start by formulating these two equations where M is the mutual...
  16. A

    Damped Electromagnetic Oscillations

    Homework Statement This problem was given in my physics test, and my physics teacher was unable to provide me with an answer for it. Given a circuit made up of a generator of variable frequency, i=Im(sin2∏ft-∅) and voltage u=Um(sin2∏ft), capacitor of capacitance 1μF, resistor of resistance...
  17. M

    Guitar oscillations? How do they look?

    So I recently came across this video in youtube: . The vibrations of the string definitely look like sinusoidal waves to me and I know that if a string is fixed at both ends then it will display the pattern of nodes and antinodes by producing a standing wave at certain frequencies. Is this how...
  18. G

    Transient oscillations in transformer?

    Hello, I calculated the transient response of a weakly coupled transformer (M ≠ L1L2), for a heaviside step function input. I get a decaying oscillatory response, even though I didn't include any capacitance, can this be? If interested here is the angular frequency I get...
  19. G

    Spring Oscillations Problem Question

    Homework Statement You have a job at a medical forensics lab investigating an accident at a commuter railroad station. Your task is to determine the response of the safety system that prevented a railroad car from crashing into the station. Because the brakes on the passenger car failed, it...
  20. D

    Forced oscillations without damping

    Homework Statement We are to develop the equations of motion for an undamped horizontal spring system, the mass of which is being driven by a periodic force: F=F0 cos wt. I know how to do it but my teacher has defined an odd term, the meaning of which I want to be clarified. Homework...
  21. K

    Notes for Coupled Oscillations?

    Does anyone know any site with a good set of notes on coupled oscillations?
  22. K

    Exploring Oscillations in Mechanical Systems

    Homework Statement Oscillation in mechanical structures can often be described by the function: y(t)=(e^(-t/τ))*sin(ωt+θ) Where t is time , ω is oscillation frequency in radians per unit time. The oscillations have a period of 2*π/ω and their amplitudes decay in time at a rate...
  23. T

    Small oscillations on a constraint curve

    Homework Statement From Goldstein Classical Mechanics, 6.16: A mass particle moves in a constant vertical gravitational field along the curve defined by y=ax4 , where y is the vertical direction. Find the equation of motion for small oscillations about the position of equilibrium. The...
  24. C

    Coupled mass problem with orthogonal oscillations

    Homework Statement Consider a light elastic string of unstretched length ##4a_o##, stretched horizontally on a smooth surface between two fixed points a distance ##4a## apart. (##a > a_o)##. Three particles of mass m are attached so as to divide the string into four equal sections. Number...
  25. B

    Small oscillations and closed orbit

    Homework Statement I'm studying small oscillations. When can I say that an orbit is closed? The Attempt at a Solution I remember that there is a ratio that must be a rational number but I don't remember other thing... Thank you!
  26. P

    Rabi oscillations in quantum dots?

    someone can suggest some article or book, that explains the phenomenon of Rabi oscillations in a quantum dot? thanks and sorry for my english ;)
  27. B

    Small oscillations: diagonal matrix

    Homework Statement I'm solving an exercise about small oscillations. I name T the kinetic matrix and $H$ the hessian matrix of potential. The matrix \omega^2 T- H is diagonal and so find the auto-frequencies is easy! But I have a problem with normal modes. The lagrangian coordinates are two...
  28. N

    Studying Longitudinal Oscillations of a Stick

    Hello. I have got question. We have stick (its diameter is much smaller than its length). When you hit it with a hammer into a corner, some waves will spread, it is clear. However, how do they look? I'm interested in longitudinal oscillations stick. How can draw these wavefront? How their shape...
  29. S

    How to maintain CPT invariance in Kaon oscillations

    Hey, I'm trying to get my head around neutral Kaon oscillations. As far as I understand it neutral Kaons can change between K^0 and \overline{K^0} as they propagate. Going through the quantum mechanics of this implies that this oscillation must be facilitated by a mass difference between the...
  30. S

    Oscillations: Pendulum with initial velocity

    Homework Statement A child on a 4m long swing is pulled back 1m from the vertical and released with a push imparting a speed of 2m/s. Find an expression for the angle θ, as a function of time, identifying the frequency ω, amplitude θi, and phase constant δ. Homework Equations θ =...
  31. S

    Driven, Damped Oscillations

    Homework Statement I have a mass, B, attached to a vibrating wall. The wall is vibrating at two frequencies, .01 Hz and 75 Hz (later in the problem it turns out that we want to transmit the .01 Hz but not the 75 Hz oscillations). The spring constant is k=154 N/m, the mass of the block B is 54.7...
  32. B

    Small oscillations: How to find normal modes?

    Hi, I'm studying Small Oscillations and I'm having a problem with normal modes. In some texts, there is written that normal modes are the eigenvectors of the matrix $V- \omega^2 V$ where V is the matrix of potential energy and T is the matrix of kinetic energy. Some of them normalize the...
  33. F

    Horizontal spring oscillations

    Hey everyone. I have 2 relatively basic questions about horizontal springs. I feel like the questions are actually very simple (it's just high school physics) but I think I'm approaching it the wrong way. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 1. I'm supposed to find the spring constant when a...
  34. R

    How do you find the force extended if given the amplitude? Forced Oscillations

    How do you find the force extended if given the amplitude? Is main questions, I also have one slight question. Ok, doing a problem. There is no damping. A (.15kg) object is hanging from a light(6.30N/m) spring. A sinusoidal force with an amp of 1.7 N drives the system. And the problem is...
  35. K

    Challenging physics problem with spring, oscillations and moment of inertia?

    Hello everyone! Here is the link to the problem: http://i.imgur.com/2HNrQ.jpg I don't even know where to start. Any help to get started would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Cheers
  36. F

    Coupled pendulum oscillations.

    http://www.google.pt/imgres?q=pendulo+acoplados+resson%C3%A2ncia&um=1&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=656&tbm=isch&tbnid=BSwiWnZmGwlLGM:&imgrefurl=http://www.oficinadaciencia.com/Produtos/Default.aspx%3Fid%3D6493&docid=n05kCljLeoXYCM&imgurl=http://www.oficinadaciencia.com/imgs/ReadImage.aspx%253FpId%2...
  37. S

    Shubnikov de haas oscillations, conductance quantization

    Hi all I'm just studying the QHE and Shubnikov de Haas oscillations. There are two points I find somehow confusing: 1. If you look at ρxx (resistance along the direction of applied field), you will find oscillations of this resistance as a function of the external magnetic field. Whenever...
  38. D

    2 questions about Neutrino oscillations

    Two questions. 1. Different flavors have different mass. Look at it from the frame where neutrino is at rest. What’s about energy conservation? Are neutrinos oscillating so quickly that uncertainty principle plays role? 2. Why oscillations of neutral Kaons form 2 new “particles” (K-long and...
  39. B

    Two state oscillations and quantum oscillator

    Homework Statement I was asked an interesting question once that I'd like to solve but have no idea where to start. It's hard to remember the exact details but basically: Two electrons are in a harmonic oscillator potential but in two separate states \left | m \right \rangle and...
  40. S

    Small Oscillations in Classical Mechanics - Goldstein

    Dear friends, In small oscillation problem of classical mechanics, the generalized force is zero (Eq. (6-1)) of the Goldstein book. The suffix 'i' represent the the particle number or coordinate? In Eq. (6-3) of the same problem the summation convention is used. what is the purpose of...
  41. E

    Oscillations in transient response

    Why oscillations occur in transient response of a system ? Suppose transfer function of a system is 1/(s+1). Then its impulse response will be c(t)=e^{}-t . So why just we don't show only an exponential curve to graphically represent the impulse response, why we also show the oscillations ?
  42. L

    Means for increasing the intensity of electrical oscillations

    http://www.google.com/patents/US685012?printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false Is this system used today in electrical transmission? If not why not?
  43. E

    Oscillations in an electric field

    Homework Statement Two positive point charges Q are held fixed on the x-axis at x=a and x=-a. A third positive point charge q, with mass m is them placed on the the x-axis away from the origin at a coordinate x such that lxl<<a. The charge q, which is free to move along the x-axis, is then...
  44. A

    Tunnels through the center of planet, oscillations

    Hi all, I know that if you drill a hole from one side of the planet to the other, through the planet's center, that a particle dropped in this tunnel will oscillate back and forth forever, like a mass on a spring, with the restoring force given by gravity. What if the tunnel forms a chord...
  45. M

    Approximations for small oscillations

    Homework Statement Basically the issue is Landau & Lifgarbagez mechanics says δl = [r2 + (l + r)2 - 2r(l + r)cosθ]1/2 - l ≈ r(l + r)θ2/2l Homework Equations θ much less than 1 The Attempt at a Solution I've no idea how to get the thing on the far right. I'm assuming it's...
  46. A

    What is the maximum height reached by a ball released from a spring-loaded tray?

    Homework Statement A M=1.5kg horizontal, uniform tray is attached to a vertical ideal spring of force constant k=185 N/m and m=275g metal ball is in the tray. The spring is below the tray, so it can oscillate up and down. The tray is then pushed down 15cm below its equilibrium position and...
  47. P

    Effects of oscillations of electrons

    I was just reading R.Feynman's Lectures on physics Vol I and I came across this discussion in which he says that magnetic field results from an electric field i.e relative motion of electrons and so on. Further, he says that the electomagnetic spectrum consists of light waves... The whole...
  48. C

    Longitudinal/Transverse oscillations

    I was doing some questions on waves and I noticed that some particular questions didn't state whether a transverse or longitudinal disturbance was been driven through the medium. Such questions started like 'A sinusoidal wave moves along a string...' Do the equations that apply to transverse...
  49. A

    Damped Oscillations: Does Time Change?

    Homework Statement Does the time for one oscillation, change during the damped oscillations? and please explain Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  50. R

    What do the subscripts fpq and fqp mean in coupled oscillators and waves?

    Homework Statement The following is a question from an old assignment on coupled oscillators and waves: http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/601/question2.jpg The Attempt at a Solution So, I'm a confused about the meaning of the subscripts fpq and fqp. What do they mean? Do fp and fq refer to...
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