Am I the only one who enjoys solving Harmonic Oscillators?

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    Harmonic Oscillators
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the enjoyment and understanding of Harmonic Oscillators (HOs) among physics students, particularly from the perspective of a second-year Physics BS student. The participant highlights their initial struggles with the concept, which transformed into a passion after studying advanced texts, including the principle of least action. They express a desire to connect with others who share this enthusiasm and inquire about the differences in oscillators encountered in upcoming courses like Waves and Optics and Quantum Mechanics (QM). The conversation emphasizes the application of oscillatory motion across various physics domains, including RLC circuits and plasma oscillations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic mechanics and oscillatory motion
  • Familiarity with RLC circuits and their behavior
  • Knowledge of the principle of least action in physics
  • Basic concepts of Waves and Optics
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore coupled harmonic oscillators in Waves and Optics
  • Study classical oscillators in Hamiltonian mechanics
  • Investigate quantum harmonic oscillators in Quantum Mechanics
  • Read Richard Feynman's lectures on plasma oscillations
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of harmonic oscillators and their applications across various physics disciplines.

KingFelix
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Hey, this is more of a "share" theard, instead of a "Question" thread.

I am starting my second year in a Phisics BS.c. I noticed that while poeple around me at school centinly understand HO's as well as I do, I seem to be one of the only ones who is really enjoying the subject. It is my favorite concepy from first year.

At first semester I did not understand it at all and had a hard time solving problems in the subject. Then when I studied for my final in Mechanics I realized I must understand the concept well. I actually read some more advanced texts in my quest and learned about the principle of least action.

It was too advanced to be used in the exam, but thinking about Harmonic motion as the transfer of energy from potential to kinetic back and fourth really helped my understanding. Since then I always worked the hardest solving Oscillatory motion in the homework problems. In fact in the E&M exam I actually choose to solve the RLC circuitfirst because that was the only problem in the exam that had Oscilations in it.

Anyways, I was wondering if there are more prople who are really interasted in Oscillators? I mean I know it is a big part of Physics, but I noticed a lot of people don't enjoy it that much, treating it more as a nessesery evil that needs to get done. But me, it blows my mind that the same concept can be applied to a spring, our movement around the sum and RLC circuits. I also read in Fayman's lectures about Plasma Oscilations, and I generally enjoy seeing examples of this in Physics.

I was also wondering, next year I plan to take Waves and Optics and QM. How different are the oscillators I will see in those courses from the ones I saw in first year? Will this be apparent in Waves and Optics or are those phanomena too "high level" to actually deal with oscilators (simularly to how one does not bother using Columb's law when dealing with summetric charge distributions opting instead to use Gauss)?

Anyways I really wanted to see what people here have to say, because useally when I try talking to a lot of my fellow students about this stuff I meet blank stares.
 
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In Waves you will see coupled harmonic oscillators and propagating solutions.

And I am convinced that you will like quantum harmonic oscillators. They are quite different, but you could maybe start at looking at classical oscillators in Hamiltonian mechanics.
 

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