How can we consider this one direction?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the concept of complete oscillation in the context of vibrating bodies, specifically addressing the definition and interpretation of "one direction" in oscillatory motion. Participants explore the relationship between direction, starting points, and phases in oscillations, with references to sine waves and practical demonstrations.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about how an object can pass through a rest position twice in different directions and still be considered to have the same phase.
  • One participant describes a teaching method involving a marker tracing a sine wave to illustrate oscillation, suggesting that the sine wave representation clarifies the concept of complete oscillation.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of the starting point and direction in defining a new cycle of oscillation, arguing that the direction of motion affects the classification of oscillations.
  • Several participants debate the definition of a complete oscillation, with some asserting that it requires returning to the same direction, while others challenge this interpretation.
  • One participant proposes a sequence of movements to illustrate their understanding of oscillation, indicating that they see the oscillation as a series of directional movements.
  • Another participant agrees that a single oscillation includes passage through the rest position twice but emphasizes the need for clarity on what "one direction" means in this context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the interpretation of "one direction" in the context of complete oscillation. Multiple competing views remain regarding the definition and implications of oscillatory motion.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various definitions and interpretations of oscillation, indicating potential limitations in their understanding of the terminology and its application to different scenarios. The discussion reflects a range of assumptions about the nature of oscillatory motion and the conditions under which it is defined.

Misr
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[PLAIN]http://media.tiscali.co.uk/images/feeds/hutchinson/ency/osci0001.jpg

I don't understand the concept of a complete osillation perfectly..I see that the vibrating object passes through the rest position two times in two different diection??How does the object have the same phase relative to the rest position..

Thanks in advance
 
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Misr said:
[PLAIN]http://media.tiscali.co.uk/images/feeds/hutchinson/ency/osci0001.jpg

I don't understand the concept of a complete osillation perfectly..I see that the vibrating object passes through the rest position two times in two different diection??How does the object have the same phase relative to the rest position..

Thanks in advance

When I teach this, I stand at the board with a marker in my mark and move my hand up and down regularly. This makes a dark mark on the board. Then, while still raising and lowering the marker, I walk parallel to the board. The marker traces out a sine wave. Can you picture that?

In the same way, a marker attached to the pendulum would trace out a sine wave on a piece of paper that moved under it. This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhG5UceWxLk" sort of gets the idea across, especially if you imagine the pen moving as smoothly as a pendulum.

I think the answer to your question is clear if you focus on the sine wave associated with the pendulum movement. In the situation drawn on the left side of the diagram you posted, the wave would start at a crest at A, pass through the axis, be at a trough at B. cross the axis again and end at a crest at A. That would be one complete oscillation and one complete wavelength (being crest to to descending node to trough to ascending node to crest).

In the the situation drawn on the right, you start at the axis at A, go to the crest at B, back through the axis (A), to the trough at C and once more to the axis at A. That again is one wavelength (ascending node to crest to descending node to trough to ascending node).

Does that answer your question?
 
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And here is a vid of oscillations within oscillations within oscillations which is all plainly started and eventually returns to the beginning release of the pendulums. Can you see the many patterns until the return to the original configuration? Fascinating. http://www.wimp.com/pendulumwaves/"

And synchronizing 5 metronomes that are rate adjusted to the same frequency but NOT released at the same time, do all sync up with a master energy buffer(they are coupled by the common plank on two rollers.) Again fascinating to watch the separate oscillations synchronize together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1TMZASCR-I"
 
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Misr said:
[PLAIN]http://media.tiscali.co.uk/images/feeds/hutchinson/ency/osci0001.jpg

I don't understand the concept of a complete osillation perfectly..I see that the vibrating object passes through the rest position two times in two different diection??How does the object have the same phase relative to the rest position..

Thanks in advance

I think two factors you are missing are 'starting point' and the 'direction', whether the ball is moving to the left or right?
In the first picture, ball's motion was from A to B to A. From the 'starting point' A, the ball moves to the 'right'. That is the start of a cycle or oscillation. Everytime the ball moves to the 'right' from point A is start of a new cycle.

In the second picture, ball starts from A then moves to the 'right' to B, then from B to C through A. But this time ball move to the 'left' from A, so this is NOT a start of a new oscillation. Again everytime the ball moves from A to the right is a start of a new cycle.

Note, starting point can be any point between B and C, and direction can be either left or right. As long as you are consistent with 'starting point' and 'direction' you can not miss a cycle.
 
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Well First, Thanks very much,
I can't really imagine what you are talkin bout...I can't just explain my problem in the right way..i
The definition of a complete oscillation is "The motion of a vibrating body through the time interval between passing through one point two consecutive times in one direction"
I think I understand this,but my problem is with the phrase "In one direction"..how come?? If we consider the mass to move
1- From a to b (to the right)
2-From b to a (to the left)
3-from a to c (to the left)
4-From c to a (to the right)
then the mass passed through the point a two times in two different directions during its motion!From b to a (to the left) -- and From c to a (to the right)
Thats completely contradictory

Hope you got a clear picture of my problem now
Thanks very much for ur efforts
 
When I teach this, I stand at the board with a marker in my mark and move my hand up and down regularly. This makes a dark mark on the board. Then, while still raising and lowering the marker, I walk parallel to the board. The marker traces out a sine wave. Can you picture that?
yes , I can imagine
I think the answer to your question is clear if you focus on the sine wave associated with the pendulum movement.
I don't find the answer in the sine wave of a pendulum..They still different directions
Thanks very much
 
Misr said:
Well First, Thanks very much,
I can't really imagine what you are talkin bout...I can't just explain my problem in the right way..i
The definition of a complete oscillation is "The motion of a vibrating body through the time interval between passing through one point two consecutive times in one direction"
I think I understand this,but my problem is with the phrase "In one direction"..how come?? If we consider the mass to move
1- From a to b (to the right)
2-From b to a (to the left)
3-from a to c (to the left)
4-From c to a (to the right)
then the mass passed through the point a two times in two different directions during its motion!From b to a (to the left) -- and From c to a (to the right)
Thats completely contradictory

Hope you got a clear picture of my problem now
Thanks very much for ur efforts

I don't see what the problem is.

One complete oscillation is:
b > a > c > a > b (or, if you like, a > c > a > b > a)

It passes through a twice, yes, but in two different directions, so that's not a complete oscillation. An oscillation has not been completed until it passes through a in the same direction, which means, as above, b > a > c > a > b (or, if you like, a > c > a > b > a).misr, what do you think is one complete oscillation?
 
misr, what do you think is one complete oscillation?
I think it from a--b--a--c---a
Right??but in this case it passed in two different directions

a > c > a > b > a
those are two different direction :(
 
Using your notation and expanding your example a bit:

...
0-From c to a (to the right)
1-From a to b (to the right)
2-From b to a (to the left)
3-from a to c (to the left)
4-From c to a (to the right)
5- From a to b (to the right)
...

So the complete oscillation -according to your definition- has taken place between 1 (starting at a with a swing to the right) and 4 (ending at a with a swing to the right).

Another notation would be:
... (->a) (->b) (a<-) (c<-) (->a) (->b) ...
 
  • #10
Misr said:
I think it from a--b--a--c---a
Right??but in this case it passed in two different directions

a > c > a > b > a
those are two different direction :(

Correct. So what's the problem?
 
  • #11
Correct. So what's the problem?
O really?I think "one direction" doesn't mean that the body passes through the rest position in the same direction...because it certainly passes through the rest position in two different directions

but it means that the body returns to move in the same direction (having the same phase realative to trhe starting point

so am i on the right way|
 
  • #12
Yes. A single oscillation includes passage through A twice, once in each direction.

Just like a sine wave. See attached.
 

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  • PF20110818_pendulum.jpg
    PF20110818_pendulum.jpg
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  • #13
Yes. A single oscillation includes passage through A twice, once in each direction.

Just like a sine wave. See attached.
Yeah Got it now ..its my textbook again confusing me
Thanks very much this is very helpful
 

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