Torsional Oscillator: Historical Background, Applications, and First Physicists

[Chandler Bing]

Hey guys,

I'm new here so id just like to say hello my name is John.

Anyway, I'm writing a lab report on a torsional oscillator with magnetic dampers, and I'd like to know some historical background on natural frequencies and damping. Does anyone know who the first physicist to study oscillation was? I thought it would be Hooke, but I'm not sure. Also the first physicist to study damped harmonic motion would be cool. Lastly, a list of all the applications of natural frequency would be help my report with a more globalized perspective (mainly modern stuff like oscillations of atoms in metals or something). Any information or a good website link would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[voko]

The earliest recorded research is by Galileo, early to mid-17'th century. Another early researcher is Huygens, mid- to late 17th century.