What actually is natural frequency?

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SUMMARY

The natural frequency of an object is defined as the frequency at which the system oscillates when not subjected to external forces. In resonance phenomena, matching the natural frequency with the applied frequency results in maximum amplitude vibrations. This occurs because the energy stored in the system is maximized when the driving force frequency is close to the natural frequency. For example, a mass-spring system will oscillate at its natural frequency when displaced and released.

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  • Knowledge of damped oscillators
  • Basic principles of force and amplitude in physics
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kapil phyreak
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when we talk about the phenomenon of resonance, we use the term 'natural frequency'. What actually is natural frequency of an object?...what is meant by matching of natural and applied frequency and why does it produce vibration with maximum amplitude?
 
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kapil phyreak said:
when we talk about the phenomenon of resonance, we use the term 'natural frequency'. What actually is natural frequency of an object?...what is meant by matching of natural and applied frequency and why does it produce vibration with maximum amplitude?

The natural frequency is the frequency at which some system will oscillate if it is not forced. If you just pull a mass spring system a small distance and then release it. It will oscillate at its natural frequency.

If you force a damped oscillator with some sinusoidally varying force it will oscillate at the frequency of the force not the natural frequency.This makes sense since if I shake the spring around it will not move as if it was free.
The Amplitude of oscillation is greatest when the driving force frequency is near the natural frequency, since at that point the the energy that can be stored in system is the greatest.
 

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