Oscillations: Start Here
Oscillations: Start Here
- An oscillation is a movement that repeats. A swing, a clock pendulum and a mass on a spring are familiar examples.
- Every word in this lesson is measured from one reference position: the .
What moves, and where is zero?
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- The equilibrium position is where the object stays when no resultant force acts on it. We call this position zero displacement.
- Displacement has a direction. Choose one side as positive. The other side is then negative.
- The two extreme positions are the turning points. The object stops for an instant at each turning point, then moves back.
Definition
1 markWhat is meant by an oscillation?
Model answer: A repeated movement back and forth about an equilibrium position.
Definition
1 markWhat is meant by the displacement of an oscillator?
Model answer: The distance in a specified direction from the equilibrium position.
Definition
1 markWhat is meant by the amplitude of an oscillation?
Model answer: The maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
Amplitude is measured from the centre to one extreme. It is not the full distance between the two extremes.