Oscillations Definition and 518 Threads

Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. The term vibration is precisely used to describe mechanical oscillation. Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum and alternating current.
Oscillations occur not only in mechanical systems but also in dynamic systems in virtually every area of science: for example the beating of the human heart (for circulation), business cycles in economics, predator–prey population cycles in ecology, geothermal geysers in geology, vibration of strings in guitar and other string instruments, periodic firing of nerve cells in the brain, and the periodic swelling of Cepheid variable stars in astronomy.

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    How Do You Determine the Direction of Oscillation in Differential Equations?

    how would one go about finding the direction of oscillation for a differntial equation? for example \frac{d^2 y}{dt^2} = -2y has eigenvalues \pm \sqrt{2}i and the corresponding matrix is \left(\begin{array}{cc}0&2\\-2&0\end{array}\right) so the solution curves will form closed loops...
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    Whether or not the particle performs complete oscillations?

    If you have a particle that is attached to two elastic strings moving with SHM. How can I determine whether or not the particle performs complete oscillations? For example I have a particle that's at a point equidistant from A and B (which are the ends of the two strings), and say that the...
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    Some help with oscillations and damping

    Consider damped harmonic oscillations. Let the coeffient of friction gamma be half the value of the one that just gies critical damping. How many times is the period T larger than it would be for gamma = 0?? WHen gamma is zero - T = \frac{2 \pi}{\omega} When gamma is half of the...
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    Calculate b/2m for Damped Oscillations of 1.00 m Pendulum at 18.0°

    A pendulum of length 1.00 m is released from an initial angle of 18.0°. After 500 s, its amplitude is reduced by friction to 5.5°. What is the value of b/2m? i have no idea how to do this prooblem, the book goes over this section really briefly... what the heck is b/2m?
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    Forced Oscillations: Period & Amplitude Calculation

    A 2.00 kg mass attached to a spring is driven by an external force F = (2.00 N) cos (3t). Assume that the force constant of the spring is 25.0 N/m. (a) Determine the period of the motion (b) Determine the amplitude of the motion FOr part A, i tried the T=2(pi)/w formula, and i got...
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    Calculating Period of Oscillations - Graph with x and t Coordinates

    A graph resembling that of cos(x) is presented in which x is the vert. axis and t is the horizontal axis. Assume that the x coordinate of point R is 0.12 , and the t coordinate of point K is 0.0050. So . . . R = (0 , 0.12 m) K = (.005 s ,0) What is the period T of oscillations? I...
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    Calculating Time Constant for Spring Oscillations

    A spring with spring constant 11 N/m hangs from the ceiling. A .540kg ball is attached to the spring and allowed to come to rest. It is then pulled down 6.2cm and released. I need to find the time constant if the ball's amplitude has decreased to 2.8cm after 31 oscillations. I need help...
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    Oscillations Car carrying four people find how much body rises

    A 1175 kg car carrying four 80 kg people travels over a rough "washboard" dirt road with corrugations 4.0 m apart which causes the car to bounce on its spring suspension. The car bounces with maximum amplitude when its speed is 17 km/h. The car now stops, and the four people get out. By how much...
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    Understanding Coupled Oscillations: The Impact of Gravity on Displaced Particles

    I have a system that consist of the first spring attached to a ceiling and a first mass is attached to this spring. Then a second spring is attached to this first mass. Finally I have another mass attached to the second spring. So all of it is just hanging down. (I hope this is a good enough...
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    Can the Frequency of Oscillations Measure Fluid Density in a Loaded Test Tube?

    I am stuck in this question: A loaded test tube of mass m is floating in a fluid. The test tube has a cross-sectional area A and fluid has density p. Comment on the feasibility of using the frequecy of oscillation of the tube to measure the density of the fluid. I would say this is...
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    How Is the Spring Constant Dimensionally Analyzed in Oscillation Equations?

    can some1 help me w/this question...like i don't know where to start...thanks in advance A spring is haning down from the ceiling, and an object of mass m is attached to the free end. The object is pulled down, thereby stretching the spring, and then released. The object oscillates up and...
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    Neutrino Oscillations: Reactant Masses vs Product Masses

    A neutron plus a W particle yield a proton an electron an antineutrino and a W- particle. The reactants - the neutron and W particle do not have oscillating masses. One of the products does - the antineutrino. Shouldn't there be an oscillating mass on both sides of the equation?
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    Harmonic oscillations and electric dipoles

    Hi there, I was hoping that someone would be kind enough to help me out with this question. I don't even know where to start Use T=Ia (where T=torque) to show that if an electric dipole with dipole moment of magnitude p and moment of inertia I is oriented with its dipole moment making a...
  14. N

    Exploring Closed Pipe Oscillations: The Mystery of Missing Even Harmonics

    Why can't closed pipes produce even numbered harmonics? I have been given an explanation, but it isn't very detailed. I'm doing A2 (or just A level) physics, so an explanation suitable for this level would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
  15. N

    Proof dealing w/ Simple Harmonic Oscillations

    Prove that the period of a simple pendulum doing small oscillations is equal to: 2(py)x(square root of: l/g) where py is 3.14..(obviously..lol)... l is length of the string of the pendulum and g is gravity Also... the pendulum is basically just a ball on a string moving from side to...
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    Frequency of small oscillations

    What is the frequency of SMALL oscillations about è[t] = 0 of the following expression: Assume that w t is a constant. A Cos[w t - è[t]] + B è''[t]==0, where A and B are arbitrary constants? If you expand the Cosine term, you get A Cos[w t] Cos[è[t]] + A Sin[w t] Sin[è[t]] +B è''[t] ==0...
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    Forced Oscillations: Does the Solution Reduce to Oscillations When F_0=0?

    For forced oscillations we have \frac {d^2x} {dt^2} = -\omega_N^2x+\frac {F_0} {m} cos\omega_Ft The solution is x(t)=\frac {F_0} {m(\omega_N^2-\omega_F^2)}cos\omega_Ft This doesn't seem to reduce to oscillations where F0=0. Shouldn't it?
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    How to Calculate Pipe Oscillation Frequency with Conical Nozzle?

    Hi. I'm new and hope you can point me in the right direction. I'm not too sure how to write expressions here. Have to do some tests. So I've attached a *.doc file that outlines the problem and what I'm looking for. I'm too sure how this all works so I might have to try again. In short it's...
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