Oscillations

What is simple harmonic motion?

An oscillation in which the force is proportional to the displacement and is in the opposite direction.

What are the conditions for SHM?

Acceleration (and force) must be proportional to displacement from the equilibrium point.
It must act towards the equilibrium point.

True or false? Velocity is maximum when displacement is maximum.

False.

The velocity is a minimum at the amplitude of oscillation.

Velocity is a maximum when it passes through the equilibrium position.

What is damping?

Damping is the process by which the amplitude of the oscillations decreases over time. This is due to energy loss to resistive forces such as drag or friction.

Explain the difference between light damping, heavy damping and critical damping.

Light damping occurs naturally and the amplitude decreases exponentially. When heavy damping occurs the amplitude decreases dramatically. In critical damping the object stops before one oscillation is completed.

What is the difference between free and forced oscillations?

When an object oscillates without any external forces being applied, it oscillates at its natural frequency. This is known as free oscillation. Forced oscillation occurs when a periodic driving force is applied to an object, which causes it to oscillate at a particular frequency.

What is resonance?

When the driving frequency of the external force applied to an object is the same as the natural frequency of the object, resonance occurs. This is when the amplitude of oscillation rapidly increases, and if there is no damping, the amplitude will continue to increase until the system fails. As damping is increased, the amplitude will decrease at all frequencies, and the maximum amplitude occurs at a lower frequency