Module 1: Periodic Motion and Oscillations

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing concepts, equations, classifications, and applications of periodic motion, simple harmonic motion, damped oscillations, and resonance.

Periodic Motion

Motion that repeats itself at regular intervals.

Period ($T$)

The time required for one complete cycle of motion, measured in seconds ($\text{s}$).

Frequency ($f$)

The number of cycles per unit time, measured in Hertz ($\text{Hz}$), where $1\,\text{Hz} = 1\,\text{cycle/second}$.

Oscillation

A type of periodic motion where an object moves back and forth about an equilibrium position.

Equilibrium Position

The position in an oscillating system where the net force on the object is zero.

Displacement

The distance and direction of an oscillating object from its equilibrium position.

Amplitude ($A$)

The maximum displacement of an oscillating object from its equilibrium position.

Vertical Mass-Spring Equilibrium

The equilibrium state of a suspended mass on a spring where the spring force balances gravity, expressed as $mg = ks$.

Mechanical Oscillations

Oscillations that involve physical objects, such as pendulums, springs, and vibrating membranes.

Electromagnetic Oscillations

Oscillations that involve oscillating electric and magnetic fields, such as radio waves, light waves, and AC circuits.

Quantum Oscillations

Oscillations occurring at the atomic and subatomic level, such as electron orbitals and particle wave functions.

Angular Frequency ($\omega$)

A measure of oscillation rate related to frequency by $\omega = 2\pi f = \frac{2\pi}{T}$, measured in radians per second ($\text{rad/s}$).

Phase ($\phi$)

A parameter describing the state of oscillation at a given time, indicating where in the cycle the oscillation is.

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

A special type of periodic motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position and acts in the opposite direction.

Hooke's Law

The mathematical law $F = -kx$, where $F$ is restoring force, $k$ is the spring constant, and $x$ is displacement.

Spring Constant ($k$)

A quantitative measure of stiffness of a spring.

Simple Pendulum

An idealized model consisting of a point mass (bob) suspended by a massless, inextensible string or rod, free to swing in a vertical plane.

Physical Pendulum

Any rigid body allowed to oscillate freely about a fixed pivot point that is not at its center of mass.

Damped Oscillations

Oscillations where the amplitude gradually decreases over time due to dissipative forces such as friction and air resistance.

Underdamped Oscillations

Damped motion where oscillations occur, but their amplitude gradually decreases exponentially over time.

Critically Damped Oscillations

Damped motion where the system returns to equilibrium as quickly as possible without oscillating.

Overdamped Oscillations

Damped motion where the system returns to equilibrium without oscillating, but takes a longer time than critically damped.

Quality Factor ($Q$ factor)

A dimensionless parameter that describes how underdamped an oscillator is, calculated as $Q = \omega_0 \tau$.

Forced Oscillations

Oscillations that occur when an external, periodic driving force is applied to a system capable of oscillating.

Resonance

A phenomenon that occurs when the frequency of the applied driving force is equal or very close to the natural frequency of the oscillating system, producing maximum oscillation amplitude.

Galloping Gertie

The nickname for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed in 1940 due to wind forces matching its natural torsional frequency.

Human Ear Anatomy in Oscillation

Anatomical structures (eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes, cochlea) that transmit and convert sound wave oscillations into electrical signals.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Waves

A visual recording of the periodic electrical and mechanical heartbeat activity, featuring key wave segments including P, QRS, and T waves.