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Periodic motion
Beginner
Motion that repeats at regular intervals.
Motion that repeats exactly after equal time intervals T, called the period. Examples: planets, a pendulum, a heartbeat, an alternating current.
The Earth's rotation has period 24 h.
Periodic is not always oscillatory.
In more detail
Periodic motion repeats itself at regular intervals, such as the motion of a planet in orbit or the swing of a clock. The time for one complete repetition is the period.
Real-world uses
- Clocks, watches and calendars rely on periodic motion.
- Heartbeats and breathing are periodic processes studied in medicine.
- A heartbeat, the tick of a clock and the cycle of day and night are all examples of motion that repeats at regular intervals.
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Frequently asked questions
Is all periodic motion oscillation?
Oscillation is a back-and-forth periodic motion about an equilibrium position, so orbits are periodic but not oscillations about a point.
What is the simplest example?
A mass on a spring bouncing up and down.
Is every repeating motion an oscillation?
Every oscillation is periodic, but not every periodic motion is an oscillation. An oscillation must also swing about an equilibrium position.
Related topics in Oscillations & SHM
Oscillatory motion · Period, frequency, amplitude · Simple harmonic motion