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Oscillatory motion
Beginner
Back-and-forth motion about an equilibrium.
Back-and-forth motion around an equilibrium position, caused by a restoring force. Energy continually converts between kinetic and potential.
A swing, a guitar string.
Oscillation requires both a restoring force and inertia.
In more detail
Oscillatory motion is a back-and-forth motion about an equilibrium position, driven by a restoring force. Energy is continually exchanged between kinetic and potential forms.
Real-world uses
- Guitar strings vibrate back and forth to produce sound.
- Car suspension systems oscillate after bumps.
- A child on a swing, a plucked guitar string and a tuning fork all move back and forth around a rest position.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes oscillation?
A restoring force that pushes the system back towards equilibrium whenever it is displaced.
Does oscillation last forever?
Not in practice, because damping removes energy over time.
What makes an object oscillate?
A restoring force that pulls it back toward equilibrium, combined with inertia that carries it past that point.
Related topics in Oscillations & SHM
Periodic motion · Period, frequency, amplitude · Simple harmonic motion · SHM displacement