Home / Topics / Oscillations & SHM
Analogy between mechanical and electrical oscillators
Advanced
m↔L, k↔1/C, b↔R.
m ↔ L, k ↔ 1/C, b ↔ R, x ↔ q, v ↔ I. Results for one apply to the other.
RLC circuit mirrors damped spring.
Use analogies to transfer intuition.
In more detail
Mechanical and electrical oscillators follow the same mathematics. Mass corresponds to inductance, spring constant to inverse capacitance, and damping to resistance.
Real-world uses
- Physics teaching uses this analogy to explain circuits through mechanical systems.
- Engineers apply mechanical intuition to design electrical filters.
- Engineers use mechanical analogies to design electrical filters, since a mass, spring and damper behave like an inductor, capacitor and resistor.
Open the interactive lesson, with simulation and quiz →
Frequently asked questions
Which quantity matches the mass?
Inductance, which opposes changes in current, just as mass opposes changes in velocity.
Which quantity matches the damping?
Resistance, which dissipates energy as heat.
What corresponds to the spring in an electrical circuit?
The capacitor, because its stored charge produces a restoring voltage just as a spring produces a restoring force.
Related topics in Oscillations & SHM
Resonance examples · Amplitude vs frequency curve · LC oscillations · Coupled oscillators · Normal modes · Beats in oscillators