Topic 4.3: Forces Oscillations and Resonance

Question 1

• 4.3.1: State what is meant by damping

Answer 1

o Damping involves a force that is always in the opposite direction to the direction of motion of the oscillating particle and that the force is a dissipative force
o DAMPING: The loss of energy of oscillations due to work against friction or viscous medium. Can be heavy (over), light (under) or critical.

Question 2

• 4.3.3: State what is meant by natural frequency of vibration

Answer 2

o NATURAL FREQUENCY: The frequency at which a system will oscillate naturally.

Question 3

State what is meant is meant by forced oscillation

Answer 3

o FORCED OSCILLATIONS: Oscillations of a system which is being driven at another frequency than its natural one.

Question 4

• 4.3.4: Describe graphically the variation with forced frequency of the amplitude of vibration of an object close to its natural frequency of vibration

Answer 4

As the natural frequency of the system is approached, the amplitude of the oscillations becomes greater

Question 5

• 4.3.5: State what is meant by resonance

Answer 5

o RESONANCE: When the driving oscillation has the same frequency as the natural frequency of the system, the amplitude of the system will increase.