physics / Waves & Motion / free
Oscillations
Track a restoring force as it trades motion for stored energy and back again.
Follow the mechanism1 / 3
A displacement from equilibrium. Pulling the system to amplitude A stores potential energy and brings a restoring force into play.
restoring force and energyx(t) = A cos(ωt + φ)
The frequency is set by the system's stiffness and inertia in a real oscillator (T = 2π√(m/k)); here f is set directly and T = 1/f. Amplitude changes the extent of motion, not the ideal period.
period0.67 s
displacement x0.00 u
energy proxy8.41
Near equilibrium, displacement is small and speed is largest. At an extreme, the system briefly stops before the restoring force sends it back.
04 / PRACTICE
0 / 3 checkedMake the idea yours.
Use the model, then answer without looking back. Each check isolates one decision a learner should be able to make after this lesson.
CHECK 1 / 3