harmonic motion
Rhythmic back-and-forth movement
Harmonic motion is regular, repeating movement around a central point—like a pendulum swinging or a spring bouncing.
In physics, simple harmonic motion follows a precise mathematical pattern where the restoring force is proportional to displacement: The weight on the spring exhibits harmonic motion.
The concept underlies understanding of waves, vibrations, and oscillating systems.
Suspended swinging weight
- swingingMoving in arcs
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
- equilibriumState of balance
restoring force · frequency · phase · damping · undulation · bobbing · rocking · sway
Vibrating standard for pitch
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- overtoneSubsidiary meaning or harmonic
- fundamentalForming the base
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
sound wave · pitch · tone · musical · timbre · standing wave · oscillator · waveform
Three motion axioms
- kinematicsStudy of movement itself
- dynamicsStudy of forces
- mechanicsScience of motion
- energy conservationUnchanging total in closed systems
potential energy · kinetic energy · mass · spring constant · differential equation · acceleration · velocity · displacement
Extending sideways across
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
diffraction · superposition · standing wave · node · antinode · crest · trough · medium
pendulum
Suspended swinging weight
equilibrium · restoring force · frequency · phase · damping · undulation · bobbing · rocking · sway · displacement
tuning fork
Vibrating standard for pitch
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- overtoneSubsidiary meaning or harmonic
- fundamentalForming the base
vibrato · sound wave · pitch · tone · musical · timbre · standing wave · oscillator · waveform · audio
Newton's laws
Three motion axioms
- kinematicsStudy of movement itself
- dynamicsStudy of forces
- mechanicsScience of motion
energy conservation · potential energy · kinetic energy · mass · spring constant · differential equation · acceleration · velocity · displacement · torsional
transverse
Extending sideways across
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
interference · diffraction · superposition · standing wave · node · antinode · crest · trough · medium · traveling wave
motion, harmony, movement, vibration, harmonica, resonance, amplitude, harmonic, oscillation