oscillation
Back and forth
Oscillation is movement back and forth between two points or states.
A pendulum oscillates; so does an electrical current that reverses direction.
The word extends to any wavering or fluctuation: oscillation between hope and despair, oscillations in public opinion.
In physics, oscillation describes any repetitive variation around a central value—the basis of waves, vibrations, and alternating current.
Suspended swinging weight
- swingingMoving in arcs
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- wobbleUnsteady side-to-side motion
bobbing · undulation · to-and-fro · seesaw · back-and-forth · swing · rhythmic · arc
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- quiverTrembling or arrow case
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- judderShake with jerky vibrations
- pulsationRhythmic expansion and contraction
vibrato · tremble · shiver · flutter · buzz · hum · whirr · ripple
Maximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- harmonicOf musical overtones
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
damping · periodic · Hertz · wave · sine · cosine · signal · transverse
Tendency to change
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- volatilityRapid, unpredictable changeability
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
irregularity · vacillation · inconsistency · shifting · boom-and-bust · cycling · seasonal · tidal
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
ambivalence · uncertainty · flip-flopping · equivocation · second-guessing · back-and-forth · torn · conflicted
Rate of musical performance
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- pulseArterial blood throb
- meterDevice that measures usage
syncopation · groove · pulsing · throbbing · regular · cyclical · ebb · flow
Reciprocal transfer between parties
- rotationTurning on an axis
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- reciprocityMutual exchange of actions
- switchingChanging from one to another
biphasic · intermittent · toggle · binary · on-off · back-and-forth · cyclical · recurring
Of or like celestial bodies
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- radialEmanating from center
- solarOf the star
Closed electrical pathway
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- clockDevice displaying time
- feedbackReturned response data
radio-frequency · modulation · tuning · capacitor · inductor · transistor
pendulum
Suspended swinging weight
wobble · bobbing · undulation · to-and-fro · seesaw · back-and-forth · swing · rhythmic · arc · pivot
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
pulsation · vibrato · tremble · shiver · flutter · buzz · hum · whirr · ripple · throb
amplitude
Maximum oscillation displacement
resonance · damping · periodic · Hertz · wave · sine · cosine · signal · transverse · longitudinal
variability
Tendency to change
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- volatilityRapid, unpredictable changeability
unpredictability · irregularity · vacillation · inconsistency · shifting · boom-and-bust · cycling · seasonal · tidal · modulation
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
dithering · ambivalence · uncertainty · flip-flopping · equivocation · second-guessing · back-and-forth · torn · conflicted · irresolute
tempo
Rate of musical performance
meter · syncopation · groove · pulsing · throbbing · regular · cyclical · ebb · flow · breathing
interchange
Reciprocal transfer between parties
- rotationTurning on an axis
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- reciprocityMutual exchange of actions
switching · biphasic · intermittent · toggle · binary · on-off · back-and-forth · cyclical · recurring · sequential
stellar
Of or like celestial bodies
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- radialEmanating from center
circuit
Closed electrical pathway
feedback · radio-frequency · modulation · tuning · capacitor · inductor · transistor
- material dynamicsdamping, elasticity, viscoelasticity, stiffness, resonance
- stellar motionorbit, trajectory, orbital velocity, angular momentum, orbital mechanics
- motionmotion, movement, velocity, speed, momentum
- soundsound, sound waves, echoes, acoustics, vibrations
- Kids Physicsmagnets, gravity, electricity, force, friction
- mechanicsforce, turning, rotation, momentum, velocity
oscillationstillness
Complete lack of motion
stasis · immobility · motionlessness · rest · fixedness
oscillationdecisiveness
Ability to choose firmly
resolution · steadfastness · determination · firmness · constancy
oscillationstability
Resistance to displacement
constancy · steadiness · equilibrium · uniformity · monotony
- oscillating fanRotating electric air circulator
- oscillating sprinklerRotating lawn water distributor
- oscillating sawBlade vibrates side-to-side