oscillations
Rhythmic swings around equilibrium
Oscillations are repeated movements back and forth around a central point or between two states.
A pendulum makes oscillations.
So do sound waves, electrical currents, and anything that swings or vibrates rhythmically.
The word extends to figurative wavering: oscillations between hope and despair, oscillations in public opinion.
In technical contexts, oscillation frequency and amplitude are measurable properties.
Suspended recreational seat
- bobShort vertical movement
- pivotPoint of rotation
- arcCurved line segment
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
gravity · grandfather clock · metronome · Foucault · plumb · suspension · hypnotic · timing
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- quiverTrembling or arrow case
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- judderShake with jerky vibrations
- flutterRapid light movement
pulsation · hum · buzz · rumble · throb · shimmy · vibrato · quaver
Maximum oscillation displacement
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- harmonicOf musical overtones
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
periodic · transverse · longitudinal · interference · superposition · nodes · standing wave · phase
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- pulseArterial blood throb
- meterDevice that measures usage
syncopation · cycle · pattern · periodicity · alternation · ebb and flow · waxing and waning · rise and fall
Rhythmic lateral movement
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- undulationRhythmic rise and fall
- bobbingRhythmic vertical movement
- swingingMoving in arcs
wobbling · seesawing · fluctuation · back-and-forth · to-and-fro · pulsing · reciprocating · pitching
Frequency measurement unit
- kilohertzThousand-cycle frequency unit
- megahertzOne million oscillations per second
- gigahertzFrequency unit, billions
- terahertzTrillion hertz unit
cycles per second · bandwidth · spectrum · pitch · tone · audio · ultrasound · infrasound
Change from a norm
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
- volatilityRapid, unpredictable changeability
swings · ups and downs · boom and bust · mood swings · indecision · alternating · shifting · changeability
swing
Suspended recreational seat
period · gravity · grandfather clock · metronome · Foucault · plumb · suspension · hypnotic · timing · escapement
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
flutter · pulsation · hum · buzz · rumble · throb · shimmy · vibrato · quaver · resonance
amplitude
Maximum oscillation displacement
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- harmonicOf musical overtones
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
damping · periodic · transverse · longitudinal · interference · superposition · nodes · standing wave · phase · frequency
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
meter · syncopation · cycle · pattern · periodicity · alternation · ebb and flow · waxing and waning · rise and fall · systole
swaying
Rhythmic lateral movement
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- undulationRhythmic rise and fall
- bobbingRhythmic vertical movement
swinging · wobbling · seesawing · fluctuation · back-and-forth · to-and-fro · pulsing · reciprocating · pitching · rolling
hertz
Frequency measurement unit
- kilohertzThousand-cycle frequency unit
- megahertzOne million oscillations per second
- gigahertzFrequency unit, billions
terahertz · cycles per second · bandwidth · spectrum · pitch · tone · audio · ultrasound · infrasound · harmonics
variation
Change from a norm
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- instabilityTendency toward unpredictable change
volatility · swings · ups and downs · boom and bust · mood swings · indecision · alternating · shifting · changeability · irregularity
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- mechanicsforce, turning, rotation, momentum, velocity
- cycleslife cycle, cycle, circle of life, cycles, period
- fluctuationsfluctuations, variations, swings, waves, shifts
- natural rhythmstides, waves, high tide, low tide, cycles
- differential equationssecond order, boundary conditions, linear equation, systems of equations, bifurcation
oscillationsstillness
Complete lack of motion
motionlessness · immobility · stasis · rest · inertia
oscillationsstability
Resistance to displacement
constancy · steadiness · uniformity · invariance · equilibrium