🌊 Oscillations & Waves — Intro#

Scope — Repetitive motion and the propagation of disturbances through space and matter.

Key concepts#

• Oscillation — motion that repeats about an equilibrium position.
• Wave — a traveling oscillation that transfers energy without transporting matter.
• Restoring force — force that drives a system back toward equilibrium.

Seed Q&A triads#

• Q: What defines an oscillatory system?
  A: A system that experiences a restoring force proportional to its displacement from equilibrium.

• Q: How do waves differ from particle motion?
  A: Waves transmit energy and information through oscillations, not by moving material from place to place.

• Q: Why is equilibrium important in oscillations?
  A: Oscillations occur as systems repeatedly move away from and return toward equilibrium.

Quick activities#

• Identify everyday oscillations (pendulum, spring, heartbeat) and describe their equilibrium positions.