Lecture

Harmonic Oscillations: Definition

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

Description

This lecture introduces harmonic oscillations, defined as functions of the form f: R → R, t → f(t) = A sin(wt + p) or f: R → R, t → f(t) = A cos(wt + p), where A is the amplitude and p is the phase. The concept is illustrated through the example of uniform circular motion, where the projection of a point M on the y-axis results in an oscillation of the form A sin(wt + y), and on the x-axis as A cos(wt + p). The lecture covers the properties of harmonic oscillations and their geometric interpretation, setting the stage for the principle of superposition and practical applications.

In MOOC

Trigonometric, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

This course provides the fundamental knowledge related to these functions. It is structured around 9 chapters spread over 12 weeks: The angle and its measurement Trigonometric functions sine and cosine and their inverses Trigonometric functions tangent and cotangent and their inverses Trigonometric formulas (addition, bisection, etc.) Harmonic oscillations Trigonometric equations Triangle relations (sine and cosine theorems) Continuity and derivability of trigonometric functions Logarithmic and exponential

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Simple harmonic motion

In mechanics and physics, simple harmonic motion (sometimes abbreviated ()) is a special type of periodic motion an object experiences due to a restoring force whose magnitude is directly proportional to the distance of the object from an equilibrium position and acts towards the equilibrium position. It results in an oscillation that is described by a sinusoid which continues indefinitely (if uninhibited by friction or any other dissipation of energy).

Circular motion

In physics, circular motion is a movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. It can be uniform, with a constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or non-uniform with a changing rate of rotation. The rotation around a fixed axis of a three-dimensional body involves the circular motion of its parts. The equations of motion describe the movement of the center of mass of a body. In circular motion, the distance between the body and a fixed point on the surface remains the same.

Acceleration

In mechanics, acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity of an object with respect to time. Accelerations are vector quantities (in that they have magnitude and direction). The orientation of an object's acceleration is given by the orientation of the net force acting on that object. The magnitude of an object's acceleration, as described by Newton's Second Law, is the combined effect of two causes: the net balance of all external forces acting onto that object — magnitude is directly proportional to this net resulting force; that object's mass, depending on the materials out of which it is made — magnitude is inversely proportional to the object's mass.

Newton's laws of motion

Newton's laws of motion are three basic laws of classical mechanics that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it. These laws can be paraphrased as follows: A body remains at rest, or in motion at a constant speed in a straight line, unless acted upon by a force. When a body is acted upon by a force, the time rate of change of its momentum equals the force. If two bodies exert forces on each other, these forces have the same magnitude but opposite directions.

Trigonometric functions

In mathematics, the trigonometric functions (also called circular functions, angle functions or goniometric functions) are real functions which relate an angle of a right-angled triangle to ratios of two side lengths. They are widely used in all sciences that are related to geometry, such as navigation, solid mechanics, celestial mechanics, geodesy, and many others. They are among the simplest periodic functions, and as such are also widely used for studying periodic phenomena through Fourier analysis.

Related lectures (64)

Harmonic Oscillations: Superposition MOOC: Trigonometric, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Explores the principle of superposition for harmonic oscillations and provides geometric interpretations and examples.

Triangle Resolution: Trigonometric Functions MOOC: Trigonometric, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Covers the resolution of triangles using trigonometric functions and the importance of cosine and sine theorems.

Harmonic Oscillations: Graphs MOOC: Trigonometric, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Explores the construction of graphs for harmonic oscillations with different amplitudes and phases.

Trigonometric Circle: Interpretation and Applications MOOC: Trigonometric, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

Explores the interpretation of angles on the trigonometric circle and its applications in circular motion.

Circular Motion and Harmonic Oscillator