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Chapter 11 Vocab
Chapter 11: Harmonic Motion
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Pendulum | a weight hung from a fixed point, so that it can swing freely backwards and forwards |
| Cycle | unit of motion that repeats over and over |
| Frequency | number of cycles an oscillator makes in one second |
| Amplitude | describes how large the cycle is / they depend on the type of oscillation you are describing / it is often distance or angle/ but may be voltage or pressure/ it decreases until the the pendulum stops moving |
| Period | the difference between the beginning of the cycle an the end of the cycle |
| Oscillator | a system that shows harmonic motion (ex: pendulum, solar system) |
| Damping | used to describe the gradual loss of amplitude of an oscillator |
| Linear Motion | motion that goes from one place to another (ex: distance, time, speed, etc.) |
| Harmonic Motion | motion that repeats itself over and over (ex: pendulum, swing) |
| Hertz | unit of frequency |
| Phase | where the oscillator is in the cycle |