Oscillations (Physics)

Recall cards on oscillatory motion. Periodic motion, period and frequency, and amplitude. Simple harmonic motion (SHM) as the motion of a Hooke's-law restoring force: position x(t) = A cos(omega t + phi), its velocity and acceleration, angular frequency omega = sqrt(k/m), and the period T = 2 pi sqrt(m/k) that depends only on mass and spring constant. Energy in SHM: elastic potential and kinetic energy, the conserved total E = (1/2) k A^2 proportional to amplitude squared, and the speed at any position. SHM as the projection of uniform circular motion. Pendulums: the simple pendulum with T = 2 pi sqrt(L/g), the physical pendulum, and the torsional pendulum. Damped oscillations: the velocity-proportional damping force, exponential amplitude decay, and the underdamped, critically damped, and overdamped regimes. Forced oscillations: natural frequency, steady-state amplitude, and resonance when the driving frequency matches the natural frequency.