Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Periodic motion vs. oscillation



What, if any, is the difference between periodic motion and
oscillations?

For example, the motion of the earth around the sun is an example of
periodic motion. But is it an example of an oscillation?

I thought that an oscillation is when something is forced back to some
equilibrium position (like a vibration). Periodic motion, on the other
hand, is something that repeats itself (i.e., is cyclic). Perhaps an
oscillation is an example of periodic motion but not all periodic
motions are oscillations?

____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301