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Re: Periodic motion vs. oscillation



At 08:48 AM 6/22/2004, you wrote:
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

I would like to think that an oscillation is the periodic variation of a
parameter which may be mapped onto one dimension.
The time variation providing a second dimension, of course.

Building on this idea of dimensionality, a planetary orbit would be
a coupled oscillation in two spatial dimensions with time as the third.

Thinking of the next step in the progression, a trampoline, a spherical
motobike raceway, Chladi's figures come to mind, without exactly
embodying the full idea of 3+1 dimensions.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK Eureka!