Harmonic oscillator


harmonic oscillator
A physical system in which some value oscillates above and below a mean value at one or more characteristic frequencies. Such systems often arise when a contrary force results from displacement from a force-neutral position, and gets stronger in proportion to the amount of displacement. For example, pulling or pushing the end of a spring from its rest position results in a force pushing back toward the rest position. Letting the spring go from a position of tension results in harmonic motion of the spring; the spring is now a harmonic oscillator. Other examples include a swinging pendulum, a vibrating violin string, or an electronic circuit that produces radio waves.

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  • Harmonics

    [hahr-mon-iks] /hɑrˈmɒn ɪks/ noun, Music. 1. (used with a singular verb) the science of musical sounds. 2. (used with a plural verb) the partials or overtones of a fundamental tone. Compare (def 1). 3. (used with a plural verb) the flageoletlike tones of a string, as a violin string, made to vibrate so as to […]

  • Harmonic-series

    noun, Mathematics. 1. a series in which the reciprocals of the terms form an arithmetic progression. 2. the divergent infinite series, 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + . . . . noun 1. (maths) a series whose terms are in harmonic progression, as in 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + … […]

  • Harmonic suture

    harmonic suture n. See plane suture.

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