The period of oscillation: the nature of the phenomenon and measurement

One of the major characteristics of the various types of vibrations that occur in nature are the period and the frequency of oscillation.These physical phenomena are so common that, perhaps, you can not specify the domain of existence, which have not observed these physical processes.The most common areas of research on the nature of the vibrational motions are mechanics, electronics, astronomy, location and other.

unites all these industries is that the nature of oscillatory motions in them is the same, and thus, the theory that describes this phenomenon is universal.For example, it is generally accepted that the period represents a certain interval of time during which an object makes one complete oscillation, and then returns to its original position.The most telling example of this appears in the mechanics of swing of the pendulum clock.

Fluctuations in properties distinguish the free (or your own), and harmonic.Available - are those that are caused by external forces applied to the object and prints it out of balance (in mechanics: a stringed musical instrument, bob, suspended by a thread, etc.).A more important place in the theory of oscillatory processes take harmonic oscillations.They constitute the framework that allows to formulate laws of the theory and consider the nature of vibrations in different physical media (water, air, gas, vacuum, etc.).

Based on the approval of the universality of the theory of vibrations, it can be concluded and the universality of physical units that reflect the magnitude of these oscillations, regardless of their nature and scope of distribution.These are the period and frequency.How is the period of oscillation, mentioned above.The frequency of the oscillations is determined by the number of complete oscillations perfect subjects for a certain unit of time.Period and frequency of oscillation theory tied in a single, common to the theory formula.Describes the period of free oscillations of the formula is: f = 1 / T, where f - frequency, T - period (acts, along with the frequency, the main parameter of this phenomenon).

There are also other characteristics of oscillatory processes, such as amplitude, angular frequency, phase, but their use is due to a more complex description of the terms of vibrations.These conditions are:

- the actual nature of the oscillatory process, that is exactly what we consider fluctuations - mechanical, electromagnetic, or other cyclic;

- the environment in which oscillatory processes occur - air, water, or otherwise.These conditions are the most significant influence on all process parameters, including the period of oscillation.For example, for cyclic, the formula that determines the oscillation period includes also 2πν index, which characterizes the rotary oscillation.

oscillation frequency is characterized by unity, which is named after the great physicist - Heinrich Hertz and abbreviated: Hz.Based on the formula we have considered, 1 Hz is a value equal to one full swing, which occurred in one second.This unit is characterized by a myriad of options that surround us in everyday life.For example, the frequency of the alternating current, which we consume the house is 50 Hz.This means that the flow of electrons in a conductor 50 again changes its direction of movement.Frequencies can be characterized as small values ​​(eg pendulum), and the values ​​that extend up to billions of cycles per second.Such, for example, are the frequencies characterizing computational operations in modern computers.Then hertz values ​​used for the reflection becomes uncomfortable, and thereto is added multiples: kilogram (kHz, 1000), mega (mHz, 1000000), gigahertz (GHz 1000000000) and so on.

values ​​which shows us the period of oscillation, are the most common metric units (several times, if I may say so), that is a numerical measure of the number of perfect vibrational motions for a certain period of time.