Mechanical Oscillations and Waves

What is the primary characteristic that all types of oscillations share?

• Periodicity

• Amplitude

• Frequency

• Damping

Which of the following is an example of forced oscillation?

• A pendulum swinging freely

• A guitar string vibrating after being plucked

• A flower swaying in the wind

• An internal combustion engine running

What determines the period of a mathematical pendulum?

• The mass of the weight

• The length of the string

• The stiffness of the spring

• The amplitude of oscillation

In the context of elastic waves, what is interference?

• The creation of new waves

• The amplification and reduction of amplitude when waves overlap

• The reflection of waves

• The absorption of waves by a medium

What are nodes in the context of standing waves?

• Points where amplitude is maximal

• Points where amplitude is minimal

• Points where waves are absorbed

• Points where waves are reflected