What is Oscillatory Motion?-Definition, Examples

Oscillatory motion is a type of oscillation where the object moves back and forth at a constant speed. Oscillation is a term used to describe the back and forth motion of something that is moving.

What is oscillatory motion?

Oscillation is a type of movement where the object moves back and forth at regular intervals. Oscillations occur naturally in many things around us and they are often referred to as waves. 

Oscillation is the motion of a body or an object in a manner that it returns to its initial position periodically. The motion of the body is such that its position moves back and forth in a waveform. If you watch the ocean waves, you will notice that the wave motion is sinusoidal in nature. Similarly, if you see the oscillation of a pendulum, then it follows the sine function or sinusoidal motion.

The position of the motion’s equilibrium is the point at which the oscillations occur and it is mandatory for the object to move through this point. The object comes to rest on this point after some time when the motion stops due to the motion of the medium in which it is moving.

Each periodic motion is a periodic motion, but it is not necessary that each periodic motion is oscillatory. There is a chance that a periodic motion may or may not be an oscillatory motion. The motion of the car wheel is neither periodic nor oscillatory, whereas the motion of the stringed object nailed to the wall is both periodic and oscillatory.

Oscillatory Motion Example

Simple Harmonic Motion is a form of motion that is simple to understand. The restoring force is proportional to its displacement from its equilibrium position in this motion. This is what Hooke’s law is about. 

F=-Kx

Where f is force K is proportionality constant and x is displacement.

There are some more examples of oscillatory motion.

• Simple Pendulum
• Pendulum Clock
• Tuning Fork
• Swing
• Flapping of Wings 
• A freely hanging Bob
• String Musical Instruments
• Spring Toy
• Alternating Current
• Beating of Heart 
• Earthquake