Oscillation facts for kids

A spring-mass system is an example of something that oscillates.

Imagine something moving back and forth, or up and down, over and over again. That's called oscillation! It's like a repeating pattern of movement. Many things in nature move this way when they are pushed or hit. Over time, things that oscillate often slow down and stop because of a force called friction. Friction is a force that slows down moving objects.

What are some examples of oscillation?

You can find examples of oscillation all around you!

• Clocks: Think about the pendulum inside a "grandfather clock". It swings back and forth very slowly, making it a type of oscillator.
• Musical instruments: When you play a piano or a string musical instrument, the strings vibrate. This vibration is a fast oscillation that creates sound.
• Water waves: A wave in water is caused by water moving up and down in a repeating pattern.
• Electronic devices: Some circuits that use electricity can also oscillate. These special circuits can be used to create sounds or even radio waves, which help us communicate wirelessly.
• Chemical reactions: Believe it or not, some chemicals can oscillate! When you mix certain chemicals in the right way, they can change into new things, and then change back to their original form, repeating this pattern. These are known as chemical oscillators.

Related pages

• Vibration

Images for kids

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  Two pendulums fixed on a string can act as coupled oscillators. The oscillation alternates between the two.

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  An experimental setup showing how two clocks can synchronize their oscillations.

See also

In Spanish: Oscilación para niños