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Chapter 14: Problem 1

What distinguishes a wave from an oscillation?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The key difference between an oscillation and a wave is that an oscillation belongs to a single entity and does not necessarily require a medium to occur, while a wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another.

Step by step solution

01

Defining an Oscillation

Start by defining an oscillation. An oscillation refers to a change in magnitude or position in a regular manner, involving movements back and forth or up and down. It is usually defined only within single entities. Examples of oscillation include the swinging of a simple pendulum or the vibration of a stretched string.
02

Defining a Wave

Next, define a wave. A wave is a disturbance or variation which travels through a medium from one location to another. It is characterized by the transfer of energy without a net motion of the medium. Examples of waves include sound waves, light waves, and water waves.
03

Distinguishing an Oscillation from a Wave

Lastly, highlight the main difference between an oscillation and a wave. The distinguishing feature between an oscillation and a wave is that while an oscillation takes place within a single entity, a wave requires a medium to travel from one place to another while transferring energy.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A spring of mass \(m\) and spring constant \(k\) has an unstretched length \(L_{0} .\) Find an expression for the speed of transverse waves on this spring when it's been stretched to a length \(L\)

An ideal spring is stretched to a total length \(L_{1} .\) When that length is doubled, the speed of transverse waves on the spring triples. Find an expression for the unstretched length of the spring.

As a wave propagates on a stretched string, the string moves back and forth sideways. Is the string speed related to the wave speed? Explain.

An 88.7 -MHz FM radio wave propagates at the speed of light. What's its wavelength?

Must a wave be either transverse or longitudinal? Explain.
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