The change in density/pressure of a medium from maximum value to minim...
An undamped spring–mass system is an oscillatory system
Oscillation is the repetitive variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. The term vibration is precisely used to describe mechanical oscillation. Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum and alternating current.
Oscillations occur not only in mechanical systems but also in dynamic systems in virtually every area of science: for example the beating of the human heart (for circulation), business cycles in economics, predator–prey population cycles in ecology, geothermal geysers in geology, vibrating strings in musical instruments, periodic firing of nerve cells in the brain, and the periodic swelling of Cepheid variable stars in [astronomy]
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The change in density/pressure of a medium from maximum value to minim...
Explanation:
The change in density or pressure of a medium from its maximum value to its minimum value and again back to its maximum value, due to the propagation of a longitudinal wave, is called complete oscillation. This is the correct answer.
Longitudinal Waves:
- Longitudinal waves are a type of mechanical waves where the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation.
- These waves have regions of compression (maximum density/pressure) and rarefaction (minimum density/pressure) as they propagate through a medium.
Complete Oscillation:
- In a longitudinal wave, a complete oscillation refers to the cycle of motion from a maximum value to a minimum value and back to a maximum value.
- During a complete oscillation, the medium undergoes a complete cycle of compression and rarefaction.
- The particles in the medium move towards each other during compression, causing an increase in density and pressure.
- Conversely, during rarefaction, the particles move away from each other, resulting in a decrease in density and pressure.
- This cycle of compression-rarefaction-compression constitutes a complete oscillation.
Other Options:
- Frequency refers to the number of complete oscillations or cycles of a wave that occur in one second. It is not related to the change in density/pressure.
- Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement or distance traveled by particles from their equilibrium position during a wave. It does not describe the change in density/pressure.
- None of the above options accurately describe the change in density/pressure from maximum to minimum and back to maximum values.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - oscillation, as it accurately describes the change in density/pressure from maximum to minimum and back to maximum values during the propagation of a longitudinal wave.