IB Physics C1 Definitions

This page contains our IB Physics definitions for C1. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Physics 'Simple harmonics'.
amplitude

It is the maximum displacement of the particle from its mean position

Angular frequency

It is the angle oscillated per unit time

displacement

It is the net distance an object has travelled from its starting point in a direction

frequency

It is the number of oscillations in one second

oscillations

They are the continual movement of an object around a fixed point, creating a cyclical path the object travels to constantly interchange between kinetic and potential energy

period

It is the time it takes to complete one oscillation

phase difference

It is the measure of the alignment of two oscillations

Simple harmonic motion

It is the motion of an object where its acceleration is proportional to and towards its displacement

wavelength

It is the distance one oscillation travels

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