Question

explain a cycle of vibration, accounting for displacement and restorative forces, and equilibrium.

Answer 1

When a mass displaced, elastic restorative forces move mass toward equilibrium but inertia causes mass to overshoot equilibrium (negative displacement). Restorative force increases and acts to decelerate mass. It hits a top point (maximum displacement) and pulled back down to equilibrium but overshoots again. Elastic restorative forces cause mass to return again to equilibrium, but overshoots again...cycle keeps happening.

One back-and-forth movement of a molecule around the equilibrium position makes up one cycle of vibration. One cycle of vibration of occurs when the time or molecules moves to a maximum distance away from its original spot, back toward rest position, moves to a maximal point in the opposite direction, and then moves back again to the equilibrium position. Restorative forces bring the object back to equilibrium.