Drive an oscillator near its natural frequency and the amplitude grows dramatically: this is resonance. Sweep the driving frequency and find the peak, then add damping and watch the peak fall and broaden. The driven mass on the left responds in step with the resonance curve on the right.
MissionPredict the driving frequency at which the amplitude is greatest.Streak 0Best 0
The amplitude of a driven oscillator is greatest when the driving frequency is:
driving frequency1.00 f₀
dampinglight
relative amplitudepeak
f₀ is the natural frequency. Heavier damping lowers and broadens the peak and shifts it slightly below f₀; lighter damping gives a tall, sharp peak at f₀.