An oscillation is a back-and-forth movement.
Oscillation , a term derived from the Latin oscillatĭo , is a word that describes the act and consequence of oscillating . This verb allows us to represent swinging movements in the manner of a pendulum or, said of certain phenomena , the intensity that increases and decreases alternately with more or less regularity . Each of the swings that are detected in oscillatory movements is also known as oscillation.
In various fields linked to science, oscillation consists of the transformation, alteration, perturbation or fluctuation of a system over time . In this sense, it must be said that the type of system that, when it loses its equilibrium position , returns to it through sinusoidal oscillations is known as a harmonic oscillator .
Oscillation in climatology
In the field of climatology, it is important to emphasize that the term that concerns us now is also used. Specifically, in this sector we talk about what is called thermal oscillation , which is defined as the difference that exists between the lowest and highest temperature that has been recorded in a specific place or area in a specific period of time. .
In this way, from its study it can be determined that a high thermal oscillation is one that exceeds 18º C, the average is one that is between 18º and 10º, the low one is one that is less than 10º and finally The indifferent one is the one that is less than 5º.
Likewise, in this same field we cannot ignore that another type of thermal oscillation is the one that is studied and analyzed in the so-called climate series. In these, what professionals basically undertake is the recording and comparison of the average temperature of the warmest month of the year and the average of the coldest month.
In addition to all of the above, we cannot ignore that there is a climate phenomenon called the North Atlantic Oscillation . Specifically, with this name, what is intended is to refer to the differences in atmospheric pressure that exist in that place between the Azores anticyclone and the Icelandic depression.
Oscillation can consist of a fluctuation or disturbance of a system over time.
The concept in physics
For physics , chemistry and engineering , all oscillation is understood as a movement that is reproduced from one side to the other, arising from an equilibrium position. A cycle , in this context, is the path that must be traveled from one position to another and then return, in such a way that it passes through the equilibrium position twice. The frequency of the oscillation , likewise, is the number of cycles per second, a data that is usually measured in hertz (Hz) .
It should be noted that sounds and electromagnetic waves are produced from oscillations.
In the case of sound, it is a phenomenon based on the propagation of sound waves, which cause oscillations in air pressure. These sound waves are transformed by the human ear into mechanical waves .
The electromagnetic wave, on the other hand, is a form of propagation of electromagnetic radiation through space.