Resonance

First published: 1999

Brief summary

Britannica overview of resonance in mechanical, acoustic and electromagnetic systems.

Article

Resonance occurs when a system is driven at or near one of its natural frequencies and responds with increased amplitude. The size of the response depends on the driving frequency, damping and the way energy is transferred into the system.

Every oscillatory system has one or more natural modes determined by its mass distribution, stiffness, geometry and boundary conditions. Periodic forcing can add energy efficiently when successive pushes remain appropriately timed with the motion.

Damping limits the amplitude and broadens the range of frequencies over which a response occurs. Systems with weak damping can show a sharp, large resonance, while strongly damped systems show a smaller and less frequency-selective response.

Resonance occurs in mechanical structures, musical instruments, electrical circuits, atoms and electromagnetic cavities. It can be useful for selecting or amplifying frequencies, but it can also produce damaging vibration in machines, bridges and buildings.

Source details and credits

• Source / publisher: Britannica
• Source type: Reference article
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Britannica
• URL: https://www.britannica.com/science/resonance-vibration