Exam-style question
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What are free vibrations?.
- A.Vibrations that occur without any external force
- B.Vibrations that are maintained by an external force
- C.Vibrations that occur at a constant frequency
- D.Vibrations that are damped over time
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Vibrations that occur without any external force
Explanation
Why this works
Free vibrations are defined as oscillations that occur without any external force acting on the system. The key difference between free and forced vibrations is that free vibrations rely solely on the system's natural frequency, while forced vibrations are influenced by an external driving force.
Free vibrations apply when a system is displaced from its equilibrium position and allowed to oscillate freely, such as a pendulum swinging. Therefore, the correct option describes free vibrations accurately.
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