Definition

Noun: - (Physics) Vibration produced by resonance: A sympathetic vibration is the vibration of an object that occurs when it is exposed to the sound waves or vibrations from another object that is vibrating at the same, or a harmonically related, natural frequency. The first object absorbs energy from the second and begins to vibrate in response, without being directly touched.

Usage

This term is used specifically in the context of physics and acoustics to describe a resonant phenomenon. - It describes a passive object beginning to vibrate because it shares a resonant frequency with an active, vibrating source. - It explains how sound can be transferred or amplified between objects, such as musical instruments.

Examples

• The sympathetic vibration of the guitar strings caused a faint humming sound even though only one string was plucked.
• In the old piano, a sympathetic vibration from the note C could be heard coming from the undamped strings an octave above.
• The engineer studied the sympathetic vibration between the bridge and the wind to understand the potential for structural damage.

Advanced Usage

• Sympathetic resonance: This is a closely related and often synonymous term, particularly in musical contexts. It emphasizes the resonant, reinforcing quality of the vibration.
  • The singer's high note caused a beautiful sympathetic resonance in the crystal glassware.

Variants and Related Words

• Resonance (n): The condition in which an object or system vibrates with maximum amplitude at a specific frequency when exposed to external vibrations of that frequency. Sympathetic vibration is a physical manifestation of resonance.
• Induced vibration (n): A more general term for any vibration caused by an external source, which can include sympathetic vibration as a specific type.

Synonyms

• Resonant vibration
• Induced oscillation

Antonyms

• Damped vibration
• Forced vibration (in a strict physics sense, forced vibration can occur at any frequency, not necessarily the resonant frequency)

Related Phrases/Concepts

• Natural frequency: The inherent frequency at which an object tends to vibrate when disturbed. Sympathetic vibration requires the source and the responding object to have matching or related natural frequencies.
• Acoustic resonance: Resonance specifically involving sound waves, which is the most common context for observing sympathetic vibrations.

Noun

1. (physics) vibration produced by resonance