Simulations of Oscillatory Systems ─ with Award-Winning Software, Physics of Oscillations

Deepen Your Students’ Understanding of Oscillations through Interactive Experiments

Simulations of Oscillatory Systems: with Award-Winning Software, Physics of Oscillationsprovides a hands-on way of visualizing and understanding the fundamental concepts of the physics of oscillations. Both the textbook and software are designed as exploration-oriented supplements for courses in general physics and the theory of oscillations.

The book is conveniently structured according to mathematical complexity. Each chapter in Part I contains activities, questions, exercises, and problems of varying levels of difficulty, from straightforward to quite challenging. Part II presents more sophisticated, highly mathematical material that delves into the serious theoretical background for the computer-aided study of oscillations.

The software package allows students to observe the motion of linear and nonlinear mechanical oscillatory systems and to obtain plots of the variables that describe the systems along with phase diagrams and plots of energy transformations. These computer simulations provide clear, vivid illustrations of oscillations in various physical systems, bringing to life many abstract concepts, developing students’ physical intuition, and complementing the analytical study of the subject. Students can investigate phenomena that would otherwise be difficult to study in a more conventional manner.

Eugene I. Butikov is a professor of physics at St. Petersburg State University. His work focuses on solid-state physics and the theory of nonlinear oscillations as well as developing interactive educational software for university-level physics students.