Vibraation

Vibraation is a term used to describe oscillatory motion or the transmission of such motion through a medium. In general usage it corresponds to the English word "vibration" and denotes periodic or aperiodic displacement about an equilibrium position. Key quantitative descriptors include amplitude, frequency, phase and damping, which together characterize the motion’s intensity, speed, timing and energy loss.

In physics and engineering, vibraation arises in mechanical systems, acoustic media and electromagnetic contexts where components oscillate under restoring forces. Types of vibraation include free vibrations (natural response of a system), forced vibrations (driven by an external periodic input) and resonant vibrations, which occur when driving frequency matches a system's natural frequency and produces large amplitudes. Mathematical models commonly employ mass-spring-damper systems and differential equations to predict behavior.

Measurement techniques use accelerometers, laser Doppler vibrometers and seismographs to capture motion and frequency content, often analyzed with Fourier methods. Practical applications span structural health monitoring, noise and vibration control, musical instrument design, tactile feedback in electronics (haptics), and medical therapies that use mechanical oscillation. Human exposure to prolonged or intense vibraation can cause discomfort, reduced performance or occupational illnesses such as hand-arm vibration syndrome and whole-body vibration effects; standards and mitigation strategies address these risks. The word originates from Latin vibratio, reflecting the general concept of trembling or shaking.