isokron

Isokron is a term that can refer to several concepts, primarily in scientific and technical contexts. The root word "isochron" suggests sameness of time or period.

In physics, an isochronous oscillator is one whose period of oscillation is independent of its amplitude. This is a fundamental property of simple harmonic motion, where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement. Many idealized systems, such as a simple pendulum with small oscillations or a mass on a spring, approximate isochronous behavior. Real-world systems often exhibit non-isochronous behavior as amplitude increases, leading to changes in their oscillation periods.

In geology and geochronology, isochron dating is a radiometric dating technique. It relies on the principle that a closed system will maintain a constant ratio of parent isotope to stable daughter isotope over time, provided that initial amounts of the daughter isotope were known or can be determined. By analyzing multiple samples from the same rock or mineral that have different initial ratios but were formed at the same time, geologists can construct an "isochron" line on a graph. The slope of this line is proportional to the age of the sample, and the intercept provides information about the initial daughter isotope abundance. This method is particularly powerful for dating events like volcanic eruptions or the formation of igneous rocks.

The term isokron can also appear in other specialized fields, often denoting a situation where a particular characteristic remains constant over time or across different instances.