vibrates

Vibrate is a verb describing the repeated back-and-forth or oscillatory motion of an object around an equilibrium position. The word vibrates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb vibrate, used to describe one object shaking. In physics, vibrations are commonly modeled as simple harmonic motion, though many real systems involve damping and nonlinear effects.

Key quantities include frequency (f, measured in hertz), amplitude (maximum displacement), and damping (energy loss over time). Vibrations can be mechanical, producing motion in solids or fluids, or electromagnetic, involving oscillating electric and magnetic fields. Each vibrating system has natural modes with characteristic frequencies; driving near these frequencies can cause resonance and large amplitudes.

Measuring vibrations uses accelerometers, laser vibrometers, and seismographs to infer forces, speeds, and mechanical condition. Common examples include musical instrument strings, tuning forks, the vibration motor in mobile devices, and ultrasonic imaging.

Vibration plays a constructive role in sensing and communication but can also cause noise, fatigue, and structural damage if uncontrolled. The term derives from Latin vibrare, meaning to shake; in physics, a precise description includes frequency, amplitude, phase, and damping. Vibration is a ubiquitous phenomenon across science and engineering, underpinning devices from watches and motors to medical imaging and materials testing.