Vibration

Vibration is similar to oscillation, that is a movement, around an equilibrium point, of an object in a regular manner which exists during a certain amount of time.

The difference between them is that in an oscillation movement the energy transforms from kinetic to gravitational potential and vice versa, while when an object vibrates, the energy exchange is between kinetic an elastic potential energy.

Thus, in solid mechanics[?] a rigid body oscillates (see Newtonian mechanics), while a non-rigid one (elastic) can also vibrate.

Harmonic undamped vibration

Damped vibration

See also Vibrator.