What is a harmonic oscillator for which the frequency is not constant?

1 Answer
Apr 14, 2015

I've said something over here that addresses a similar question:
https://socratic.org/questions/552c3f2d581e2a4b4af24271?source=search

When the frequency is not constant... well, let's just say for instance that the frequency decreases as the oscillation continues. It's not constant, then. That's called the "Damped Harmonic Oscillator", because over time, the spring eventually stops moving. A Damped Harmonic Oscillator is not ideal, and so it's not "simple" harmonic motion. It incorporates the spring analog of "friction".