Forced oscillations occur when an external periodic force drives a system, causing it to oscillate at the frequency of that force, rather than its natural frequency. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in systems such as nonlinear oscillators and pendulums, where the interplay between the driving force and the system's own dynamics can lead to complex behaviors, such as resonance and chaotic motion. Understanding forced oscillations helps in analyzing how systems respond to external influences and how energy transfer takes place within them.
congrats on reading the definition of forced oscillations. now let's actually learn it.