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What is resonance?

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Quick answer

Resonance happens when something is pushed at its natural rhythm, so its vibrations build up bigger and bigger. A child on a swing, a shattering wine glass, and a radio tuning to a station all rely on resonance — matching a driving force to an object's natural frequency.

Key things to understand

  1. Every object has a natural frequency it 'likes' to vibrate at.
  2. Pushing it at that frequency makes the vibrations grow large.
  3. Small, well-timed pushes add up — like pumping a swing higher.
  4. It can be useful (radios, instruments) or destructive (bridges, glass).
  5. Mismatched timing dampens the motion instead of building it.

People also ask

What is a natural frequency?
The rate at which an object vibrates most easily when disturbed — like the fixed pitch a tuning fork rings at.
Can resonance be destructive?
Yes. Wind or marching feet hitting a bridge's natural frequency can build dangerous swaying, and sound at a glass's frequency can shatter it.
How do radios use resonance?
A radio circuit is tuned to resonate at one station's frequency, amplifying that signal while ignoring the rest.