Question 19.24: List three examples of situations where resonance is a probl...

List three examples of situations where resonance is a problem, and three others where resonance is useful. In each case, state what the oscillating system is and what forces it to resonate

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Any three from:

Example Useful or problem? What is resonating?
Buildings in earthquake Problem Mechanical structure is forced to oscillate by energy from waves of earthquake.
Components in engines Problem At certain rates of rotation, parts of an engine may resonate mechanically; the resonance is driven by the energy output of the engine. This can lead to components cracking or disintegrating, with dangerous consequences
Positive feedback in amplification systems (high-pitched squealing sound) Problem Microphone is held too close to a loudspeaker that is emitting waves of the same frequency as the microphone is tuned to, so the waves from the loudspeaker force the amplifier to resonate.
Tuned radio Useful Electric signal in circuit is forced to oscillate by incoming radio waves.
Microwave cooker Useful Water molecules are forced by microwaves.
Magnetic resonance in atoms Useful Nuclei in atoms behave as magnets; they can be made to resonate by electromagnetic waves. Each nucleus resonates at a different frequency, so the structures of molecules can be determined.

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