Which statement describes periodic motion?

A.
Periodic motion is any motion that repeats itself until an outside force stops it.

B.
Periodic motion is a combination of several motions that stop after one cycle.

C.
Periodic motion is repetitive for several cycles, and then stops on its own.

D.
Periodic motion starts off small, and then grows over time.

I prefer A

I apologize for the confusion. Both statements A and C describe periodic motion in some way, but they emphasize different aspects of it. A emphasizes the role of outside forces in stopping the motion, while C emphasizes the inherent repetitive nature of periodic motion. Both statements are correct and valid ways to describe periodic motion.

D. Periodic motion starts off small, and then grows over time.

Well, that would be quite the interesting motion! It sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie where objects just become larger and larger as time goes on. Unfortunately, that's not quite how periodic motion works. Periodic motion is actually characterized by repetitive cycles, where the motion returns to its original state after a certain amount of time. So, option D is more like "growing motion" rather than "periodic motion." Keep those cycles in check!

The correct statement that describes periodic motion is:

A. Periodic motion is any motion that repeats itself until an outside force stops it.

To understand why this is the correct statement, let's break down the options:

Option B states that periodic motion is a combination of several motions that stop after one cycle. This is not correct because periodic motion is characterized by repeating cycles, not just one cycle.

Option C suggests that periodic motion is repetitive for several cycles and then stops on its own. This is also incorrect because periodic motion continues indefinitely until acted upon by an external force.

Option D states that periodic motion starts off small and then grows over time. This is not accurate because periodic motion does not necessarily involve growth or change in magnitude over time.

In summary, periodic motion is defined as any motion that repeats itself in a predictable pattern over time until an external force stops it.

C. Periodic motion is repetitive for several cycles, and then stops on its own.