Can you think of an object that moves in a regular pattern?
See solution.
Practice makes perfect
Whenever we see some behavior that repeats over time, we can expect to model it using a periodic function.
Periodic Function
A periodic function is a function that repeats a pattern of y-values (outputs) at regular intervals.
Let's think of a pendulum or a swing. It swings back and forth about a midpoint at a constant pace. Let's take a look at its height about this midpoint.
Another example is an object attached to a spring. If we let the object hang from the ceiling and then pull it down, it will start to bounce up and down on the spring.
In both cases, we can see how these objects travel from a maximum to a minimum at regular intervals. The movement of these objects are described by periodic functions. Please note that there are several other examples that could be used to describe this situation.
