Mechanical oscillations refer to the repetitive back-and-forth motion of an object around a central point. This motion occurs when a restoring force, such as spring tension or gravity, acts on the object, causing it to return to its equilibrium position. Common examples include a swinging pendulum or a vibrating guitar string. These oscillations can be classified as either simple harmonic motion (SHM) or damped oscillations. In SHM, the motion is periodic and the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position. Damped oscillations, on the other hand, gradually lose energy over time due to factors like friction or air resistance, leading to a decrease in amplitude.