What is osculation?

Osculation is a mathematical term that refers to the intersection of two curves at a point where they share a common tangent. This point of intersection is also known as the point of contact or the point of tangency. The curves may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional and may be described in terms of equations or parametrically. In geometrical terms, the osculating circle or osculating sphere is the circle or sphere that approximates the curve at the point of contact. In physics, oscillation refers to the repetitive back-and-forth movement of an object or a system from its initial position. The study of oscillations is important in various fields like physics, engineering, mathematics, and astronomy. The concept of oscillation finds applications in areas like oscillating circuits, wave propagation, and harmonic motion.