ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Coupling (physics)

Coupling in physics means one thing affects another thing. Let's imagine you have two toys, and they are attached to each other. When you move one toy, it makes the other toy move with it because they are connected.

In physics, this is called a coupling. For example, when you have two magnets and they're close to each other, they attract, and it is like they're both connected. Also, if you swing a pendulum (like a weight on a string), it affects how the clock ticks. This is because the swinging pendulum is coupled to the clock, and it affects how it keeps time.

Coupling can happen in many ways in the world around us, whether it's two things physically connected or just influencing each other's behavior.