states of oscillation, thus treating the dynamic system in a linear fashion, in which linear superposition of states can be performed.

Typical examples include:
* In a mechanical dynamical system, a vibrating rope is the most clear example of a mode, in which the rope is the medium, the stress on the rope is the excitation, and the displacement of the rope with respect to its static state is the modal variable.
* In an acoustic dynamical system, a single sound pitch is a mode,