Abstract: A passive electrically operable monitoring means has an inherent resistance and a characteristic capacitance and inductance only, so that the monitoring means has a predetermined natural frequency of oscillation. Variations in a physical parameter being monitored by the monitoring means will cause the characteristic capacitance and/or inductance to vary thereby varying the natural frequency of oscillation of the monitoring means. A transducer includes an excitation means for exciting the monitoring means and a sensing means for sensing the natural frequency of oscillation of the monitoring means. The excitation means includes a pulse generating means for exciting the monitoring means with a string of pulses having a repetition rate suitably lower than the natural frequency of oscillation of the monitoring means so that damped oscillations occur in the monitoring means.