Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Mechanics: Damped Harmonic Oscillator

In course

PHYS-101(a): General physics : mechanics

Le but du cours de physique générale est de donner à l'étudiant les notions de base nécessaires à la compréhension des phénomènes physiques. L'objectif est atteint lorsque l'étudiant est capable de prévoir quantitativement les conséquences de ces phénomène ...

Description

This lecture covers the damped harmonic oscillator, discussing the three regimes based on the damping and the undamped oscillator's frequency. It explains the solutions for each regime and the critical damping case. The instructor also presents the determination of constants from initial conditions and provides illustrations of the different damping regimes.

Instructor

Jean-Philippe Hogge

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Harmonic oscillator

In classical mechanics, a harmonic oscillator is a system that, when displaced from its equilibrium position, experiences a restoring force F proportional to the displacement x: where k is a positive constant. If F is the only force acting on the system, the system is called a simple harmonic oscillator, and it undergoes simple harmonic motion: sinusoidal oscillations about the equilibrium point, with a constant amplitude and a constant frequency (which does not depend on the amplitude).

Mechanics

Mechanics (from Ancient Greek: μηχανική, mēkhanikḗ, "of machines") is the area of mathematics and physics concerned with the relationships between force, matter, and motion among physical objects. Forces applied to objects result in displacements or changes of an object's position relative to its environment. Theoretical expositions of this branch of physics has its origins in Ancient Greece, for instance, in the writings of Aristotle and Archimedes (see History of classical mechanics and Timeline of classical mechanics).

Classical mechanics

Classical mechanics is a physical theory describing the motion of macroscopic objects, from projectiles to parts of machinery and astronomical objects, such as spacecraft, planets, stars, and galaxies. For objects governed by classical mechanics, if the present state is known, it is possible to predict how it will move in the future (determinism), and how it has moved in the past (reversibility). The "classical" in "classical mechanics" does not refer classical antiquity, as it might in, say, classical architecture.

Damping

Damping is an influence within or upon an oscillatory system that has the effect of reducing or preventing its oscillation. In physical systems, damping is produced by processes that dissipate the energy stored in the oscillation. Examples include viscous drag (a liquid's viscosity can hinder an oscillatory system, causing it to slow down; see viscous damping) in mechanical systems, resistance in electronic oscillators, and absorption and scattering of light in optical oscillators.

Simple harmonic motion

In mechanics and physics, simple harmonic motion (sometimes abbreviated ()) is a special type of periodic motion an object experiences due to a restoring force whose magnitude is directly proportional to the distance of the object from an equilibrium position and acts towards the equilibrium position. It results in an oscillation that is described by a sinusoid which continues indefinitely (if uninhibited by friction or any other dissipation of energy).

Related lectures (27)

Newton's Laws: Harmonic Oscillator

Covers the application of Newton's laws to harmonic oscillators with damping.

Forced Harmonic Oscillator: Resonance Phenomenon

Covers the forced and damped harmonic oscillator, including the harmonic solution and resonance phenomenon.

Forced Harmonic Oscillator

Explores forced harmonic oscillators, resonance, initial conditions, and collision conservation principles.

Mechanics: Oscillator Harmonics

Explores harmonic oscillators' behavior under various damping conditions, covering Newton's laws, complex numbers, and Euler's formula.

Forced Harmonic Oscillator: Resonance