Initial-amplitude dependence in weakly damped oscillators
Physics Education
2007-05-23 v1
Abstract
A pedagogically instructive experimental procedure is suggested for distinguishing between different damping terms in a weakly damped oscillator, which highclights the connection between non-linear damping and initial-amplitude dependence. The most common damping terms such as contact friction, air resistance, viscous drag, and electromagnetic damping have velocity dependences of the form constant, v, or v^2. The corresponding energy dependences of the form \sqrt{E}, E, or E\sqrt{E} in the energy loss equation give rise to characteristic dependence of the amplitude decay slope on the initial amplitude.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0206086,
title = {Initial-amplitude dependence in weakly damped oscillators},
author = {Avinash Singh},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0206086},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 6 figures