In a damped harmonic oscillator, which factor primarily determines the rate of e
Practice Questions
Q1
In a damped harmonic oscillator, which factor primarily determines the rate of energy loss?
Mass of the oscillator
Spring constant
Damping coefficient
Frequency of oscillation
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a damped harmonic oscillator, which factor primarily determines the rate of energy loss?
Correct Answer: Damping coefficient
Step 1: Understand what a damped harmonic oscillator is. It is a system that oscillates (moves back and forth) but loses energy over time due to damping.
Step 2: Identify what damping means. Damping is a force that opposes the motion of the oscillator, causing it to lose energy.
Step 3: Learn about the damping coefficient. This is a number that represents how much damping is present in the system.
Step 4: Realize that the larger the damping coefficient, the more energy is lost quickly. This means the oscillator will stop moving sooner.
Step 5: Conclude that the damping coefficient is the main factor that determines the rate of energy loss in a damped harmonic oscillator.
