Damping of a Spring System

Classical Mechanics Level 1

A 2 kg 2 \text{kg} mass attached to a spring of spring constant k = 10 N / m k = 10 \text{ N}/\text{m} oscillates through a fluid that exerts a damping force F d = − ( 4 N ⋅ s / m ) v F_d = -(4 \text{ N}\cdot\text{s}/\text{m})\: v on the mass, where v v is the velocity of the mass. Which of the following correctly describes the oscillatory behavior of the system?

Critically damped Overdamped The system is not damped Underdamped

Matt DeCross by Matt DeCross , 27, USA

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

1 solution

Matt DeCross
Feb 22, 2016

Since all units are in the standard SI we omit them here. Then b 2 = 16 b^2 = 16 while 4 k m = 80 4km = 80 . Since b 2 < 4 k m b^2 < 4km the system is underdamped; there is not enough damping to stop the oscillation due to the large spring force and mass.

8 Helpful 0 Interesting 0 Brilliant 0 Confused

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...