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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

DAMPED OSCILLATION

Learning Competency: Differentiate underdamped, overdamped, and critically damped motion

(STEM_GP12PM-IId-28)

Activity 1: Concept Check

Direction: Answer the following questions completely
1. Why are completely undamped harmonic oscillators so rare?
_____________________________________________________________

2. Describe the difference between overdamping, underdamping, and critical damping.

_____________________________________________________________

3. Most harmonic oscillators are damped and, if undriven, eventually come to a stop. How is this
observation related to the second law of thermodynamics?
_____________________________________________________________
4. Consider a door that uses a spring to close the door once open. How can this lead to any of the above types of
damping depending on the strength of the damping?
a. Overdamping _______________________________________________________
b. Underdamping _______________________________________________________

c. Critical damping _______________________________________________________

Activity 3: Venn Diagram

Directions: Using the Venn Diagram, identify the similarities and differences of underdamped, critically
damped, and overdamped. You can search additional information about interference and diffraction via
textbook, video, books on tape, classroom library, school library, and or Internet. Remember to cite the
references you used. Refer to the Rubrics below on how your Graphic Organizer will be graded.
Venn Diagram
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