Mathematical Background

Consider the differential equation d2x/dt2+ α dx/dt + β x=0

Solution to this differential equation is given by x= A o e-αt/2 Cos (ωt+φ)
where A o = Maximum value of x , and ω2= β2- (α/2)2

Damped oscillation.
1. In any harmonic motion if a particle experiences a
non-conservative force proportional to and opposite to the
instantaneous velocity then its total energy gradually dissipates
which in turn decreases the amplitude of oscillation and finally
the particle stops. Such an oscillation is called damped
oscillation.
2. In case of a free oscillation of SHM the restoring force is given
by 𝐹𝐹⃗ = -K𝑥𝑥⃗ which gives rise to the following equations
• Differential equation for displacement d2x/dt2+ (K/m)x= 0
• Displacement time relationship x= A Cos(w o t+φ)
• Total energy associated with particle En = ½ KA2
3. In case of a damped oscillation, the restoring force is given by
𝐹𝐹⃗ = -K𝑥𝑥⃗-b𝑣𝑣⃗ where v is the instantaneous velocity and
b is the damping coefficient .
Thus 𝑎𝑎⃗= -(K/m)𝑥𝑥⃗-(b/m)𝑣𝑣⃗ which gives rise to following
• Differential eqn for displacement
d2x/dt2+ (b/m) dx/dt + (K/m)x= 0
• Displacement time relationship
x= Ao e-(bt/2m) Cos(w d t+φ),
here w d = Damped angular frequency of oscillation
wd2 = w o2 – (b/2m)2
where wo is angular frequency {√(K/m)} of the un-damped system.
• The particle keeps oscillating with constant time period
2π/w d , though its amplitude of oscillation is continuously
decreasing.

Expecting the Unexpected ……CTS,C-567 Koel Nagar, 9937071843

 • A o is initial amplitude. The
amplitude at any time t is given
by A= Ao e-(bt/2m)
• Total energy associated at any
time t is given by
E n = ½ K A2 =½ K A o 2 e-(bt/m)
• If b=0 , oscillation is un-damped or free oscillation.
• If b/2m << w o , the oscillation is under-damped oscillation. In
this case the particle settles at mean position after some
oscillations.
• If b/2m = w o , the oscillation is critically damped oscillation. In
this case the particle settles at mean position after very few
oscillations.
• If b/2m>w o , the oscillation is over damped oscillation. In this
case the particle slowly approaches to mean position and
cannot reach mean position even after a long time.
R L C
4. Damped LCR oscillation
 iR+ Ldi/dt + q/C=0
 L d2q/dt2 +R dq/dt + q/C =0
⇒ d2q/dt2 + (R/L) dq/dt + q/(CL) =0 ….(1) i
 comparing with
d2x/dt2+ (b/m) dx/dt + (K/m)x= 0
we get q=x , b=R , L=m ,C=1/K
o Thus if q is equivalent to displacement then
o C is equivalent to reciprocal of spring constant ,
o L is equivalent to inertia or mass
o And R is equivalent to damping coefficient.
 Solution to eqn (1) is
q= charge on capacitor at any time t
=q o e –Rt/2L Cos (w d t+φ)
where q o is maximum charge on capacitor
and w d2= 1/LC - R2/4L2

Expecting the Unexpected ……CTS,C-567 Koel Nagar, 9937071843