Problems Sheet (2): Damped Oscillations

1 Show that the time rate of change of mechanical energy for a damped, free oscillations is given
by dE/dt=-bv2, and hence is always negative.

2 A pendulum with a length of 1.00 m is released from an initial angle of 15.00. After 1.0 s, its
amplitude has been reduced by friction to 5.50o. What is the value of b/2m?

3 A 10.6-kg object oscillates at the end of a vertical spring that has a spring constant of 2.05 * 104
N/m. The effect of air resistance is represented by the damping coefficient b = 3.00 N.s/m.
(a) Calculate the frequency of the damped oscillation.
(b) By what percentage does the amplitude
of the oscillation decrease in each cycle?
(c) Find the time interval that elapses while the energy of the system drops to 5.00% of its initial
value.
4 The equation of motion for a damped oscillator is given by
4 x  bx  32x  0,
For what range of values for the damping constant will the motion be (a) under-damped; (b)
over-damped; (c) critically damped?

5 Solve the equation of motion for the damped oscillator d2x/dt2 + 2dx/dt +5x = 0, subject to the
initial condition x0 = 5, v0 = −3 at t = 0.

6 A damped oscillator has frequency which is 9/10 of its natural frequency. By what factor is its
amplitude decreased in each cycle?

7 A damped oscillator loses 3% of its energy in each cycle. How many cycles elapse before half its
original energy is dissipated?.

8 The 100-gram bob of a 1-metre long simple pendulum is set swinging through glycerine. The
angular amplitude decreases from 10o to 7o within 1 second. (a) Find the damping constant for
the viscous damping force of the glycerine. (b) Find the period of the damped pendulum, and
calculate the fraction of mechanical energy remaining after five full swings. (Take g = 9.8 m s-2 .)

9 A block of mass 90 grams attached to a horizontal spring is subject to a friction force with b= 0.18
N.s/m. The system oscillates about its equilibrium position but loses 94.4% of its total mechanical
energy during one complete cycle. Determine the period of the damped oscillation. From this,
find the natural angular frequency and hence the spring constant, k.

10 A harmonic oscillator with a mass of 1 kg and a spring constant of 9 N m¡1 is subject to a

damping force with b = 4 kg s-1. The system is in equilibrium (x = 0) at time t = 0, when an impulse
gives it a velocity of v0 = -45 cm s-1. Determine the displacement x(t) and velocity v(t) thereafter.
Find the farthest distance that the oscillator moves from equilibrium, and sketch x(t).

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