- #1
FrankJ777
- 140
- 6
Hi all
I'm not sure if this question is better suited for the EE thread or diff eq, but I'm trying to understand what the neper frequency, [tex]\alpha[/tex], signifies. I know it's supposed to be the damping factor and that its units are rad/second, but I'm not sure what that implies. It would seem to indicate, by its units, that its rate of oscillation slows by [tex]\alpha[/tex] [tex]rad/second[/tex], but of course period and frequency remain constant durring damped harmonic oscillation. So can anyone explain to me what I'm missing. In other words if I have a RCL circuit, or a mass and spring system for that matter, what can I predict about the oscillation knowing [tex]\alpha[/tex]?
Thanks a lot.
I'm not sure if this question is better suited for the EE thread or diff eq, but I'm trying to understand what the neper frequency, [tex]\alpha[/tex], signifies. I know it's supposed to be the damping factor and that its units are rad/second, but I'm not sure what that implies. It would seem to indicate, by its units, that its rate of oscillation slows by [tex]\alpha[/tex] [tex]rad/second[/tex], but of course period and frequency remain constant durring damped harmonic oscillation. So can anyone explain to me what I'm missing. In other words if I have a RCL circuit, or a mass and spring system for that matter, what can I predict about the oscillation knowing [tex]\alpha[/tex]?
Thanks a lot.