Maximum speed of overdamped oscillator without crossing origin

AI Thread Summary
An overdamped oscillator with an initial position x0 > 0 needs to determine its maximum initial speed towards the origin without crossing it. The equation for the position x(t) has been established, but the challenge lies in calculating the maximum initial speed given only x0. The discussion highlights the need to understand the behavior of the oscillator as time approaches infinity, where it will eventually return to zero. Participants are seeking clarity on solving for coefficients and the relationship between initial speed and position to avoid crossing the origin. The conversation emphasizes the importance of deriving the maximum initial speed as a function of x0.
MeMoses
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Homework Statement


An overdamped oscillator with natural frequency w and damping coefficient g starts out at postion x0 > 0. What is the maximum initial speed towards the origin it can have without crossing the origin?


Homework Equations


x(t) for overdamped oscillator


The Attempt at a Solution


x(t) for a general overdamped oscillator has been solved already. However if I only know x0 > 0 and nothing else, how do I go about determining the maximum speed. I can't see how this problem will workout and I can't get it started. Thanks for any help
 
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Hi MeMoses! :smile:
MeMoses said:
x(t) for a general overdamped oscillator has been solved already. However if I only know x0 > 0 and nothing else, how do I go about determining the maximum speed. I can't see how this problem will workout and I can't get it started.

Just find the answer as a function of xo :wink:
 
Edit: My idea made no sense. So how do find this maximum v0?
 
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MeMoses said:
Edit: My idea made no sense. So how do find this maximum v0?

what is your x(t) equation?
 
I get x(t) = Ae**((-g-z)t) + Be(-(g-z)t) with z=sqrt(g**2 - w**2). At t=0 I get x0 = A + B
 
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Hi MeMoses! :wink:
MeMoses said:
I get x(t) = Ae**((-g-z)t) + Be(-(g-z)t) with z=sqrt(g**2 - w**2). At t=0 I get x0 = A + B

(hmm … I'm not sure how that's supposed to be read :confused: … but anyway …)

So what is the maximum value of x(t) (presumably at t = ∞) ?

And what is the intitial speed? :smile:
 
Sorry i type that from my phone. The lim x(t) as t approaches infinity is 0, it will always go to 0 eventually but how do I know if it crosses the origin or not and how can I find the initial speed using what you told me? Edit: also how can I solve the coefficients?
 
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