# Damper Oscillator dropping amplitude to half the original value

1. Sep 18, 2011

### Hypnos_16

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Consider a damped oscillator
Assume that the mass is 318g, the spring constant is 104 N/m, and b = 0.106 kg/s. How long does it take for the amplitude to drop to half its initial value?

M = 318 g Or 0.318 kg
K = 104 N/m
b = 0.106 kg/s

2. Relevant equations

n / a

3. The attempt at a solution

I have no sweet clue how to even start something like this! Help would be greatly appreciated!

2. Sep 18, 2011

### Spinnor

3. Sep 18, 2011

### danielakkerma

Do you know the equations of (damped) oscillatory motion?
Have you tried solving:
$a\ddot{x}(t)+b\dot{x}(t)=-cx(t)$?
I'd refer you hither, and you can simply plug in if you like, but I recommend actually solving for the general case, it's fairly trivial, and very instructive...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_oscillator#Damped_harmonic_oscillator"
Daniel

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 26, 2017