Lightly damped oscillator, what is the time constant

[Clairepie]

Homework Statement

I need to find the time constant, tau,

Homework Equations

WILL EDIT THIS TOMORROW Bleeping FMS giving me major brainache *saddest face ever*

A(t) = A_0 times e^-t/tau

The Attempt at a Solution

I have had numerous attempts and I just fried my (fibromyalgic) brain out with it! The numbers just don't seem right.

Also any good recommendations for physics videos on the subject?

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibromyalgia/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

 

[JesseC]

You can find \tau by taking the logarithm of the equation you've written there.

ln(A(t))=ln(A_0)-\frac{t}{\tau}

Just rearrange to get \tau
Have you learned logarithms?

\tau is defined as the time it takes the amplitude of an oscillation to fall to 1/e of its original value.