Engineering Measuring the damping frequency from an oscilloscope reading

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on measuring the undamped natural frequency from an oscilloscope reading in a circuit analyzed using LTSpice. Participants clarify that the undamped frequency is the frequency at which the output would oscillate without any damping elements. The damped frequency can be observed from the green signal, while the undamped frequency requires calculations using the provided equations. It is emphasized that simply removing resistors from the circuit is not a valid method for determining the natural frequency, as it is inherently included in the transfer function. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurately analyzing circuit behavior in damped and critically damped scenarios.
Boltzman Oscillation
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Homework Statement
From the oscilloscope reading, find the undamped frequency of oscillation, damped exponent, and damped frequency of oscillation if the damping ratio is .1.
Relevant Equations
shown below
I know the following equations for if the damping ratio is less than 1:
$$\sigma = -\zeta \omega_n$$
$$\omega = \sqrt{(1 - \zeta ^2)\omega^2_n}$$
I am given the following circuit that I built on LTSpice:
cirucit.png

Measuring the voltage between node 2 and ground (blue), and the voltage Vc4(t) (green) I get the following reading:
1570766890109.png

what is the undamped frequency of oscillation, damped exponent, and damped frequency of oscillation? All I really need is the undamped natural frequency because I will be able to use the formulas to find the rest. How can I find it? Is it just the frequency of the green signal? Vc4(t)?
 
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The frequency of the green squiggle is the damped frequency of oscillation. You'd have to use your equation to solve for the undamped frequency.
 
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Anachronist said:
The frequency of the green squiggle is the damped frequency of oscillation. You'd have to use your equation to solve for the undamped frequency.
Ah I guessed as much. In a critically damped scenario i get the following reading:
1570777882082.png

this time the blue line is my capacitor voltage. I am asked for the undamped frequency, is this just the frequency of the rising portion of the signal?
 
Boltzman Oscillation said:
I am asked for the undamped frequency, is this just the frequency of the rising portion of the signal?
It is the natural frequency of the circuit i.e. the frequency with which the output would oscillate had there been no damping element(s).
 
cnh1995 said:
It is the natural frequency of the circuit i.e. the frequency with which the output would oscillate had there been no damping element(s).
Ah so without the resistors.
 
Boltzman Oscillation said:
Ah so without the resistors.
Yes, but you can't find it by removing the resistors in the original circuit. The natural frequency term appears automatically in the transfer function.
 

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