What is Damped Harmonic Oscillation?

[-EquinoX-]

I am not sure that I understand what damped harmonic oscillation is different from simple harmonic oscillation, can someone please explain that to me? I read wikipedia and still doesn't get it...

 

[Hootenanny]

I am not sure that I understand what damped harmonic oscillation is different from simple harmonic oscillation, can someone please explain that to me? I read wikipedia and still doesn't get it...

An simple harmonic oscillator is a harmonic oscillator where the only force acting on it is the restoring force. A damped harmonic oscillator on the other hand, has an additional damping or frictional force, such as drag, acting on it.

 

[-EquinoX-]

so therefore in a damped harmonic oscillation the oscillation will eventually stop because of the friction? in theory...

 

[Hootenanny]

so therefore in a damped harmonic oscillation the oscillation will eventually stop because of the friction? in theory...

Eventually, yes. Unless of course it is a driven, damped oscillator, that is the case when there is some external periodic force applied.

 

[-EquinoX-]

hmm..well I am actually doing this experiment and I can get the friction of the oscilattion really2 small.. however my TA's said to put magnets on top of the oscillation object, do you know why?

 

[Hootenanny]

hmm..well I am actually doing this experiment and I can get the friction of the oscilattion really2 small.. however my TA's said to put magnets on top of the oscillation object, do you know why?

Perhaps if you described the apparatus, I could be of more help.

 

[-EquinoX-]

well I am using an air tracks and on top of it I have a glider. It says that magnets are use to create the damping force . A moving magnet creates an induced current in nearby conductors, in this case the air track. This induced current creates a magnetic field that opposes the motion of the original magnet.