Why Is My Damped Oscillator Experiment So Challenging?

[Darkplayer01]

Hello guys!

I'm REALLY and i mean REALLY frustrated due to the fact that i just can't solve this stupid assignment!

I did a experiment at school with a weight attached to a spring. The weight was then set to do some swings where it sink into some water, a so called damped oscillator. I know have some values for time (s) and the force (N). So i plotted my values and got a sinus graph.

and now the s****y part..

how can i compare this with a second order differential equation and determine the constants? When i plot the values and get a sinus graph i can't even get excel to give me a function.

This is my final assignment before getting graduated from senior high school (the schoolsystem is a bit different here in DK)

btw here is a link with values: http://www.2shared.com/file/9887389/4cc70714/Values.html

Just found out that i have posted this in the wrong section, could moderator be so kind and move this to the correct section? And i do apologies for this.

 

[AEM]

Well, you could do a Google search on Damped Harmonic Motion or Damped Harmonic Oscillator. I think you'll find something of value to you on Wikipedia.

I doubt that Excel knows about second order differential equations.