Undamped oscillations:
When a Simple harmonic system oscillates with a constant amplitude which does not change with time , its oscillations are called Undamped simple harmonic oscillations .
e.g. Bob of simple pendulum oscillates in vacuum .
Damped oscillations:
The oscillations of a body whose amplitude goes on decreasing with time are defined as damped oscillations.
If ‘v’ be the velocity of the oscillator then damping force Fd = -b v ; where ‘b’ is damping constant.
The resulting force acting on damped harmonic oscillator is ,
F = Frestoring + Fdamping
F = -k x – b v
$\large m\frac{d^2 x}{d t^2} + b \frac{dx}{dt} + k x = 0 $
Solution to above differential equation is ,
$\large x = x_o e^{-bt/2m} cos(\omega’ t + \phi)$
Where , $\large x_o e^{-bt/2m}$ is the amplitude of oscillator which decreases with time & ω’ is the angular frequency of damped oscillator .
$\large \omega’ = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m} – (\frac{b}{2m})^2}$
$\large \omega’ = \sqrt{\omega^2 -\gamma^2}$
In these oscillations the amplitude of oscillations decreases exponentially due to damping force like frictional force, viscous force, hysteresis etc.
In these oscillations the frequency of the oscillations decreases .
Time period of the oscillator , $\large T = \frac{2 \pi}{\sqrt{\omega^2 -\gamma^2}}$ ;this is greater than the time period of the harmonic oscillator $\large T_0 = \frac{2\pi}{\omega}$
The body undergoing damped oscillation is known as damped harmonic oscillator.
Due to decrease in amplitude, the energy of the oscillator also goes on decreasing exponentially,
$\large E = \frac{1}{2}k x_o^2 e^{-bt/m}= E_o e^{-bt/m} $ ; Where Eo = Maximum energy of oscillator .
Illustration: The amplitude of a damped oscillator decreases to 0.9 times its original value in 5s. In another 10s it will decreases to α times its original magnitude, where α is
Sol: $\large A = A_0 e^{-bt/2m} $
after 5 sec , $\large 0.9 A_0 = A_0 e^{-5b/2m} $
After 10 more sec , (i.e., t = 15 sec) its amplitude becomes α A0.
Hence, $\large \alpha A_0 = A_0 e^{-15b/2m} $
$\large \alpha = (e^{-5b/2m})^3 = (0.9)^3$
α = 0.729