Amplitude Decay

Definition

Amplitude decay refers to the gradual reduction in the maximum displacement or peak value of an oscillating or vibrating system over time. This phenomenon is observed in damped harmonic motion, where the energy of the system is dissipated, causing the amplitude of the oscillations to diminish with each successive cycle.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Amplitude decay is a characteristic of damped harmonic motion, where the system's energy is dissipated over time, causing the amplitude of the oscillations to decrease.
2. The rate of amplitude decay is determined by the damping coefficient of the system, which depends on factors such as friction, air resistance, or internal energy dissipation.
3. In an underdamped system, the amplitude of the oscillations decreases exponentially with each successive cycle, but the system continues to oscillate.
4. In an overdamped system, the amplitude decreases rapidly, and the system returns to equilibrium without oscillating.
5. The amplitude decay can be described mathematically using the equation $A(t) = A_0 e^{- extbackslashgamma t}$, where $A_0$ is the initial amplitude, $ extbackslashgamma$ is the damping coefficient, and $t$ is the time.

Review Questions

• Explain how the damping coefficient affects the rate of amplitude decay in a damped harmonic motion system.
  • The damping coefficient, $ extbackslashgamma$, directly determines the rate of amplitude decay in a damped harmonic motion system. A higher damping coefficient leads to a faster rate of amplitude decay, as the energy dissipation is more rapid. Conversely, a lower damping coefficient results in a slower rate of amplitude decay, allowing the system to oscillate for a longer period before the amplitude diminishes. The mathematical relationship between the damping coefficient and amplitude decay is given by the equation $A(t) = A_0 e^{- extbackslashgamma t}$, where the exponential term governs the rate of amplitude decay.
• Describe the differences in amplitude decay between an underdamped and an overdamped system.
  • In an underdamped system, the amplitude of the oscillations decreases exponentially with each successive cycle, but the system continues to oscillate. The oscillations gradually diminish in amplitude until the system eventually comes to rest. In an overdamped system, the amplitude decreases rapidly, and the system returns to equilibrium without oscillating. The system exhibits a single, non-oscillatory return to equilibrium, with no subsequent oscillations. The key difference is that an underdamped system exhibits sustained oscillations with decaying amplitude, while an overdamped system does not oscillate at all.
• Analyze the relationship between the initial amplitude, $A_0$, the damping coefficient, $ extbackslashgamma$, and the time, $t$, in the equation $A(t) = A_0 e^{- extbackslashgamma t}$ that describes amplitude decay in a damped harmonic motion system.
  • The equation $A(t) = A_0 e^{- extbackslashgamma t}$ reveals the key relationships between the variables governing amplitude decay in a damped harmonic motion system. The initial amplitude, $A_0$, represents the maximum displacement of the system at the start of the oscillations. The damping coefficient, $ extbackslashgamma$, determines the rate at which the amplitude decreases over time, $t$. A higher damping coefficient leads to a faster rate of amplitude decay, as indicated by the exponential term $e^{- extbackslashgamma t}$. As time progresses, the amplitude $A(t)$ will approach zero, asymptotically approaching the equilibrium position. Understanding these relationships is crucial for analyzing and predicting the behavior of damped harmonic motion systems.

Related terms

Damping:

The process by which the amplitude of an oscillating system decreases over time due to the dissipation of energy.

Damping Coefficient: A measure of the rate at which the amplitude of an oscillating system decreases over time, determined by the properties of the system and the environment.

Critically Damped System: A system in which the damping is just sufficient to prevent the system from oscillating, resulting in a single, non-oscillatory return to equilibrium.