Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-physics-a-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/paper-2/section-b/b7/a/solution

Here is displacement from equilibrium, in metres; is the oscillating mass, in kilograms; is the coefficient of linear viscous damping, in ; and is the spring constant, in . The terms , and are respectively the inertial term, the opposing velocity-dependent damping term and the opposing displacement-dependent restoring term when moved to the force side of Newton's second law.
is a possibly complex driving-force complex amplitude, measured in newtons. is the driving angular frequency in , and taking the real part of gives the physical sinusoidal force. Its frequency in hertz is . The natural undamped angular frequency and damping rate are
This damped harmonic oscillator model assumes a linear restoring force and a linear, instantaneous viscous damping law.

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