Added-load step response of a supported table

Adding a load $M$ to a spring-supported table shifts its static downward position by $\Delta =Mg/k$. If the load is deposited with negligible impulse and moves with the table, the moving mass is $m+M$. Starting at the former equilibrium with zero velocity, an underdamped response isIts transient envelope decays over $1/\beta$. Critical damping $b=2\sqrt{k(m+M)}$ gives $x=\Delta [1-(1+{\omega }_{0}t)e^{-{\omega }_{0}t}]$. A nonzero impact impulse changes the initial velocity and therefore the transient.