- #1
NTesla
- 179
- 23
- Homework Statement
- I'm studying Damped harmonic oscillation from Kleppner and Kolenkow. However I'm stuck at one point. Lets take the case of a mass at one end of the spring, which is oscillating (left and right) with some damping. Lets say, at some instant, the mass is moving towards the equilibrium position from the right side. Then the restoring force would be towards the left. The damping force would be towards the right(since the velocity is towards left). Now kindly see the screenshot attached. In that page, value of gamma would be negative, which would mean that value of alpha would be negative, which in turn would mean that the amplitude in equation 11.10 would INCREASE exponentially. Now, this should not be happening since we are studying damped harmonic oscillation.
P.S: I'm typing this on mobile, so not able to write equation may kindly be glossed over.
- Relevant Equations
- Equation is in the screenshot