Damping and Driving
PHYS 210 · Module 2
This module extends ideal oscillations to more realistic systems that lose energy or receive external energy. Students explore damped motion, driven oscillators, resonance, bandwidth, and the quality factor.
Lessons in this module
Damped oscillators and decay
Real oscillators lose energy to friction, drag, or internal resistance. This lesson introduces the damped oscillator equation and the main damping regimes.
Driven oscillators
A driven oscillator receives energy from an external periodic force. This lesson introduces transient and steady-state motion, driving frequency, amplitude response, and phase lag.
Resonance and the Q factor
Resonance occurs when a driven oscillator responds strongly near its natural frequency. This lesson explains resonance curves, bandwidth, energy storage, and the quality factor.
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