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CAIE A-Level Physics 17.3.1 Resistive Damping

Practise explaining how resistive forces damp oscillations, reducing amplitude and mechanical energy, and identifying these changes in an oscillator’s behaviour.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Physics 9702
Level
A2

Exam points

  • explain that a resistive force acting on an oscillator causes damping
  • identify the effect of damping on amplitude and energy in an oscillating system

17.3.1—A resistive force acting on an oscillating system causes damping question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

A small wooden block (cuboid) of mass m floats in water, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

The top face of the block is horizontal and has area A. The density of the water is ρ\rho.

The block is now placed in a liquid with a greater density. The block is displaced and released so that it oscillates vertically. The variation with displacement x of the acceleration a of the block is measured for the first half oscillation, as shown in Fig. 3.3.

Fig. 3.3

Fig. 3.3

Explain why the maximum negative displacement of the block is not equal to its maximum positive displacement.

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