The gradual decrease in amplitude of a vibrating system is called

The gradual decrease in amplitude of a vibrating system is called

• A. Interference
• B. Resonance
• C. Damping
• D. Echo

Answer: (C)

Damping is the gradual decrease in the amplitude of a vibrating system due to energy being dissipated as heat and through friction with the surroundings. As the system moves, some of its energy is lost to air resistance, internal friction, and other resistive forces, so the motion dies out even if no external force continues to drive it. In other words, the energy that keeps the vibration goes away little by little, causing amplitudes to shrink over time. This is different from interference, which is the interaction of two or more waves that can amplify or cancel parts of the wave; resonance, which occurs when a system is driven at its natural frequency and can reach large amplitudes; and an echo, which is the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener. A common everyday example is a swinging pendulum that gradually slows and stops due to air resistance and pivot friction.

Damping is the gradual decrease in the amplitude of a vibrating system due to energy being dissipated as heat and through friction with the surroundings. As the system moves, some of its energy is lost to air resistance, internal friction, and other resistive forces, so the motion dies out even if no external force continues to drive it. In other words, the energy that keeps the vibration goes away little by little, causing amplitudes to shrink over time. This is different from interference, which is the interaction of two or more waves that can amplify or cancel parts of the wave; resonance, which occurs when a system is driven at its natural frequency and can reach large amplitudes; and an echo, which is the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener. A common everyday example is a swinging pendulum that gradually slows and stops due to air resistance and pivot friction.