A simple harmonic oscillator with a period of 2.0 s is subject to damping so that it loses one percent of its amplitude per cycle. About how much energy does this oscillator lose per cycle?
A)0.5 %
B)1.0 %
C)2.0 %
D)3.0 %
E)4.0 %

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to the square of its amplitude. If the amplitude decreases by 1% per cycle, the energy decreases by approximately 2% per cycle, since (1 - 0.01)^2 ≈ 0.98, indicating a 2% loss.

A Simple Harmonic Oscillator with a Period of 2