It is well proven that each and every object, substance, particle, or system oscillates but within its given frequency. Something on which an object naturally moves, oscillates, or even vibrates is called its frequency. The frequency of an object works without any external force applied to it. All of these objects and substances require a specific amount of energy to move their oscillation in several HZs to some MHz.
The requirement of energy by the objects is fulfilled by the oscillator. It is a device that is used for generating signals from various sources. It just produces oscillations on a periodic basis that is generated from a mechanical or electronic form of energy.
Damped vs Undamped Oscillations
The main difference between damped and undamped oscillations is that the amplitude of the waves that are being generated keeps on decreasing gradually in damped oscillations, while in undamped oscillations, the amplitude of the waves that are being generated remained unchanged and constant over time. The requirement of energy by the objects is fulfilled by the oscillator. It is a device that is used for generating signals from various sources. It just produces oscillations on a periodic basis that is generated from a mechanical or electronic form of energy.
Damped oscillations are those electrical oscillations whose amplitude decreases continuously because of the losses inherited in the electrical system of power. It basically is a type of oscillation that fades away with time. The energy thus produced is gradually decreased proportionate, and this is equal to the square of the amplitude previously calculated. And thus, the damped oscillations are produced by circuits of the oscillator.
If the losses can be compensated for that have occurred in the electrical system, the amplitude of the oscillations happening at that time has remained constant and unchanged. This form of oscillations is called undamped oscillations. In simpler words, it can be defined as the oscillations that are remained constant with the time are the undamped oscillations.
Comparison Table Between Damped and Undamped Oscillations
| Parameters of comparison | Damped Oscillations | Undamped Oscillations |
| Meaning | The oscillations whose amplitude keeps on going down with the passage of time. | The type of oscillation whose amplitude stays unchanged and constant with time. |
| Power losses | These oscillations do not stay for a longer time as they keep on decreasing. | There are no power losses in this form of oscillation. |
| Frequency | The frequency remains the same. | The amplitude does not change over time. |
| Period | The damped oscillation eventually dies. | The undamped ones remain the same. |
| Example | Swinging the pendulum, the vibration gradually slows down, and it stops after some time. | A kid’s spring horse or a toy. |
What are Damped Oscillations?
The oscillations whose amplitude keeps on decreasing at a pace continuously because of the losses inherited in the electrical system of power are called damped oscillations. It basically is a type of oscillation that fades away with time. The energy thus produced gradually lowers its proportopnate, which is equal to the square of the amplitude. And thus, the damped oscillations are produced by circuits of the oscillator.
The frequency of the oscillation stays unchanged. This is because the frequency depends on the parameters of the circuit. The concept of damped oscillation can be understood by an example of a pendulum, a pendulum gradually slows down, and at a point in time, it stops moving. So, it can be said that wherever there is a loss of energy, the motion is damped, and hence the oscillation is damped.
Damping of an oscillation is caused by the dissipation of the stored energy, which is a gradual decrease in the amplitude of the oscillation. In the usual cases, mostly all the oscillations are either more or less damped in their amplitude which makes it compulsory to compensate for the energy.
What are Undamped Oscillations?
Undamped oscillations are produced when the losses that are occurred in the electrical system can be compensated, so the amplitude of the oscillations happening at that time remains constant and unchanged. In simpler words, it can be defined as the oscillations that are remained unchanged along with the time are the undamped oscillations.
The main fact about undamped oscillations is that there are no power losses if an oscillator issues such oscillations. In the reverse of damped oscillations, if the oscillations that are being produced are undamped, there will be no power loss, and thus there will be no need to compensate for the energy or any loss caused by it. While in the damped oscillations, most of the energy requires compensation because of the loss of power.
Main Differences Between Damped and Undamped Oscillations
- The main difference between damped and undamped oscillations is that the oscillations whose amplitude keeps on going down with the passage of time are damped oscillations, while the type of oscillation whose amplitude stays unchanged and constant with time are undamped oscillations.
- The amplitude that is generated through the waves in damped ones keeps on decreasing gradually, so these oscillations do not continue for a long time and cease at a certain point. While in there is no loss of power in the oscillation that produces an undamped oscillation.
- The frequency in damped oscillation remains the same, while in undamped ones, the amplitude does not change over time.
- The damped oscillation eventually dies, but the undamped ones remain the same.
- An example of a damped oscillation is a pendulum that is swinging at a constant pace, the vibration gradually slows down, and it stops after some time. An example of undamped oscillation is a kid’s spring horse or a toy.
Conclusion
It is concluded now that both the oscillations- damped and undamped have their differences and uses. Something on which an object naturally moves, oscillates, or even vibrates is called its frequency. The frequency of an object works without any external force applied to it. All of these objects and substances require a specific amount of energy to move their oscillation in several HZs to some MHz.
An oscillator which is generally used to produce oscillations can produce two types of waveform that are sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal waves. Oscillators are categorized into two different forms that are- sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal waveforms oscillator. The requirement of energy by the objects is fulfilled by the oscillator. It is a device that is used for generating signals from various sources. It just produces oscillations on a periodic basis that is generated from a mechanical or electronic form of energy.
References
- https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.66.184201
- https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1981oxny.book…..H/abstract
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ja01453a010