PHYSICS • SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Damping of a Spacecraft Solar Panel

Explore how mechanical energy changes as an oscillating solar panel is damped.

Model

Mass 51.0 kg

Spring constant 2.00 × 10³ N/m

Initial amplitude 2.00 cm

Initial mechanical energy 0.400 J

Damping 12 N·s/m

MOTION

Solar Panel Motion

Near maximum displacement

Displacement +2.00 cm

Speed 0.00 m/s

Amplitude 2.00 cm

Elastic PE

0.40 J

0.00 J

Thermal

0.00 J

MOTION

What happens to the maximum displacement after each oscillation?

ENERGY

Elastic PE KE Mechanical Thermal / internal

Compare the peaks of KE and elastic PE as time passes.

CONNECT THE IDEAS

Panel oscillates Energy changes between elastic PE and KE

→

Damper acts Some mechanical energy is transferred to thermal/internal energy

→

Mechanical energy decreases Maximum KE and maximum elastic PE become smaller

→

Less energy The panel cannot move as far from equilibrium

→

DAMPING Amplitude decreases with time

YOUR TURN

Pause, step through the motion, and use the graphs to support your answers.

What happens to the amplitude of the oscillation as time passes?

As the panel is damped, where is some of the mechanical energy transferred?

What happens to the maximum kinetic energy after each oscillation?

What happens to the maximum elastic potential energy after each oscillation?

Explain what is meant by damping and describe the energy transformations that occur during the damping process.