DAMPING
In real life situations, there are energy loses in all SHM, due to frictional damping. Damping is friction applied to an oscillating system that tends to reduce the amplitude of oscillation. There are 3 main types of damping.

• Light damping. The slow decay in the amplitude of oscillation so the particle does still go past its equilibrium postion.
• Heay damping. When a particle is displaced it returns slowly to its equilibrium position, not going past it.
• Critical damping. When the particle returns to its equilibrium position in the shortest possible time, not going past it. Shock absorbers in cars and the pointers in moving coil meters are critically damped, this helps quickly reduce vibrations and in the case of the meter make an accurate reading possible.