Damped harmonic oscillation: Linear or quadratic drag force?

Abstract

Harmonic oscillation damped by quadratic drag force is rarely found in physics textbooks. We present typical characteristics of the phenomenon and an analytical tool for the experimental determination of the resistance regime. The measurement is simulated using randomly generated amplitudes with different types of statistical and systematic errors. Their impact on the process of distinguishing between the linear and quadratic regimes and on the measured damping parameters is studied.