Critically damped oscillator — UPSC IFoS 2020 Physics PYQ

(i) Obtain an expression for the displacement of the damped harmonic oscillator where the damping force is proportional to the velocity. Discuss the effect of the damping on the displacement and frequency of the oscillator. Discuss the difference physically between overdamped and critically damped by taking example of a pendulum. (ii) A particle of mass 3 moves along the x-axis attracted towards the origin by a force whose magnitude is numerically equal to 12x. The particle is also subjected to damping force whose magnitude is numerically equal to 12 times the instantaneous speed. If it is initially at rest at x = 10, find the position and the velocity of the particle at any time.