PURPOSE: To show damped oscillations.
DESCRIPTION: A mass with a dashpot hangs from a long spring over a tall beaker of water. Start it oscillating to show that the amplitude is not damped when it is out of the water. Raise the lab jack to immerse the dashpot into the water. When the dashpot is in the water the oscillation becomes damped.
EQUIPMENT: Mass with dashpot, spring, beaker, labjack as photographed.
Updated by Jun Qi in 3/24/2000