Question

How does the medium affect the amplitude of free vibrations of the body?

Answer 1

In this question, the concept of the free vibration is used, that is there is no external force or energy is exerted on the vibration and the medium offers the resistance to reduce the energy of the vibration.

Complete step by step answer:
We know the definition of the amplitude is that the maximum distance traveled by the point on the vibration body from its initial position and the free vibration of the body occurs when the initial input of force or energy is given to the body to vibrate freely without giving any additional force or energy.

The amplitude of the free vibration is affected by the medium. The medium of the vibration offers the resistance to the vibration wave generated by the body which consumes some energy of the wave. Due to the continuous loss of energy, the amplitude of the free vibration decreases. If the medium is a highly absorbing type, it consumes more energy due to which the amplitude of the vibration will be very low.

Hence, the medium decreases the amplitude of the free vibration of the body.

Note:
There are mostly three types of vibrations:
- free vibration,
- forced vibration, and
- the damped vibration.
The vibration produced by the continuous forces applied on the body is called the forced vibration and the when the energy of the vibration decreases gradually due to the friction or any other resistance is called the damped vibration. The amplitude of the free vibration depends on the resistance offered by the air, the temperature of the surroundings and the properties of the medium.