In a damped harmonic oscillator, the mechanical energy decreases by 10% in each full cycle. After 3 complete cycles, what percentage of the initial energy remains?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. 72.9%

  1. Step 1: After 1 cycle, remaining energy fraction is 1 - 0.10 = 0.90.
  2. Step 2: After 3 cycles, remaining energy is E_3 = E_0 * (0.90)^3.
  3. Step 3: Calculate: (0.9)^3 = 0.729.
  4. Step 4: In percentage, this is 72.9%.
Answer
72.9%.
Why not the others: 70.0% assumes linear loss (100% - 3 * 10%); 81.0% is after 2 cycles; 65.6% is (0.9)^4 (after 4 cycles).

Practise more Electromagnetism, Wave Optics and Modern Physics.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Bagrut (Secondary School Matriculation) mock tests.