Definition
In physics and engineering, damping may be mathematically modelled as a force synchronous with the velocity of the object but opposite in direction to it. If such force is also proportional to the velocity, as for a simple mechanical viscous damper (dashpot), the force may be related to the velocity by
where c is the damping coefficient, given in units of newton-seconds per meter.
This force may be used as an approximation to the friction caused by drag. While friction is related to , if the velocity is restricted a small range, this non-linear effect may be small. In such a situation, a linearized friction coefficient may be determined which produces little error compared with the second order solution.
This relationship is perfectly analogous to electrical resistance as described by Ohm's law.
Read more about this topic: Damping
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