Which damping case is characterized by slow, non-oscillatory decay?

• A. Underdamped
• B. Overdamped
• C. Critically Damped
• D. Undamped

Answer: (B)

Damping determines how a system settles back to rest. When damping is stronger than the critical amount, the system doesn’t oscillate at all and returns to equilibrium slowly through two real decay modes. That slow, non-oscillatory decay is the hallmark of an overdamped response. In contrast, light damping lets the system oscillate while the amplitude dies out, critical damping returns to rest as quickly as possible without oscillating, and no damping means continuous oscillation with no decay.