The quadratically damped oscillator: A case study of a non-linear equation of motion

The equation of motion for a quadratically damped oscillator, where the damping is proportional to the square of the velocity, is a non-linear second-order differential equation. Non-linear equations of motion such as this are seldom addressed in intermediate instruction in classical dynamics; this one is problematic because it cannot be solved in terms of elementary functions. Like all second-order ordinary differential equations, it has a corresponding first-order partial differential equation, whose independent solutions constitute the constants of the motion. These constants readily provide an approximate solution correct to first order in the damping constant. They also reveal that the quadratically damped oscillator is never critically damped or overdamped, and that to first order in the damping constant the oscillation frequency is identical to the natural frequency. The technique described has close ties to standard tools such as integral curves in phase space and phase portraits.