🌀 Critical Damping Calculator
Calculate the critical damping coefficient of a mechanical spring-mass system — the boundary between oscillating and non-oscillating motion.
1
kg
2
N/m
What critical damping is
In a spring-mass-damper system, critical damping is the exact amount of damping needed for the system to return to equilibrium as quickly as possible without oscillating back and forth. Less damping causes oscillation; more damping (overdamping) slows the return further.
The formula
The critical damping coefficient is cc = 2√(mk), where m is the mass and k is the spring constant. This is also related to the natural angular frequency ωn = √(k/m) by cc = 2mωn.
This calculator is for general mechanical engineering and physics education.
Last reviewed August 2026