Critical damping is a condition in which a damped oscillator returns to its equilibrium position as quickly as possible without oscillating or overshooting. It occurs when the damping coefficient is equal to the square root of the product of the spring constant and mass of the system. In this case, the system reaches equilibrium without any oscillation. Critical damping is important in engineering applications because it helps to control and stabilize systems, particularly in situations where oscillation could lead to damage or failure.
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