🔹 Electrical-Mechanical System Analogy

In physics, we often draw analogies between electrical circuits and mechanical systems. The RLC circuit can be likened to a mass-spring-damper system or a simple pendulum with damping.

• Inductor (L) corresponds to mass (m) in mechanical systems – representing inertia.
• Capacitor (C) represents the spring (k) – providing the restoring force.
• Resistor (R) plays the role of damping – similar to friction or air resistance in mechanical motion.

🔸 Role of Resistor \( R \)

The resistor provides energy dissipation in the RLC circuit. It reduces the amplitude of oscillations over time, just as a damper or friction reduces motion in mechanical systems.

In mechanical terms:

• In a mass-spring system, it corresponds to a damping force that opposes motion.
• In a pendulum, it is analogous to air resistance or friction at the pivot point.

Thus, the resistor is responsible for damping the electrical oscillations, converting electrical energy into heat, just like mechanical dampers convert kinetic energy into thermal energy.

✅ Summary

In both mechanical and electrical systems, energy loss is a key factor determining how long oscillations persist. The resistor \( R \) is the damping element in an RLC circuit. It limits the oscillation and causes exponential decay, just as friction slows and stops motion in a mechanical oscillator.