A trolley of mass is held on a horizontal surface by means of two springs attached to fixed points P and Q, as shown in the figure below.
The springs, each having a spring constant of
, are always extended. The trolley is displaced along the line of the springs and then released. The variation with time
of the displacement
of the trolley is shown in the graph below.
State and explain whether the oscillations of the trolley are heavily damped, critically damped or lightly damped.
Suggest the cause of the damping.