A damped harmonic oscillator is a system that experiences oscillations while losing energy over time due to resistance, such as friction or air resistance. This type of motion can be observed in various physical systems, including springs and pendulums, where the oscillations gradually decrease in amplitude until they eventually stop. The damping force is typically proportional to the velocity of the oscillating object, leading to three types of damping: underdamped, critically damped, and overdamped. In an underdamped system, the object oscillates with decreasing amplitude, while in a critically damped system, it returns to equilibrium without oscillating. An overdamped system returns to equilibrium slowly without oscillating.