A damped oscillator is a system that experiences a decrease in amplitude over time due to energy loss, often caused by friction or resistance. This phenomenon can be observed in various physical systems, such as a swinging pendulum or a vibrating spring, where the motion gradually slows down until it eventually stops. The damping effect can be classified into three types: underdamped, critically damped, and overdamped. In an underdamped system, the oscillator oscillates with decreasing amplitude, while in a critically damped system, it returns to equilibrium without oscillating. An overdamped system returns to equilibrium more slowly without oscillating at all.