Re: time constant in resonant circuit

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

At 07:58 AM 1/6/2004 -0700, you wrote:
>Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>
>In addition to Jim's comments:
>
>The complete equation is:
>
>F = (1/pi)(sqr((1/LC)-R^2/4L^2))
>
>Oscillation can only occur if the resistance is a relatively low value.
>
>Dr. Resonance

Critical damping is when F=0, that is 1/LC = R^2/(4*L^2)

When the argument of the square root becomes negative you're in the 
overdamped case, where the L/R time constant will dominate.