Final answer:
The student's question is about a mass-spring system exhibiting simple harmonic motion with damping. By comparing the given damping coefficient with the critical damping value, we conclude that the system described is underdamped, as it oscillates while the amplitude decreases until static friction eventually stops it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is the behavior of a mass undergoing simple harmonic motion (SHM) with a damping force. The mass has a given 'springiness' or spring constant (k), and the system's damping is characterized by a damping coefficient (b). To determine whether a system is overdamped, underdamped, or critically damped, one would typically compare the damping coefficient with the critical damping value calculated by √(4mk), which depends on the spring constant and the mass (m) of the system.
To ascertain if the system is overdamped or underdamped, we check if the damping coefficient (b) is less than, equal to, or greater than √(4mk). An underdamped system has b < √(4mk) and will oscillate with decreasing amplitude. An overdamped system has b > √(4mk) and will not oscillate but will slowly return to equilibrium.
The given damping coefficient for the mass-spring system in question allows us to compare it with the threshold for critical damping to identify the system's behavior. Since static friction is not strong enough to exceed the restoring force, the system that does oscillate through the equilibrium position before coming to rest is underdamped.