Talk:Shock absorber

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Isn't a helical spring the same as a coil spring?

Also, brakes are references as a kind of shock absorber but should this instead reference a friction shock absorber (as used in early cars, prior to hydraulic shock absorbers).

-Leonard

Can somebody post some examples of rubber type dampers like the ones used in engine mounts. Thank you

Marcin

[edit] Shock absorber - misnomer?

An analogy is made in the Article between a vehicle's suspension system and an electrical RLC circuit, where the resistive component is the damper's equivalent, and the LC is the spring's.

In both systems it is the latter, i.e. the spring (or LC), not the R (or damper), which absorbs shocks (and temporarily stores the energy.) The damper slowly dissipates that energy.

Take the basic child's go-kart; a shallow wooden box with a wheel nailed to each corner.

Now, to improve the ride you may choose to add either a set of dampers ("shock absorbers") or a set of springs.

It would be rather pointless to ask which one you would choose, so let's ask why would you (inevitably) choose the springs?

Because they would absorb the shocks. The dampers, the so-called "shock absorbers", wouldn't.

It is my contention that "shock absorber" is one of the most misunderstood and mis-used terminologies.

Syncopator 17:47, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Absolutely correct. I am a mechanical engineering student and I hopped over here looking for a specific link. the correct term is not 'schock absorber' its 'Damper' the shock loads are absorbed by the spring, the damper smoothes out oscillations. The correct terminology is mostly used in europe and racing circles but never seems to have caught on here