Waves
Quality Factor (Q Factor)
Measure of how underdamped an oscillator is; higher Q means less energy loss per cycle.
Variables
Qunitless
Quality factor
Dimensionless
ω₀rad/s
Natural angular frequency
Undamped frequency
bkg/s
Damping coefficient
Damping constant
mkg
Mass
Oscillating mass
Δωrad/s
Resonance bandwidth
Width at half-power
Derivation
Q = 2π × (energy stored)/(energy lost per cycle) = ω₀m/b = ω₀/Δω.
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Common questions
What is the Quality Factor (Q Factor) formula?
Quality Factor (Q Factor) is written Q = ω₀/2b/m = ω₀/Δω. Measure of how underdamped an oscillator is; higher Q means less energy loss per cycle. It belongs to Waves, under Simple Harmonic Motion.
What are the units in Q = ω₀/2b/m = ω₀/Δω?
In SI units, Q is quality factor (dimensionless); ω₀ is natural angular frequency, measured in rad/s; b is damping coefficient, measured in kg/s; m is mass, measured in kg; Δω is resonance bandwidth, measured in rad/s.
How is the Quality Factor (Q Factor) formula derived?
Q = 2π × (energy stored)/(energy lost per cycle) = ω₀m/b = ω₀/Δω. The result is Q = ω₀/2b/m = ω₀/Δω.