Adams Principle

Adams' Principle states that for a system to remain stable, the total inverse of its damping — which measures how quickly oscillations die out — must be less than or equal to the total inverse of its stiffness, related to how much it resists deformation. In simple terms, this principle helps analyze the stability of complex mechanical or electrical systems by comparing how quickly they dissipate energy versus how stiff they are. If damping is insufficient relative to stiffness, the system may become unstable or oscillate uncontrollably. It provides a guideline for designing systems that are both responsive and stable.