When a wood log floating on the surface of water is pushed downward and is allowed to bob up and down, it oscillates about its mean position with a constant amplitude similar to simple harmonic motion. Over time, a dissipative force known as the damping force exerted by the water reduces the amplitude of oscillation with some energy loss, corresponding to its motion, and results in damped harmonic oscillations. The damping force is proportional to the wood log's velocity, which is the measure of oscillation decay directed opposite to the motion. The net force equals the restoring and damping forces, which act in the opposite directions. Rearranging and rewriting the velocity and acceleration equation in terms of derivatives of position with respect to time leads to a differential quadratic equation, which describes the damped harmonic motion of the wood log.