A metal sphere suspended from a vertical spring is performing lightly-damped oscillations in a container of viscous oil.
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the viscous damping force acting on the sphere?
- The damping force is in the same direction as the gravitational force when the sphere is moving vertically upwards.
- The magnitude of the damping force is maximum when the magnitude of the acceleration of the sphere is maximum.
- The rate of dissipation of mechanical energy by the damping force is zero at the displacement amplitudes of the oscillation.