[Peter Wieck[_2_]]

Take the (permanent magnet) speaker as a linear motor.

Now, for illustrative purposes, obtain a small DC brush-type motor. Spin it with your fingers. Now, short the leads to the motor. Now, try spinning it again with your fingers.

Not so easy.

That is the function of "damping factor" - As a way to prevent a PM speaker from wobbling like a spring when it is released.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA