a
The equation of motion for the pendulum, suffering retardation
$I \alpha=-m g(\ell \sin \theta)-m b v(\ell)$ where $I=m \ell^{2}$
and $\alpha=\mathrm{d}^{2} \theta / d t^{2}$
$\therefore \frac{d^{2} \theta}{d t^{2}}=-\frac{g}{\ell} \tan \theta+\frac{b v}{\ell}$
On solving we get $\theta=\theta_{0} e^{-\frac{b t}{2} \sin (\omega t+\phi)}$
According to questions $\frac{\theta_{0}}{e}=\theta_{0} e^{\frac{-b \tau}{2}}$
$\therefore \tau=\frac{2}{b}$