Practice question
Question
A spring system has \( m = 0.4 \, \text{kg}, k = 160 \, \text{N/m}, A = 7 \, \text{cm} \). What is the
potential energy at \( x = 3.5 \, \text{cm} \)?
Explanation
**Energy in SHM** interconverts between kinetic K = ½ m v² = ½ m ω² (A² - x²) and potential U = ½ k x² = ½ m ω² x², total E = K + U = ½ k A² = ½ m ω² A² constant, independent of time. At mean position x=0, E = K_max = ½ m ω² A², at extremes x=±A, E = U_max = ½ k A². Potential energy: U = (1/2) k x² . k = 160 N/m, x = 0.035 m . U = 0.5 × 160 × (0.035)² = 0.5 × 160 × 0.001225 = 0.098 J .
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