think maybe i have solved it now
i took the ma= -k(4x^3 - 14x -4)
and rewrote x=2+r for a small r to get
ma= -k(4(2+r)^3 - 14(2+r) -4)
expanded to get,
ma= -k(34 r + 24 r^2 + 4 r^3)
considering r is small, i ignored the r^3 and r^2 terms to get
a=-34k/m r
which is shm with angular frequency...
Hi guys i am a bit confused about this problem,
a particle of mass, m, moves in potential a potential u(x)=k(x4 - 7 x2 -4x)
I need to find the frequency of small oscillations about the equilibrium point.
I have worked out that x=2 corresponds to the equilibrium point as
- dU/dx = F =...