Calculate total energy from potential at equilibrium point

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the total energy of a block-spring system at the equilibrium point. The block, with a mass of 0.25 kg and a spring constant of 35 N/m, has a speed of 1.04 m/s as it passes through the equilibrium position. At this point, the potential energy is zero because the spring is neither compressed nor stretched. The total energy of the system is solely derived from the kinetic energy, which is constant throughout the oscillation. Therefore, the total energy at the equilibrium point is equal to the kinetic energy of the block.
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Homework Statement


A block of mass 0.25 kg is connected to a spring with spring constant 35 N/m. The block is oscillating on a frictionless horizontal surface. Its speed as it passes through its equilibrium position is 1.04 m/s. What's the total energy of the system?2. The attempt at a solution
Not sure how to find potential energy at equilibrium point given the speed as it passes through. I really just need someone to walk me through this problem.

Total Energy=Potential+Kinetic
 
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At the equilibrium point, there is no net force on the block. What does that tell you about the spring potential energy at that point?
 
there is none?
 
EliteCodexer said:
there is none?
That is correct. The spring is at its original unstretched length at that point. So what is the total energy at the equilibrium point in this example?
 
what about the kinetic energy though?
 
EliteCodexer said:
what about the kinetic energy though?
The total energy of the system is constant at at any point in time and equal to the sum of the kinetic and potential energies at any point in time. The total energy of the system at the equilibrium point is thus? and thus the total energy of the system at any point is?
 
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