Calculating Position in Simple Harmonic Motion with Given Amplitude and Velocity

AI Thread Summary
A particle in simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of 3 cm has its position calculated when it reaches half of its maximum speed. The maximum speed is derived from the equation vmax = ωA, where ω is the angular frequency. To find the position at half the maximum speed, the total energy conservation principle is applied, combining both spring potential energy and kinetic energy. The resulting equation shows that the position x is determined to be x = √(3/4) A. Therefore, the position of the mass when traveling at half its maximum speed is approximately 2.6 cm.
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Homework Statement



A moving particle displays simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of 3 cm. What position will it be for it to have half of its maximum speed?


Homework Equations



vmax= omega*A

The Attempt at a Solution



I divided the amplitude by 2 but I believe that's an incorrect method. was i suppose to deriviate x(t)=omega*A*sin(omega*t+phi)
 
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I'm going to assume that the particle acts like a mass on a spring. Then, we can solve this problem using conservation of energy.

At the system's biggest displacement (3cm), there is no kinetic energy, so the total energy of the system is just the energy from the spring:

E_{tot} = \frac{1}{2} k A^2​

At the equilibrium point, there is no spring energy. All of the energy is kinetic. Then, we can find the maximum velocity:

E_{tot} = \frac{1}{2} m v_{max}^2

\frac{1}{2} k A^2 = \frac{1}{2} m v_{max}^2

\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} A = v_{max}​

Note that \sqrt{k/m} is usually called \omega, so this is simply the equation you gave us in your post.

Now, we want to find the position of the mass when the velocity is half max. At that point, there is both spring energy and kinetic energy.

E_{tot} = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 + \frac{1}{2} m \left( \frac{v_{max}}{2} \right)^2

\frac{1}{2} k A^2 = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 + \frac{1}{2 \cdot 4} m \frac{k}{m} A^2

A^2 = x^2 + \frac{1}{4} A^2

\frac{3}{4} A^2 = x^2

\sqrt{\frac{3}{4}} A = x​

So, the position of the mass when it's traveling at half the maximum speed is x = \sqrt{\frac{3}{4}} A.
 
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