Non-Zero Potential Energy in SHM: Is Spring Stretched in Mean Position?

[vijayramakrishnan]

in shm,if minimum potential energy of an shm is not zero,does that mean that in mean position ,spring is stretched.
eg mass attached to a vertical spring.

 

[Dale]

You can add an arbitrary constant to PE without changing any of the physics. So usually we just set the PE to zero wherever is most convenient.

 

[ZapperZ]

in shm,if minimum potential energy of an shm is not zero,does that mean that in mean position ,spring is stretched.
eg mass attached to a vertical spring.

One typically define the PE of the spring-mass system as having zero PE when it is in the equilibrium position (hang the mass, let it sit there without moving, and that's the equilibrium position). When it is stretched or compressed, then the spring-mass system will have an amount of potential energy based on the amount that it is stretched/compressed.

Zz.

 

[vijayramakrishnan]

One typically define the PE of the spring-mass system as having zero PE when it is in the equilibrium position (hang the mass, let it sit there without moving, and that's the equilibrium position). When it is stretched or compressed, then the spring-mass system will have an amount of potential energy based on the amount that it is stretched/compressed.

Zz.

so in kinetic energy potential energy curve of shm,why is minimum potential energy not zero at some instances?

 

[ZapperZ]

so in kinetic energy potential energy curve of shm,why is minimum potential energy not zero at some instances?

Give me one such instance.

You should really try to make your post a bit more "complete" and clear.

Zz.

 

[Dale]

why is minimum potential energy not zero at some instances?

I already answered this. It does not make any difference to the physics where the zero for your PE is.