Simple Harmonic Motion Question?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving simple harmonic motion, specifically concerning a mass-spring system. The original poster presents a scenario where a 0.500 kg object attached to a spring with a force constant of 300 N/m is analyzed at a specific displacement and speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants inquire about the total energy of the system and the types of energy present at a given position. There is a focus on understanding the relationship between kinetic and potential energy in the context of simple harmonic motion.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the nature of total energy in the system and have prompted the original poster to clarify their understanding of kinetic and potential energy. There is an ongoing exploration of the concepts without a clear consensus on the next steps.

Contextual Notes

The original poster has not provided their attempts at the solution, which has led to requests for clarification on their understanding of the problem. There is a mention of the need to find the amplitude, which remains unresolved.

kate Co
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Homework Statement


A 0.500Kg object is undergoing simple harmonic motion at the end of a horizontal spring with force constant k=300N/m. When the object is 0.012m from the equilibrium position, it is observed to have a speed of 0.300m/s. What is:

a) The total energy of the object at any point of its motion?

b) The amplitude of the motion.

c) The maximum speed attained by the object during its motion.

Could you also please explain the steps? Thank you x

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Hey kate, weclome to PF.
We would love to help you with this, but, unfortunately, you seem to have forgotten provide your attempt at the solution!
Let's start with part A. What do you know about the total energy at anypoint in it's motion?
 
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
Hey kate, weclome to PF.
We would love to help you with this, but, unfortunately, you seem to have forgotten provide your attempt at the solution!
Let's start with part A. What do you know about the total energy at anypoint in it's motion?

Hello, I apologize, I am very much new to this site. For the total energy, I tried using the 1/2KA^2 equation, however I got stuck as I didn't know how to find the amplitude?
 
What kind of energies does the block have at the observed location?
And that's no problem, that's why I was gentle :P
 
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
What kind of energies does the block have at the observed location?
And that's no problem, that's why I was gentle :P

Haha thank you :) Umm the block possesses Kinetic Energy?
 
Is that the only kind? I believe it is attached to a spring, right? What's that 1/2 k A^2 equation represent that you tried using?
 
BiGyElLoWhAt said:
Is that the only kind? I believe it is attached to a spring, right? What's that 1/2 k A^2 equation represent that you tried using?
That represnets Total Energy which is the kinetic energy added to the potential energy?
 
True. I'll just throw this out there, because I'm unsure how to allude to it: 1/2 k A^2 is the total energy, but it is a special case. It's when the object has 0 kinetic energy, and it's all stored in potential. What's the velocity at the amplitude?

So while it is equal to the total energy, what does it actually represent?
 
Awww... don't give up on me kate.
 

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