Q.If x is the displacement of the particle from the mean position while executing S.H.M., then the total energy of a particle executing S.H.M. is:
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →While the kinetic and potential energies of a particle in S.H.M. individually depend on displacement x, their SUM (the total mechanical energy) is always constant, independent of x.
For a particle of mass m executing simple harmonic motion with amplitude A and angular frequency omega, at displacement x from the mean position:
Kinetic energy: KE = (1/2) m omega^2 (A^2 - x^2) - this decreases as x increases (maximum at x = 0, the mean position; zero at x = A, the extreme position).
Potential energy: PE = (1/2) m omega^2 x^2 - this increases as x increases (zero at x = 0; maximum at x = A).
Total energy: Adding these,
E = KE + PE = (1/2) m omega^2 (A^2 - x^2) + (1/2) m omega^2 x^2
= (1/2) m omega^2 A^2 - (1/2) m omega^2 x^2 + (1/2) m omega^2 x^2
= (1/2) m omega^2 A^2
The x^2 terms cancel exactly, leaving a result that depends only on the mass, angular frequency, and amplitude - all constants for a given oscillation - and NOT on the instantaneous displacement x. This reflects the conservation of mechanical energy in S.H.M.: as the particle moves, kinetic energy continuously converts into potential energy and back, but their sum never changes.
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