The energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to which of the following?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
The energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to which of the following?
Displacement
Velocity
Square of amplitude
Frequency
The total energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to the square of the amplitude.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: The energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to which of the following?
Solution: The total energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to the square of the amplitude.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a simple harmonic oscillator is. It is a system that moves back and forth in a regular pattern, like a pendulum or a mass on a spring.
Step 2: Know that the energy in a simple harmonic oscillator consists of two types: potential energy (when it is at the maximum displacement) and kinetic energy (when it is at the equilibrium position).
Step 3: Recognize that the total energy of the oscillator remains constant and is the sum of potential and kinetic energy.
Step 4: Learn that the potential energy is related to the square of the amplitude (the maximum distance from the equilibrium position).
Step 5: Conclude that since the total energy is derived from the potential energy, the total energy is also proportional to the square of the amplitude.
