Question

At what displacement of a sho is the energy half kinetic and half potential? what fraction of the total energy of a sho is kinetic and what fraction potential when the displacement is one third the amplitude

Answer 1

As we know that KE and PE is same at a given position

so we will have as a function of position given as

$KE = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2(A^2 - x^2)$

also the PE is given as function of position as

$PE = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2x^2$

now it is given that

KE = PE

now we will have

$\frac{1}{2}m\omega^2(A^2 - x^2) = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2x^2$

$A^2 - x^2 = x^2$

$2x^2 = A^2$

$x = \frac{A}{\sqrt2}$

so the position is 0.707 times of amplitude when KE and PE will be same

Part b)

KE of SHO at x = A/3

we can use the formula

$KE = \frac{1}{2}m\omega^2(A^2 - x^2)$

now to find the fraction of kinetic energy

$f = \frac{KE}{TE} = \frac{A^2 - x^2}{A^2}$

$f = \frac{A^2 - (\frac{A}{3})^2}{A^2}$

$f_k = \frac{8}{9}$

now since total energy is sum of KE and PE

so fraction of PE at the same position will be

$f_{PE} = 1 - f_k$

$f_{PE} = 1 - (8/9) = 1/9$