Question

Which one of the following statements concerning the elastic potential energy of a ball attached to a spring is false when the ball is moving in simple harmonic motion?
a) The elastic potential energy is at its minimum when the spring is in its equilibrium position.

b) The elastic potential energy is smaller when the ball is at xthan when it is at +x.

c) The elastic potential energy can be expressed in units of watts.

d) The elastic potential energy is at its maximum when the velocity of the ball is a maximum.

e) The elastic potential energy is at its minimum when the acceleration of the ball is a maximum.

Answer 1

Answer:

d) The elastic potential energy is at its maximum when the velocity of the ball is a maximum.

Explanation:

The total energy in a simple harmonic motion is the sum of its kinetic and potential energy.

Option D is false because when the velocity of the ball is at its maximum, the kinetic energy is maximum, and when the kinetic energy is at maximum, the elastic potential energy will be at minimum.