o energy lost to surroundings).","correct":true,"explanation":"With no damping or external work, energy merely transfers between kinetic and potential forms. Their sum, the total mechanical energy, therefore stays constant."},{"text":"It decreases continuously (energy is lost to surroundings).","correct":false,"explanation":"A continuous decrease would describe a damped oscillator transferring energy to its surroundings. An ideal oscillator has no dissipative forces, so its total mechanical energy remains constant."},{"text":"It increases continuously (energy is gained from surroundings).","correct":false,"explanation":"A continuous increase would require energy to be supplied by an external driving force. An ideal undriven oscillator only exchanges kinetic and potential energy, so the total remains constant."},{"text":"It oscillates between zero and a maximum value.","correct":false,"explanation":"Kinetic and potential energies individually oscillate between zero and a maximum, but their changes compensate. The total mechanical energy remains constant rather than oscillating."}]},{"id":"3f03e4be-6d19-4f56-baa6-385200202937","cardType":"basic","front":"What is the energy distribution at the turning points ($x = \\pm A$)?","back":"

Kinetic energy is zero.
Potential energy is maximum (equal to total energy).

","points":2,"mcqOptions":[{"text":"

Kinetic energy is zero.
Potential energy is maximum (equal to total energy).

","correct":true,"explanation":"At maximum displacement the oscillator is instantaneously stationary, so kinetic energy is zero. Its displacement, and therefore its potential energy, is greatest."},{"text":"

Kinetic energy is maximum.
Potential energy is zero (minimum).

","correct":false,"explanation":"This describes the equilibrium position, where speed is greatest and displacement is zero. At a turning point, speed is zero and all the energy is potential."},{"text":"

Kinetic energy is zero.
Potential energy is zero (minimum).

","correct":false,"explanation":"Although the oscillator is instantaneously stationary at a turning point, its mechanical energy has not disappeared. Kinetic energy is zero, while potential energy equals the total energy."},{"text":"

Kinetic energy is maximum.
Potential energy is maximum (equal to total energy).

","correct":false,"explanation":"Kinetic and potential energies cannot both equal the fixed total energy simultaneously. At maximum displacement the speed is zero, so only potential energy is maximum."}]},{"id":"cd9b2b29-1de7-42b0-9bb5-2fed339615b8","cardType":"basic","front":"What is the energy distribution at the equilibrium position ($x = 0$)?","back":"

Potential energy is minimum (zero).
Kinetic energy is maximum (equal to total energy).

","points":2,"mcqOptions":[{"text":"

Potential energy is minimum (zero).
Kinetic energy is maximum (equal to total energy).

","correct":true,"explanation":"At equilibrium the displacement is zero, making the oscillator’s potential energy minimum. Its speed is greatest there, so kinetic energy equals the total energy."},{"text":"

Potential energy is maximum (equal to total energy).
Kinetic energy is zero.

","correct":false,"explanation":"This reverses the equilibrium and turning-point distributions. At equilibrium, displacement and potential energy are zero, while speed and kinetic energy are maximum."},{"text":"

Potential energy is minimum (zero).
Kinetic energy is minimum (zero).

","correct":false,"explanation":"Zero potential energy does n

Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator

Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator Flashcards

Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator

Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator Flashcards