Question

A mass attached to a spring is suspended as shown. When the mass is at rest the spring is 12 centimeters long. The unstretched length of the spring is 8 centimeters. The mass is pulled down so that the spring length is 16 centimeters and then released. A graph of the spring length as a function of time is shown. Eight points are labeled A - H in the graph. At which point or points is the spring potential energy at its maximum value? Explain. At which point or points is the gravitational potential energy at its maximum value? Explain. At which point or points is the kinetic energy at its maximum value? Explain. At which point or points is the total energy at Its maximum value? Explain. At which point or points is the spring potential energy zero? Explain. At which point or points is the kinetic energy positive? Explain. At which point or points is the kinetic energy at Its maximum value and the gravitational potential energy at its minimum value? Explain.

Answer 1

spring potential will be maximum at the extream ends of the motion as the stretched length of the spring will be maximum at those points (A and E)

gravitational potential will be maximum at maximum height (A)

kinetic energy will be maximum at the equilibrium position as total energy remains constant anf at equilibrium spring potential energy is 0 (C and G)

total energy remains conserved so it'll be same everywhere