Refer to the problem of the two coupled oscillators discussed in Section 12.2. Show that the total energy of the system is constant. (Calculate the kinetic energy of each of the particles and the potential energy stored in each of the three springs, and sum the results.) Notice that the kinetic and potential energy terms that have 12 as a coefficient depend on C1 and 2 but not on C2 or 2. Why is such a result to be expected?

Check Your Understanding Identify one way you could decrease the maximum velocity of a simple harmonic oscillator.

Give an example of a simple harmonic oscillator, specifically noting how its frequency is independent of amplitude.

An automobile with a mass of 1000 kg, including passengers, settles 1.0 cm closer to the road for every additional 100 kg of passengers. It is driven with a constant horizontal component of speed 20 km/h over a washboard road with sinusoidal bumps. The amplitude and wavelength of the sine curve are 5.0 cm and 20 cm, respectively. The distance between the front and back wheels is 2.4 m. Find the amplitude of oscillation of the automobile, assuming it moves vertically as an undamped driven harmonic oscillator. Neglect the mass of the wheels and springs and assume that the wheels are always in contact with the road.

Consider a damped harmonic oscillator. After four cycles the amplitude of the oscillator has dropped to 1/e of its initial value. Find the ratio of the frequency of the damped oscillator to its natural frequency.

Show that, if a driven oscillator is only lightly damped and driven near resonance, the Q of the system is approximately Q2(TotalenergyEnergylossduringoneperiod)

A 1.00-kg glider attached to a spring with a force constant of 25.0 N/m oscillates on a frictionless, horizontal air track. At t = 0, the glider is released from rest at x = 3.00 cm (that is, the spring is compressed by 3.00 cm). Find (a) the period of the gliders motion, (b) the maximum values of its speed and acceleration, and (c) the position, velocity, and acceleration as functions of time.

A mass is placed on a frictionless, horizontal table. A spring (k=100N/m) , which can be stretched or compressed, is placed on the table. A 5.00-kg mass is attached to one end of the spring, the other end is anchored to the wall. The equilibrium position is marked at zero. A student moves the mass out to x=4.0 cm and releases it from rest. The mass oscillates in SHM. (a) Determine the equations of motion. (b) Find the position, velocity, and acceleration of the mass at time t=3.00 s.

If the speed of the observer is increased by 5.0%, what is the period of the pendulum when measured by this observer?