Energy Changes in SHM
- During simple harmonic motion, energy is constantly exchanged between two forms:
- Kinetic energy
- Potential energy
- The potential energy could be in the form of:
- Gravitational potential energy (for a pendulum)
- Elastic potential energy (for a horizontal mass on a spring)
- Or both (for a vertical mass on a spring)
- The speed of an oscillator is at a maximum when displacement x = 0, so:
The kinetic energy of an oscillator is at a maximum when the displacement is zero
Therefore, the kinetic energy is zero at maximum displacement x = x0, so:
The potential energy of an oscillator is at a maximum when the displacement (both positive and negative) is at a maximum,