Two horizontal spring–block oscillators, P and Q, move without friction along the same line. The blocks have equal mass m=0.50kg. The table provides properties of the springs and initial displacements.
System Spring constant (N/m) Amplitude (m)
P 200 0.080
Q 120 0.100
(a) Calculate the total mechanical energy for each system.
(b) Each block is observed when it is 0.040m from its own equilibrium position and moving toward equilibrium. For that instant, determine the potential energy and the kinetic energy of each system.
(c) Rank the two systems by their kinetic energy at the instant described in part (b). Support your ranking with quantitative evidence.