A student states, “At the maximum displacement of a mass–spring oscillator

PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics

Problem

A student states, “At the maximum displacement of a mass–spring oscillator, both its potential energy and kinetic energy are greatest because the spring is stretched the most and the mass is moving fastest to turn around.” Identify the flaw in the student’s reasoning and briefly correct it.

Related theory

Browse the problem library