Question

A particle performing S.H.M on a straight line OAB has zero velocity when at the points A and B, whose distances from O are a and b respectively. If the velocity of the particle when midway between A and B is 'v' determine the amplitude and period of the motion..... How does one even go about starting this question?? :'(

Answer 1

The particle goes from +amplitude to -amplitude in going from A to B, so twice the amplitude is the distance between A and B. At A and at B it has no kinetic energy, only potential energy [PE]. Midway, it has only kinetic energy [KE], (1/2)mv^2. During the motion, PE +KE = constant.