Question

The potential energy of a 1kg particle free to move along the x-axis is given by

V(x) = (x4/4 - x2/2)J

The total mechanical energy of the particle 2J.
Then, the maximum speed (in m/*) is
(a) 2

(b) 3/√2

(c) √2

(d) 1/√2 .

Answer 1

(b) : Total energy ET = 2J. It is fixed.
For maximum speed, kinetic energy is maximum
The potential energy should**therefore be minimum**.