Show that for a particle in linear SHM the average kinetic energy over a period of oscillation equals the average potential energy over the same period.

Suppose a Body of mass m is undergoing Simple harmonic motion i.e. oscillating to and fro from a fixed position called mean Position with time period T of one oscillation, and the maximum displacement of the body from the mean position is called the amplitude A of the body, now the position of the particle or displacement of particle from mean position at any instant of time is given by the relation


x = A sin ωt


where x is denotes the position of particle or displacement from mean position at any instant of time t, ω is the angular frequency of the Simple harmonic motion of the block, A is the amplitude


differentiating the equation resenting position of particle with respect to time to find velocity of particle at any instant



We know where v is the velocity of the particle


And differentiation where a and b are constants


So differentiating we get velocity of the body as


v = Aω cos ωt


we know kinetic energy of a particle is given by the relation


K = 1/2 mv2


Where K is the kinetic energy of a particle of mass m and is moving with a velocity v


So instantaneous kinetic energy of the body undergoing Simple harmonic motion is


K = 1/2 m (A Aω cos ωt)2


Or Instantaneous kinetic energy of the body is


K = 1/2 mA2ω2cos2ωt


Now to find average kinetic Energy of the body in time interval T (time period of one complete oscillation) we will integrate the instantaneous kinetic energy with respect to time in the interval and then divide it with total time T


So average kinetic energy of the body denoted by Kavg will be



Since m,A, ω are constants we have



Solving further




We know relation between time period T and angular frequency ω ω = 2π/T


So we get





So the average kinetic energy of the body in one oscillation is


Kavg = 1/4 mA2ω2


Now the potential energy of a body undergoing Simple harmonic motion at any instant is given by the relation


U = 1/2 kx2


Where k is the force constant of the spring, and x is the displacement of the body from mean position


We know the relation between force constant and angular frequency as


k = m ω2


where k is the force constant, m is the mass of the body and v ω is the angular frequency of single harmonic motion


so the instantaneous potential energy of the body becomes


U = 1/2 mω2x2


And we know displacement of particle from mean position is


x = A sin ωt


where x is denotes the position of particle or displacement from mean position at any instant of time t, ω is the angular frequency of the Simple harmonic motion of the block, A is the amplitude


so putting the value of x we get, instantaneous Potential energy of the Body


U = 1/2 mA2ω2sin2ωt


Now to find average Potential Energy of the body in time interval T (time period of one complete oscillation) we will integrate the instantaneous Potential energy with respect to time in the interval and then divide it with total time T


So average Potential energy of the body denoted by Uavg will be



Since m,A, ω are constants we have



Solving further




We know relation between time period T and angular frequency ω ω = 2π/T


So we get





So the average Potential energy of the body in one oscillation is


Uavg = 1/4 mA2ω2


So we get that Average Potential Energy and Average Kinetic Energy of the Body undergoing Simple Harmonic Oscillation in one cycle or oscillation are equal and


Kavg = Uavg = 1/4 mA2ω2


23