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Determine the positions of a simple harmonic oscillator at which its speed is one-third of the maximum speed?

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Answer:

x = ± √(8/9) A.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a simple harmonic oscillator with amplitude A and angular frequency ω, the speed at position x is given by v = ω√(A^2 - x^2).

The maximum speed occurs at the equilibrium position, where x = 0, and is given by vmax = ωA.

To determine the positions at which the speed is one-third of the maximum speed, we need to solve the equation:

v = (1/3)vmax

ω√(A^2 - x^2) = (1/3)ωA

√(A^2 - x^2) = (1/3)A

A^2 - x^2 = (1/9)A^2

8/9 A^2 = x^2

x = ± √(8/9) A

Therefore, the positions at which the speed of the simple harmonic oscillator is one-third of the maximum speed are x = ± √(8/9) A.

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