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PROFESSOR: --nature, the potential energy of harmonic motion can be
visualized as a curve shaped like a bowl.
Why this shape?
Because of the force law and the definition of potential energy.
The ball starts out with some potential energy.
As it rolls toward the bottom, the potential energy
changes to kinetic energy.
As it rolls up the other side, the kinetic energy changes back into
potential energy.
Over time, there's a continual interchange between kinetic and
potential energy.
But even though both the potential energy and kinetic energy are always
changing, the total energy is always constant.
When any harmonic oscillator is disturbed, the disturbance produces a
force that pushes it back to where it was.
There, the force is zero, but inertia keeps it going until the reverse force
stops it and pushes it back once again.
This is the essence of harmonic motion, a simple harmonic oscillator.
If it we're really simple, it would go on forever, a
perpetual motion machine.