The equation of motion for SHM is d2 x = 2 x 2 dt We know that v = dx and therefore we may rewrite the equation into dt dv = 2 x dt dv dx = 2 x dx dt v dv = 2 x dx

On integration with limits v = vmax at x = 0, 1 2 2 2 v v2 = x 0 max 2 2 1 m 2 x2 1 2 mvmax mv2 = 2 2 2 The LHS of the equation also reads the total energy minus the kinetic energy, where if the system is taken to be conservative (T.E. = K.E. + P.E.) the RHS must be the potential energy. P.E. = 1 m 2 x2 2

Now a general solution to SHM is of the form x = R cos t on substitution we have P.E. = 1 m 2 R2 cos2 t 2