PHYSICS

POTENTIAL ENERGY ASSIGNMENT

1. A particle is released from rest at origin. It moves under the influence of potential
field U  x 2  3x , where U is in Joule and x isin metre. Kinetic energy at x = 2 m will
be
(A) 2 J (B) 1 J (C) 1.5 J (D) 0 J

1 2
2. The potential energy of a particle of mass m is given by U  kx for x< 0 and U = 0
2
2E
for x  0 . If total mechanical energy of the particle is E. Then its speed at x  is
k
2E E E
(A) zero (B) (C) (D)
m m 2m

3. A particle is acted upon by a force F = kx, (k> 0) where x is displacement of particle.

If potential energy at origin is zero then the potential energy of the particle varies with
x as
U U U U

(A) x (B) x (C) x (D) x

4. The potential energy of a body is given by, U  A  Bx 2 (where x is the displacement).

The magnitude of force acting on the particle is
(A) constant. (B) proportional to x.
2
(C) proportional to x (D) inversely proportional to x.

5. The potential energy of a system is represented in the first figure. The force acting on
the system will be represented by
U(x)

a x

F(x) F(x)

a a
(A) x (B) x

F(x) F(x)

a x x
(C) (D) a

NUCLEUS-92, Rajeev Gandhi Nagar, Kota (Raj.) India 324005, Mob. 9358006181, 97831-97831 1
 PHYSICS
6. The potential energy U(x) of a particle moving along x-axis is shown in figure. Which
one of the following graphs represents the variation of kinetic energy of this particle if
its total mechanical energy is E0.

(A) (B)

(C) (D)


7. A conservative force F   4x  8 ˆi N acts on a particle that moves on the x-axis. The
potential energy associated with this force is assigned a value of 8J at x = 0. Which of
the following best represents variation in potential energy with position coordinate x.

(A)

(B)

NUCLEUS-92, Rajeev Gandhi Nagar, Kota (Raj.) India 324005, Mob. 9358006181, 97831-97831 2
 PHYSICS

(C)

(D)

8. For the potential energy function shown in fig. there will be an unstable equilibrium at
position
+4
+2
A B C
0
–2
–4
–6
0 4 8 12
(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) None of the above

9. In the figure shown the potential energy (U) of a particle is plotted against its position
'x' from origin. Then which of the following statement is correct. A particle at :
U

O x1 x2 x3 x

(A) x1 is in stable equilibrium (B) x2 is in stable equilibrium

(C) x3 is in stable equilibrium (D) None of these

NUCLEUS-92, Rajeev Gandhi Nagar, Kota (Raj.) India 324005, Mob. 9358006181, 97831-97831 3