Consider a point particle of mass m (e.g., marble whose radius is insignificant com- pared to any other length in the system) located at the equilibrium points of a curve whose shape is described by the quartic function: y(x) = A x4 4 + B²), Bx² + B² A, B > 0. (1) Where x represents the distance along the horizontal axis and y the height in the vertical direction. The direction of Earth's constant gravitational field in this system of coordinates is g = −gy, with y a unit vector along the y direction. This is just a precise way to say with math that gravity points downwards and greater values of y point upwards. (a) Find the local extrema of y(x). Which ones are minima and which ones are maxima? (b) Sketch the function y(x). (c) What are the units of A and B? Provide the answer either in terms of L(ength) or in SI units. (d) If we put the point particle at any of the stationary points found in (a) and we displace it by a small quantity³. Which stationary locations will show oscillatory motion with a small amplitude? Provide an explanation with words based on the figure in (b). No need to use equations ... yet. Neglect friction.

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**Quartic Oscillations**

Consider a point particle of mass \( m \) (e.g., marble whose radius is insignificant compared to any other length in the system) located at the equilibrium points of a curve whose shape is described by the quartic function:

\[
y(x) = A \left( \frac{x^4}{4} - Bx^2 + B^2 \right), \quad A, B > 0. \tag{1}
\]

Where \( x \) represents the distance along the horizontal axis and \( y \) the height in the vertical direction. The direction of Earth's constant gravitational field in this system of coordinates is \( \vec{g} = -g\hat{y} \), with \( \hat{y} \) a unit vector along the \( y \) direction. This is just a precise way to say with math that gravity points downwards and greater values of \( y \) point upwards.

**(a)** Find the local extrema of \( y(x) \). Which ones are minima and which ones are maxima?

**(b)** Sketch the function \( y(x) \).

**(c)** What are the units of \( A \) and \( B \)? Provide the answer either in terms of L(ength) or in SI units.

**(d)** If we put the point particle at any of the stationary points found in (a) and we displace it by a small quantity \(\delta\). Which stationary locations will show oscillatory motion with a small amplitude? Provide an explanation with words based on the figure in (b). No need to use equations ... yet. Neglect friction.
Transcribed Image Text:**Quartic Oscillations** Consider a point particle of mass \( m \) (e.g., marble whose radius is insignificant compared to any other length in the system) located at the equilibrium points of a curve whose shape is described by the quartic function: \[ y(x) = A \left( \frac{x^4}{4} - Bx^2 + B^2 \right), \quad A, B > 0. \tag{1} \] Where \( x \) represents the distance along the horizontal axis and \( y \) the height in the vertical direction. The direction of Earth's constant gravitational field in this system of coordinates is \( \vec{g} = -g\hat{y} \), with \( \hat{y} \) a unit vector along the \( y \) direction. This is just a precise way to say with math that gravity points downwards and greater values of \( y \) point upwards. **(a)** Find the local extrema of \( y(x) \). Which ones are minima and which ones are maxima? **(b)** Sketch the function \( y(x) \). **(c)** What are the units of \( A \) and \( B \)? Provide the answer either in terms of L(ength) or in SI units. **(d)** If we put the point particle at any of the stationary points found in (a) and we displace it by a small quantity \(\delta\). Which stationary locations will show oscillatory motion with a small amplitude? Provide an explanation with words based on the figure in (b). No need to use equations ... yet. Neglect friction.
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