Potential Energy & Equilibrium
A particle of mass m is released from rest and follows a parabolic path as shown. Assuming that the displacement of the mass from the origin is small, which graph correctly depicts the position of the particle as a function of time?

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Answer: (b)
- gives , so the motion is SHM about .
- Released from rest at a positive , so : starts at maximum, smooth curve.
- So the answer is (b).