The acceleration (a) versus time (t) plot of a horizontal mass-spring system with a mass of 3.1 kg is shown in the figure below:
(m/s^2)
(s)
(a) [3 pts] Write an equation for acceleration as a function of time, a(t), for the graph shown above.
(b) [1 pt] Calculate the spring constant for this spring.
(c) [1 pt] Calculate the amplitude (A) of oscillations.
(d) [2 pt] From your equation of SHM derived in part (a), calculate at what time the system passes through its first minimum in potential energy. Explain how you know when this occurs.
(e) [1 pt] Calculate the total energy of this oscillator. For full credit, enter your numerical result in the box below in units of J and to two significant figures.