Learning goal: to learn to apply the law ofconservation of energy to the analysis of harmonic oscillators.

systems in simple harmonic motion, or harmonicoscillators, obey the law of conservation of energy just likeall other systems do. using energy considerations, one can analyzemany aspects of motion of the oscillator. such an analysis can besimplified if one assumes that mechanical energy is not dissipated. in other words,

e=k+u={\rm constant},

where eis the total mechanical energy of the system, k is the kinetic energy, and uis the potential energy.

Beryl states that insulation with the smallest possible thermal conductivity is best to keep a house warm in winter, but worst for keeping a house cool in summer. sapphire insists the reverse is true: low thermal conductivity is good in the summer, but bad in the winter. which one, if either is correct? a. beryl, because low thermal conductivity results in low heat transfer. b. beryl, because low thermal conductivity results in high heat transfer. d. sapphire, because low thermal conductivity results in high heat transfer. e. neither, because low heat transfer is desirable both in summer and in winter.