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Amplitude, x₀
● VERBATIM — examined word-for-wordThe maximum displacement of the particle from the equilibrium position.
What this actually means
The maximum displacement from equilibrium; the edges of the motion sit at ±x₀.
Amplitude sets the energy scale (E ∝ x₀²) but, for true SHM, never the period.
On a damped graph, the amplitude is the envelope value at that moment, not the first peak forever.
Prove it — watch it be true
- Read the peak height of the x–t graph: that is x₀
- Turn on damping: each successive peak is a smaller amplitude
- The envelope through the peaks tracks the shrinking x₀