---
title: "A block of mass \\(m\\) attached to an ideal horizontal spring of spring constant \\(k\\) executes simple harmonic motion about its equilibrium position \\(x = 0\\). A graph of the block’s velocity \\(v_x\\) versus position \\(x\\) forms a closed ellipse centered at the origin, as shown. Which of the following correctly identifies the direction in which this closed path is traversed over time, and describes how the trajectory changes if a small drag force continuously dissipates mechanical energy from the system?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117679/"
date_modified: "2026-08-04T07:50:07+00:00"
---

# A block of mass \(m\) attached to an ideal horizontal spring of spring constant \(k\) executes simple harmonic motion about its equilibrium position \(x = 0\). A graph of the block’s velocity \(v_x\) versus position \(x\) forms a closed ellipse centered at the origin, as shown. Which of the following correctly identifies the direction in which this closed path is traversed over time, and describes how the trajectory changes if a small drag force continuously dissipates mechanical energy from the system?

A block of mass \(m\) attached to an ideal horizontal spring of spring constant \(k\) executes simple harmonic motion about its equilibrium position \(x = 0\). A graph of the block's velocity \(v_x\) versus position \(x\) forms a closed ellipse centered at the origin, as shown. Which of the following correctly identifies the direction in which this closed path is traversed over time, and describes how the trajectory changes if a small drag force continuously dissipates mechanical energy from the system?

![A two-dimensional Cartesian graph with a horizontal axis labeled x and a vertical axis labeled v_x, intersecting at a central origin (0,0). Drawn centered at the origin is a single closed, smooth ellipse. The rightmost apex of the ellipse on the horizontal axis is labeled +x_{max}, and the leftmost apex is labeled -x_{max}. The top apex of the ellipse on the vertical axis is labeled +v_{max}, and the bottom apex is labeled -v_{max}. The curve is continuous and unarrowed. No other labels, lines, arrows, text, or tick marks appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1785829807-QBZCk5.jpg)

- **A.** Clockwise traversal; spirals inward toward the origin
- **B.** Clockwise traversal; spirals outward away from the origin
- **C.** Counterclockwise traversal; spirals inward toward the origin
- **D.** Counterclockwise traversal; spirals outward away from the origin

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/117679/*