---
title: "A particle of mass \\(m\\) moves along the \\(x\\)-axis under the influence of a conservative net force given by \\(F(x) = -kx + \\beta x^3\\), where \\(k\\) and \\(\\beta\\) are positive constants. The potential energy of the system is defined such that \\(U(0) = 0\\). Which of the following graphs best represents the potential energy \\(U(x)\\) as a function of position \\(x\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120692/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:42:41+00:00"
---

# A particle of mass \(m\) moves along the \(x\)-axis under the influence of a conservative net force given by \(F(x) = -kx + \beta x^3\), where \(k\) and \(\beta\) are positive constants. The potential energy of the system is defined such that \(U(0) = 0\). Which of the following graphs best represents the potential energy \(U(x)\) as a function of position \(x\)?

A particle of mass \(m\) moves along the \(x\)-axis under the influence of a conservative net force given by \(F(x) = -kx + \beta x^3\), where \(k\) and \(\beta\) are positive constants. The potential energy of the system is defined such that \(U(0) = 0\). Which of the following graphs best represents the potential energy \(U(x)\) as a function of position \(x\)?

- **A.** Graph A
- **B.** Graph B
- **C.** Graph C
- **D.** Graph D

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120692/*