Phase space diagrams are useful tools in analyzing all kinds of dynamical problems. They are especially useful in studying the changes in motion as initial position and momentum are changed. Here we consider some simple dynamical systems in one-dimension. For such systems, phase space is a plane in which position is plotted along horizontal axis and momentum is plotted along vertical axis. The phase space diagram is x(t) vs. p(t) curve in this plane. The arrow on the curve indicates the time flow. For example, the phase space diagram for a particle moving with constant velocity is a straight line as shown int he figure. We use the sign convention in which position or momentum upwards (or to right) is positive and downwards (or to left) is negative.
Consider the spring-mass system, with the mass submerged in water, as shown in the figure. The phase space diagram for one cycle of this system is
When a particle of mass m moves on the x-axis in a potential of the form V(x) = kx2, it performs simple harmonic motion. The corresponding time period is proportional to $$\sqrt {{m \over k}} $$, as can be seen easily using dimensional analysis. However, the motion of a particle can be periodic even when its potential energy increases on both sides of x = 0 in a way different from kx2 and its total energy is such that the particle does not escape to infinity. Consider a particle of mass m moving on the x-axis. Its potential energy is V(x) = $$\alpha$$x4 ($$\alpha$$ > 0) for | x | near the origin and becomes a constant equal to V0 for (see figure).
If the total energy of the particle is E, it will perform periodic motion only if