When a particle of mass m moves on the x-axis in a potential of the form V(x) = kx it performs simple harmonic motion. The corresponding time period is proportional to 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 kx 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) = ax (a > 0) for [x] near the origin and becomes a constant equal to Vo for |x Xo (see figure). V(x) VE Vo Xo If the total energy of the particle is E, it will perform periodic motion only if A) E E>0 B) E> 0 D) E> Vo