Physics

Problem

For a particle constrained to move along the

x

-axis, the potential energy is defined piece-wise as

V(x)=\begin{cases} 5x & (0 < x < 2\,\text{m})\\ 10 & (2\,\text{m} \le x \le 4\,\text{m})\\ -3x+22 & (x>4\,\text{m}) \end{cases}

Write the expression for the force

F(x)

in each of the three regions and indicate its direction (towards

+x

-x