 Solution

Let the particle have mass $m$, and assume its force is derived from a time-independent potential energy $V(x)$ during the stated interval. Differentiation givesFor $n\ne 0$, choose a branch on which $t=(x/A{)}^{1/n}$ is real. Conservation of energy is the quickest integration of Newton's second law:The additive constant $E$ is arbitrary. For instance, the displayed expression applies directly for $t>0$, $A\ne 0$ and $x/A>0$, without raising a possibly negative $A$ to a fractional power. Its derivative gives $-V^{\prime }(x)=mn(n-1)A{t}^{n-2}$ along the trajectory, as required. The second term has units of kinetic energy because $A$ has units $\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-\mathrm{n}}$.

For $n=1$, the velocity is constant, so the potential energy is constant on the visited interval; the expression above reduces to such a constant. For $n=0$, or $A=0$, the particle is stationary: the trajectory only fixes $V^{\prime }$ to vanish at its position and does not determine the potential energy elsewhere. These exceptional cases cannot determine a unique nonconstant function.