Exam Questions

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3 (a) A body undergoes simple harmonic motion.

The variation with displacement x of its velocity v is shown in Fig. 3.1.

0.4
v / m s–1
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
– 0.06 – 0.04 – 0.02 0 0.02 0.04 0.06
– 0.1 x/m

– 0.2

– 0.3

– 0.4

Fig. 3.1

(i) State the amplitude xo of the oscillations.

xo = ..................................................... m [1]

(ii) Calculate the period T of the oscillations.

T = ...................................................... s [3]

(iii) On Fig. 3.1, label with a P a point where the body has maximum potential energy. [1]

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4 (a) The defining equation of simple harmonic motion is

a = – ω 2x.

State the significance of the minus (–) sign in the equation.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) A trolley rests on a bench. Two identical stretched springs are attached to the trolley as shown
in Fig. 4.1. The other end of each spring is attached to a fixed support.

support support

18.0 cm

bench
trolley
spring spring

Fig. 4.1

The unstretched length of each spring is 12.0 cm. The spring constant of each spring is
8.0 N m–1. When the trolley is in equilibrium the length of each spring is 18.0 cm.

The trolley is displaced 4.8 cm to one side and then released. Assume that resistive forces on
the trolley are negligible.

(i) Show that the resultant force on the trolley at the moment of release is 0.77 N.

[2]

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(ii) The mass of the trolley is 250 g.

Calculate the maximum acceleration a of the trolley.

a = ................................................ m s–2 [1]

(iii) Use your answer in (ii) to determine the period T of the subsequent oscillation.

T = ...................................................... s [3]

(iv) The experiment is repeated with an initial displacement of the trolley of 2.4 cm.

State and explain the effect, if any, this change has on the period of the oscillation of the
trolley.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 9]

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3 A small wooden block (cuboid) of mass m floats in water, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

wooden block mass m

water
density ρ

Fig. 3.1

The top face of the block is horizontal and has area A. The density of the water is ρ.

(a) State the names of the two forces acting on the block when it is stationary.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) The block is now displaced downwards as shown in Fig. 3.2 so that the surface of the water is
higher up the block.

new position of
water surface

original position of
water surface

Fig. 3.2

State and explain the direction of the resultant force acting on the wooden block in this
position.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

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(c) The block in (b) is now released so that it oscillates vertically.

The resultant force F acting on the block is given by

F = –Agρx

where g is the gravitational field strength and x is the vertical displacement of the block from
the equilibrium position.

(i) Explain why the oscillations of the block are simple harmonic.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Show that the angular frequency ω of the oscillations is given by

Aρ g
ω= m .

[2]

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(d) The block is now placed in a liquid with a greater density. The block is displaced and released
so that it oscillates vertically. The variation with displacement x of the acceleration a of the
block is measured for the first half oscillation, as shown in Fig. 3.3.

a / m s–2

0
–0.02 –0.01 0 0.01 0.02
x/m

–1

–2

Fig. 3.3

(i) Explain why the maximum negative displacement of the block is not equal to its maximum
positive displacement.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The mass of the block is 0.57 kg.

Use Fig. 3.3 to determine the decrease ΔE in energy of the oscillation for the first half
oscillation.

E = ....................................................... J [3]

[Total: 10]

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3 An object is suspended from a vertical spring as shown in Fig. 3.1.

spring

object
oscillation

Fig. 3.1

The object is displaced vertically and then released so that it oscillates, undergoing simple
harmonic motion.

Fig. 3.2 shows the variation with displacement x of the energy E of the oscillations.

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0
Q
E / mJ

3.0

2.0

1.0

0
–1.6 –1.2 –0.8 –0.4 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6
x / cm

Fig. 3.2
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The kinetic energy, the potential energy and the total energy of the oscillations are each
represented by one of the lines P, Q and R.

(a) State the energy that is represented by each of the lines P, Q and R.

P ...............................................................................................................................................

Q ...............................................................................................................................................

R ...............................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) The object has a mass of 130 g.

Determine the period of the oscillations.

period = ...................................................... s [4]

(c) (i) State the cause of damping.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) A light card is attached to the object. The object is displaced with the same initial
amplitude and then released. During each complete oscillation the total energy of the
system decreases by 8.0% of the total energy at the start of that oscillation.

Determine the decrease in total energy, in mJ, of the system by the end of the first 6
complete oscillations.

energy lost = ................................................... mJ [2]

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(iii) State, with a reason, the type of damping that the card introduces into the system.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 10]

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4 A small steel sphere is oscillating vertically on the end of a spring, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

spring

steel sphere
oscillations

Fig. 4.1

The velocity v of the sphere varies with displacement x from its equilibrium position according to

v = ± 9.7 (11.6 - x 2)

where v is in cm s–1 and x is in cm.

(a) (i) Calculate the frequency of the oscillations.

frequency = .................................................... Hz [2]

(ii) Show that the amplitude of the oscillations is 3.4 cm.

[1]

(iii) Calculate the maximum acceleration a0 of the sphere.

a0 = ................................................ m s–2 [2]

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(b) On Fig. 4.2, sketch the variation with x of the acceleration a of the sphere.

2 a0

a0

0
–4 –2 0 2 x / cm 4

– a0

– 2a0

Fig. 4.2
[3]

(c) Describe, without calculation, the interchange between the potential energy and the kinetic
energy of the oscillations.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 11]

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4 A heavy metal sphere of mass 0.81 kg is suspended from a string. The sphere is undergoing small
oscillations from side to side, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

string

heavy sphere,
mass 0.81 kg

oscillations

Fig. 4.1

The oscillations of the sphere may be considered to be simple harmonic with amplitude 0.036 m
and period 3.0 s.

(a) State what is meant by simple harmonic motion.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Calculate:

(i) the angular frequency of the oscillations

angular frequency = .............................................. rad s–1 [2]

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(ii) the total energy of the oscillations.

total energy = ...................................................... J [2]

(c) The suspended sphere is now lowered into water. The sphere is given a sideways
displacement of +0.036 m from its equilibrium position and is then released at time t = 0.
The water causes the motion of the sphere to be critically damped.

On Fig. 4.2, sketch the variation of the displacement x of the sphere from its equilibrium
position with t from t = 0 to t = 6.0 s.

0.04

x/m

0.02

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
t/s

– 0.02

– 0.04

Fig. 4.2
[3]

[Total: 9]

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4 An electron in a metal rod moves randomly about a mean position. When an alternating
voltage is applied to the ends of the rod, the mean position can be considered to oscillate with
simple harmonic motion along the axis of the rod. Fig. 4.1 shows the variation with time t of the
displacement x of the mean position from a fixed point on the axis of the rod.

x / 10–15 m

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
t / μs

Fig. 4.1

(a) (i) Determine the amplitude of the oscillations.

amplitude = ...................................................... m [1]

(ii) Determine the angular frequency of the oscillations.

angular frequency = .............................................. rad s–1 [1]

(iii) Use your answers in (a)(i) and (a)(ii) to show that the maximum drift speed v0 of the
electron is 1.1 × 10–7 m s–1.

[2]

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