Simple Harmonic Motion Review

Simple Harmonic Motion Review

​

Multiple Choice

Two blocks are connected to identical ideal springs and are oscillating on a horizontal frictionless surface. Block A has mass m, and its motion is represented by the graph of position as a function of time shown above on the left. Block B’s motion is represented above on the right. Which of the following statements comparing block B to block A is correct?

• Because block B covers more distance per cycle than block A, block B takes more time to complete each cycle.

• Because the spring attached to block B is initially stretched a greater distance, the spring constant is smaller and therefore block B has a slower average speed than block A does.

• Because block B has more mass, it has a slower average speed than block A does.

• Because block B has more mass, its acceleration is smaller than that of block A at any given displacement from the equilibrium position.

Multiple Choice

A sphere of mass m₁, which is attached to a spring, is displaced downward from its equilibrium position as shown above left and released from rest. A sphere of mass m₂, which is suspended from a string of length l is displaced to the right as shown above right and released from rest so that it swings as a simple pendulum with small amplitude. Assume that both spheres undergo simple harmonic motion

If both spheres have the same period of oscillation, which of the following is an expression for the spring constant?

• l/m₁g

• g/m₂l

• m₁l/g

• m₂g/l

• m₁g/l

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true for both spheres?

• The maximum kinetic energy is attained as the sphere passes through its equilibrium position.

• The maximum kinetic energy is attained as the sphere reaches its point of release.

• The minimum gravitational potential energy is attained as the sphere passes through its equilibrium position.

• The maximum gravitational potential energy is attained when the sphere reaches its point of release.

• The maximum total energy is attained only as the sphere passes through its equilibrium position.

Multiple Choice

A student attaches a block to a horizontal spring so that the block-spring system will oscillate if the block-spring system released from rest at a horizontal position that is not the system’s equilibrium position. The student creates a graph of the block-spring system’s kinetic energy as a function of time, as shown. The spring potential energy of the block-spring system at 5.0s

is most nearly

• 0.0 J

• 0.27 J

• 0.73 J

• 1.0 J

Multiple Choice

The figure above shows a pole with a spring around it and a 2.5 kg block with a hole in the middle hanging from the spring. A light horizontal cord is attached to the block and a wall. The block is oscillating at 10.0 Hz , and the standing wave shown is formed.

The spring constant of the spring is approximately which of the following?

• 10 N/m

• 100 N/m

• 1,000 N/m

• 10,000 N/m

Multiple Choice

The graph shows the period² vs length of string for a pendulum undergoing simple harmonic motion. What does the slope represent?

• $$\frac{1}{\sqrt{g}}$$

• $$\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{g}}$$

• $$\frac{4\pi^2}{g}$$

• $$\sqrt{\frac{g}{2\pi}}$$

Multiple Choice

A student sets an object attached to a spring into oscillatory motion and uses a position sensor to record the displacement of the object from equilibrium as a function of time. A portion of the recorded data is shown in the figure above.

The frequency of oscillation is most nearly

• 0.5 Hz

• 0.7 Hz

• 1.4 Hz

• 2.0 Hz