SHM conceptual problems

A mass attached to a spring vibrates back and forth. At the equilibrium position, the

• acceleration reaches a maximum.
• velocity reaches a maximum.
• net force reaches a maximum.
• velocity reaches zero.

A mass-spring system can oscillate with simple harmonic motion because a compressed or stretched spring has which kind of energy?

• kinetic
• mechanical
• gravitational potential
• elastic potential

The angle between the string of a pendulum at its equilibrium position and at its maximum displacement is the pendulum’s

• period.
• frequency.
• vibration.
• amplitude.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

For a system in simple harmonic motion, which of the following is the time required to complete a cycle of motion?

• amplitude
• period
• frequency
• revolution

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

For a system in simple harmonic motion, which of the following is the number of cycles or vibrations per unit of time?

• amplitude
• period
• frequency
• revolution

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS4-1

How are frequency and period related in simple harmonic motion?

• They are directly related.
• They are inversely related.
• Their sum is constant.
• Both measure the number of cycles per unit of time.

By what factor should the length of a simple pendulum be changed in order to triple the period of vibration?

• 3
• 6
• 9
• 27

Suppose that a pendulum has a period of 4.0 s at Earth’s surface. If the pendulum is taken to the moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is much less than on Earth, will the pendulum’s period increase, decrease, or stay the same? 

• Increase
• Decrease
• Stays the same
• Need more information

A certain pendulum with a 1.00 kg bob has a period of 3.50 s. What will happen to the period of the pendulum if the 1.00 kg bob is replaced by a bob with a mass of 2.00 kg?

• Increase
• Decrease
• Stays the same
• Need more information

A pendulum's period is initially t.  Changes are made to the system so that the new period is 2t. What may have been changed?

• The length of the pendulum was increased by a factor of 2.
• The pendulum was moved to a planet with 2 times the mass of Earth.
• The length of the pendulum was increased by a factor of 4.
• The pendulum was moved to a planet with 4 times the  mass of earth.