Simple Harmonic Motion Concept Builders

A pendulum's period describes

• how much time it takes to complete one vibration

• how much distance it travels during one vibration

• how many times it vibrates back and forth

A pendulum's frequency describes

• how fast it moves from one extreme to the other

• how far it moves from its resting position to an extreme position

• how often it vibrates back and forth

A pendulum makes 40 complete vibrational cycles in 20 seconds. This means that

• the period is 0.5 Hz and the frequency is 40 seconds

• the period is 0.5 Hz and the frequency is 2.0 seconds

• the period is 40 seconds and the frequency is 2.0 Hz

• the period is 0.5 seconds and the frequency is 2.0 Hz

the unit of period is

• second

• oscillations

• meter

the unit of frequency is

• joules per second

• meters per second

• cycles per second

As the frequency of a pendulum increases

• the period increases at first then it decreases

• the period also increases

• the period decreases

• the period in unaffected

If the length of the string is decreased by a factor of two, the period of the pendulum will

• increase by a factor of the square root of 2

• decrease by a factor of square root of 2

• increase by a factor of 2

• increase by a factor of 2

• decrease by a factor of 2

If the length of the string is decreased by a factor of two, the frequency of the pendulum will

• increase by a factor of the square root of 2

• decrease by a factor of square root of 2

• increase by a factor of 2

• increase by a factor of 2

• decrease by a factor of 2

AP Physics students are studying the effect of object mass (m), spring constant (k), and spring length (L) upon the period. The parameter values used for three trials are shown. Rank the three trials in order of their period (T).

• Trial 1: Greatest

  Trial 2: Middle

  Trial 3: Smallest

• Trial 1: Middle

  Trial 2: Greatest

  Trial 3: Smallest

• Trial 1: Greatest

  Trial 2: Smallest

  Trial 3: Middle

• Trial 1: Smallest

  Trial 2: Middle

  Trial 3: Greatest

If the spring constant increases by a factor of three, the period will

• increase by a factor of the square root of 3

• decrease by a factor of the square root of 3

• increase by a factor of 9

• decrease by a factor of 9

• decrease by a factor of 3