Name:______________________________Class:__________________ Date:__________________

Assessment

Vibrations and Waves

Teacher Notes and Answers
11 Vibrations and Waves
MEASURING SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
1. d increase with increasing mass, but the
2. a acceleration stays the same.
3. c 10.T = 2.19 s; f = 0.457 Hz
4. c Given
5. d L = 1.20 m
6. a ag = 9.81 m/s2
7. b Solution
8. c For a pendulum,
9. Answers will vary. Sample answer: The
L 1.20 m
period (and frequency) of pendulums T = 2
= 2
= 2.19 s
depends only on the length, provided that
ag 9.81 m/s2
both pendulums are subject to the same 1 1
f = = = 0.457 Hz
acceleration of gravity. Restoring force does T 2.19 s

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Holt Physics 1 Section Quizzes
Name:______________________________Class:__________________ Date:__________________

Assessment

Vibrations and Waves

Section Quiz: Measuring Simple Harmonic Motion
Write the letter of the correct answer in the space provided.

_____ 1. In a system in simple harmonic motion, the amplitude depends on

a. frequency.
b. wavelength.
c. the position of the equilibrium point.
d. maximum displacement from the equilibrium point.
_____ 2. In an oscillating mass-spring system, the distance of the maximum
compression of the spring is a measure of
a. amplitude.
b. frequency.
c. period.
d. equilibrium.
_____ 3. A total of 5 s passes as a child completes one complete swing on a
playground swing. The period of the swing is
a. 1/5 s.
b. 20 s.
c. 5 s.
d. 1 s.
_____ 4. The frequency of a certain pendulum is 0.5 Hz. The period of this
pendulum is
a. 0.2 s.
b. 0.5 s.
c. 2 s.
d. 5 s.
_____ 5. Which of the following factors has the greatest effect on the frequency
of a swinging pendulum?
a. friction
b. amplitude
c. mass
d. length
_____ 6. If a given pendulum is moved from Earth to a location where the
gravitational acceleration is greater than Earth’s, the frequency of the
pendulum’s swing will
a. increase.
b. decrease.
c. be unchanged.
d. vary with the mass of the bob.

Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Physics 2 Section Quizzes
Name:______________________________Class:__________________ Date:__________________

Vibrations and Waves continued

_____ 7. A certain oscillating mass-spring system has a period of 1.2 s with a

1.0 kg mass. What will the period be when a 4.0 kg mass is substituted
for the 1.0 kg mass?
a. 4.8 s
b. 2.4 s
c. 0.6 s
d. 0.3 s
_____ 8. You have constructed an oscillating mass-spring system for an
experiment. In order to increase the frequency of the system, you could
a. decrease the initial displacement.
b. use a greater mass.
c. use a spring with a higher spring constant.
d. increase the period of oscillation.
9. A student builds two pendulums, both 40 cm long. One has a 500 g mass and
the other has a 1 kg mass attached. The student starts both pendulums
swinging and is surprised to discover that they have identical periods (and
frequencies). How could you explain this observation to the student?
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

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10. Calculate the period of a pendulum that is 1.20 m long. What is this
pendulum’s frequency? Assume that the pendulum is on Earth.

Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Physics 3 Section Quizzes