SHM HW

1. The period of a spring-mass system undergoing simple harmonic motion is T. If the amplitude of the
spring-mass system’s motion is doubled, the period will be:

(A) 1/4 T

(B) 1/2 T

(C) T

(D) 2T

(E) 4T

2. A simple pendulum of mass m and length L has a period of oscillation T at angular amplitude θ = 5°
measured from its equilibrium position. If the amplitude is changed to 10° and everything else remains
constant, the new period of the pendulum would be approximately.

(A) 2T

(B) √2

(C) T

(D) ⁄√2

(E) T / 2

3. A mass on the end of a spring oscillates with the displacement vs. time graph shown. Which of the
following statements about its motion is INCORRECT?

(A) The amplitude of the oscillation is 0.08 m.

(B) The frequency of oscillation is 0.5 Hz.

(C) The mass achieves a maximum in speed at 1 sec.

(D) The period of oscillation is 2 sec.

(E) The mass experiences a maximum in the size of the acceleration at t=1.5 sec
 4. What is the period of a simple pendulum if the cord length is 67 cm and the pendulum bob has a mass of
2.4 kg.

(A) 0.259 s

(B) 1.63 s

(C) 3.86 s

(D) 16.3 s

(E) 24.3 s

5. A particle oscillates up and down in simple harmonic motion. Its height y as a function of time t is shown
in the diagram. At what time t does the particle achieve its maximum positive acceleration?

(A) 1 s

(B) 2 s

(C) 3 s

(D) 4 s

(E) None of the above, because the acceleration is constant

Questions 6-7

A 0.1-kilogram block is attached to an initially un-stretched spring of force constant k = 40 newtons per meter as
shown above. The block is released from rest at time t = 0.

6. What is the amplitude, in meters, of the resulting simple harmonic motion of the block?

7. What will the resulting period of oscillation be?

 8. A pendulum with a period of 1 s on Earth, where the acceleration due to gravity is g, is taken to another
planet, where its period is 2 s. The acceleration due to gravity on the other planet is most nearly

(A) g/4

(B) g/2

(C) g

(D) 2g

(E) 4g

Questions 9-10

A simple pendulum has a period of 2 s for small amplitude oscillations.

9. The length of the pendulum is most nearly

(A) 1/6 m

(B) 1/4 m

(C) 1/2 m

(D) 1 m

(E) 2 m

10. Which of the following equations could represent the angle θ that the pendulum makes with the vertical
as a function of time t?

(A) θ = θmax sin(0.5πt)

(B) θ = θmax sin(πt)

(C) θ = θmax sin(2πt)

(D) θ = θmax sin(4πt)

(E) θ = θmax sin(8πt)

 11. You are given a long, thin, rectangular bar of known mass M and length l with a pivot attached to one end.
The bar has a nonuniform mass density, and the center of mass is located a known distance x from the
end with the pivot. You are to determine the rotational inertia I b of the bar about the pivot by suspending
the bar from the pivot, as shown above, and allowing it to swing. Express all algebraic answers in terms of
Ib, the given quantities, and fundamental constants.

(a)

i. By applying the appropriate equation of motion to the bar, write the differential equation for the angle θ the bar
makes with the vertical.

ii. By applying the small-angle approximation to your differential equation, calculate the period of the bar’s
motion.

(b) Describe the experimental procedure you would use to make the additional measurements needed to
determine Ib. Include how you would use your measurements to obtain I b and how you would minimize
experimental error.

(c) Now suppose that you were not given the location of the center of mass of the bar. Describe an experimental
procedure that you could use to determine it, including the equipment that you would need.