CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 18
Exam-style questions b i ¼ cycle[1]

1 B[1] ii 90°[1]

2 A[1] iii π/2 rad[1]
3 a No, constant acceleration under gravity c i 
3
8 cycle[1]
towards ground but not on hitting ground
and when hit by player[2] ii 135°[1]

b  es, the restoring force is directed

Y iii ¾π rad[1]
towards a point and is proportional to 7 a period T = 8.0 ms[1]
the displacement from the point[2]
frequency = 1/T = 125 Hz[1]
c  o, it travels with constant acceleration
N
b i 
velocity: same shape graph, starting at
towards each plate and then suddenly
t = 0 at maximium value (amplitude is
reverses its direction of velocity on
not relevant as no scale for velocity[1]
hitting the plate[1]
ii acceleration: same shape as
d  es, the restoring force is directed
Y displacement graph but inverted, so
towards a point and is proportional to first maximum is negative[2]
the displacement from the point[2]
Displacement / Velocity / Acceleration
4 a x = 4 sin 2pt for x in cm or
x = 4 × 10−2 sin 2pt for x in m[2]
b  aximum velocity = ωx0 = 2p f x0 =
i m
2p × 1.0 × 4.0[1]
= 25.1 cm s−1[1] 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Time/ ms
v = ω (x02 − x 2 ) = 2π (42 − 22 )
ii 
= 21.8 cm s−1[1]
5 a f = 1/T = 1/0.84 = 1.19 Hz[1]
8 a No, it is not moving with simple harmonic
b vmax = 2px0 f = 120 mm s−1[1] motion because the displacement does
k.e.max = ½ m(vmax)2 = 3.6 × 10−4 J[1]
c  not show a sine or cosine relationship
with time or comment regarding gradient
as it passes through the equilibrium constant for time showing constant
position[1] velocity, then a sudden change, not in
d g.p.e.max = 3.6 × 10−4 J (i.e. the same as keeping with a force proportional to
maximum k.e.)[1] displacement[1]

6 a i ½ cycle[1]
ii 180°[1]
iii π rad[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

b i, ii c i angular displacement from equilibrium

Displacement position = ωt = 30° = π/6 rad[1]
x = 15 sin (π/6)[1]
= 7.5 cm[1]
Time
ii v = v0 cos ωt = ωx0 cos ωt = 15 × 3π
cos(π/6)[1]
Velocity
v = 120 cm s−1[1]
iii 60° or π/3 rad[1]
Time
11 a Vibration/oscillation in which there is
acceleration towards a fixed point[1]
Acceleration
The magnitude of the acceleration is
proportional to the displacement from
Time
the point.[1]
b a = ω2x0[1]
a = (2π × 60)2 × 2.8 × 10−3 = 400 m s−2[1]
 [3]
c F = ma = 190 N[1]
9 a Vibration / oscillation in which there is
acceleration towards a fixed point[1] d  raph showing sine-type wave, with
G
amplitude getting smaller[1]
The magnitude of the acceleration is
proportional to the displacement from Frequency remaining the same[1]
the point.[1] If driving frequency = natural frequency[1]
12 a 
b f = 70 Hz[1] resonance occurs[1]
c v = ωx0[1]
i  giving false reading for the shock wave
strength[1]
= 55 m s−1[1]
a = ω2x0[1]
ii  b  hows that the acceleration is
S
proportional to the displacement[1]
= 24 000 m s−2[1]
and in the opposite direction to the
iii Use of F = ma = 5800 N[1] displacement[1]
10 a Oscillations that are exactly in step with
c ω2 = a/x0[1]
each other / each point on one oscillation
moves in the same way as on the second ω2 = 500[1]

oscillation[1] ω = 22.4[1]

b x = 15 sin (3pt)[1] f = 22.4/2π = 3.6 Hz[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020