OSCILLATIONS

(SHM)
Practice Paper
Question 1a
A small metal pendulum bob is suspended from a fixed point by a thread with negligible mass. Air resistance is also negligible.
The pendulum begins to oscillate from rest. Assume that the motion of the system is simple harmonic, and in one vertical
plane. Fig. 1.1 shows the variation of kinetic energy of the pendulum bob with time.

Fig. 1.1
Determine the time period of the pendulum.
[1 mark]

Question 1b
Label a point X on the graph where the pendulum is in equilibrium.
[1 mark]

Question 1c
The mass of the pendulum bob is 60 × 10–3 kg.
i) Determine the maximum kinetic energy of the pendulum bob.
[1]
ii) Show that the maximum speed of the bob is about 0.82 m s–1.
[3]
[4 marks]
Question 2a
Fig. 1.1 shows a mass-spring system which undergoes simple harmonic motion.
The mass of 75 g is connected between two identical springs. The mass-spring system rests on a frictionless surface. A force
of 0.025 N is needed to compress or extend the spring by 1.0 mm.
The mass is pulled from its equilibrium position to the right by 0.055 m and then released. The mass oscillates about the
equilibrium position in simple harmonic motion.

Fig. 1.1
Calculate the acceleration of the mass at the moment of release.
[2 marks]

Question 2b
The mass-spring system from part (a) can be used to model the motion of an ion in a crystal lattice structure. The model is
shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2
The frequency of the oscillation of the ion is 8 × 1012 Hz and the mass of the ion is 6 × 10−26 kg. The amplitude of the vibration of
the ion is 2 × 10−11 m.
Estimate the maximum kinetic energy of the ion.
[2 marks]
Question 2c
For the mass-spring system in part (a) the total energy of the system is 0.077 J.

Sketch a graph showing the variation over time of the kinetic energy of the mass and the potential energy of the springs.
You should use the axes given below, include appropriate values, and show the oscillation over one full period.

[3 marks]

Question 2d
The same mass and a single spring from part (a) are attached to a rigid horizontal support.
Fig 1.3 shows the vertical spring-mass system as it moves through one period.

Fig. 1.3
Annotate the diagram to show when:
Ep = max
Ek = max
v=0
v = max
[3 marks]
Question 3a
Fig 1.1 shows a graph of the displacement over time of a simple pendulum oscillating in simple harmonic motion.

Fig. 1.1
State the potential energy of the pendulum at points X, Y and Z in terms of maximum and minimum.
[1 mark]

Question 3b
The amplitude of the pendulum is 60 cm when it swings with a frequency of 0.7 Hz. During this oscillation, the maximum
kinetic energy of the pendulum is 23 J.
Determine the mass of the pendulum bob.
[4 marks]

Question 3c
Calculate the kinetic energy of the pendulum when the pendulum bob is at a distance of 0 . 4x 0 from its point of maximum
displacement.
[1 mark]