Physics I FIS2061 Tutorial Oscillations (Part 1)

Tutorial 5.1: Oscillations (Part 1)

1. For an oscillating mass, define the

(a) period.
(b) frequency.

2. An object undergoing simple harmonic motion of amplitude 2.3 m. If the maximum velocity
of the object is 10 m s −1 , what is the object’s angular frequency, 𝜔?

3.
(a) The quartz crystal in a digital watch has a frequency of 32.8 kHz. What is its period of
oscillation?
(b) If your heart is beating at 76.0 beats per minute, what is the frequency of your heart’s
oscillation in hertz?
(c) A guitar string is set into vibration with a frequency of 512 Hz. How many oscillations
does it undergo each minute?

4. A sewing machine needle moves up and down in simple harmonic motion with an amplitude
of 1.27 cm and a frequency of 2.55 Hz. What are the
(a) maximum speed of the tip of the needle.
(b) maximum acceleration of the tip of the needle.

5. A particle that is oscillating in SHM has the following equations:

𝑥 = 0.123 cos(1.26𝑡)
𝑣 = −0.155 sin(1.26𝑡)
𝑎 = −0.195 cos(1.26𝑡)
𝑥 is in metre (m), 𝑣 is in metre per second (m s −1 ), 𝑎 is in metre per second squared (m s −2 )
and 𝑡 is in second (s).
When 𝑡 = 0.805 s, what are the
(a) velocity of the particle?
(b) acceleration of the particle?

6. An object oscillates such that its position 𝑥 as a function of time 𝑡 obeys the equation
𝑥 = 0.222 sin(314𝑡), where 𝑡 is in seconds.
(a) In one period, what total distance does the object move?
(b) What is the frequency of the motion?
(c) What is the position of the object when 𝑡 = 1.00 s?

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Physics I FIS2061 Tutorial Oscillations (Part 1)

7. The expression for the displacement 𝑥 of an object undergoing simple harmonic motion is given
by
𝑥 = 5.5 sin(4𝜋𝑡 + 0.2𝜋)
where 𝑥 and 𝑡 are measured in cm and second respectively. Determine
(a) the amplitude.
(b) the period.
(c) the frequency of the oscillation.

8. A piston in a car engine executes simple harmonic motion. The acceleration 𝑎 of the piston is
relate to its displacement 𝑥 by the equation:
𝑎 = −6.4 × 105 𝑥
(a) Calculate the frequency of the motion.
(b) The piston has a mass of 700 g and a maximum displacement of 8.0 cm. Calculate the
maximum force on the piston.

9. A mass 𝑚 = 7.7 kg at the end of a vertical spring of force constant 𝑘 = 1200 N m−1 oscillates
vertically with the simple harmonic motion of amplitude 𝐴 = 2.0 cm.
(a) Find the period of oscillation.
(b) Find the maximum kinetic energy.