Exercise 19.
2 Graphical representations
In Exercise 13.1 you drew and interpreted displacement–time graphs. We can draw
similar graphs to represent how the velocity and acceleration of an oscillating mass
change with time.
1 a State, in words, the mathematical relationship between velocity and displacement.
b Describe how you could find velocity from a displacement–time graph.
c Write the mathematical relationship between acceleration and velocity.
d Describe how you could find acceleration from a velocity–time graph.
e In considering the motion of an oscillating mass, we talk about displacement and velocity.
Explain why it would be wrong to consider distance and speed.
2 This graph is a displacement–time graph for an oscillating mass:
Displacement / cm
10
5
0
−5 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
−10 Time / ms
a State two times at which the mass has maximum positive displacement.
b What is the mass’s velocity at these times? Explain how you can deduce this from the graph.
c State one time at which the mass has maximum negative displacement. State the velocity at
this time.
d State two times at which the mass has maximum positive velocity. Explain how you can
deduce this from the graph.
e State two times at which the mass has maximum negative velocity.
f Draw two sets of graph axes, one above the other. On the upper set of axes, sketch the
displacement–time graph shown above. On the lower set of axes, sketch the corresponding
velocity–time graph using the information you have deduced above. (There is no need to
include numbers on either set of axes.)
3 This velocity–time graph represents the motion of an oscillating mass:
2
Velocity / cm s−1
0
5 Time / s 10 15
−1
−2
−3
−4
a From the graph, deduce the period and frequency of the oscillations.
b State three times at which the acceleration of the mass is zero. Explain how you can deduce
this from the graph.
c The acceleration of the mass has its greatest positive values when time t = 12 s. At what time
does the acceleration have its maximum negative value?
d You can estimate the maximum acceleration as follows: lay a ruler on the graph so that it lies
along the steepest slope of the graph (at t = 12 s). Note the points where it crosses the top
and bottom of the grid. Use these values to deduce the maximum acceleration.
e You can also estimate the amplitude of the oscillation. This is equal to half of the area under
the first ‘bump’ of the graph (between t = 0 s and t = 6 s). Each large square on the graph
represents 1 cm. Use this idea to estimate the amplitude.
f Draw two sets of graph axes, one above the other. On the upper set of axes, sketch the
velocity–time graph shown above. On the lower set of axes, sketch the corresponding
acceleration–time graph using the information you have deduced above. Your sketch graphs
should indicate maximum and minimum values of the quantities on the y-axes.
4 The displacement of an oscillating mass can be represented by an equation of the form
x = x0 sin ωt, where x0 is the amplitude of the motion. This can also be written as x = x0 sin 2πft.
By comparing a specific equation to this ‘standard equation’, you can deduce a great deal of
information about the motion of an oscillating mass.
The displacement (in mm) of an oscillating mass is given x = 25 sin 40πt.
It may help you to write down this equation with the ‘standard equation’ below it, for ease of
comparison.
a State the amplitude of the oscillation.
b Show that the frequency f = 20 Hz.
c Calculate the period of the oscillation.
d The maximum velocity of the moving mass is given by v0 = ω x0. Calculate this quantity.
State its units.
e Calculate the maximum acceleration of the mass. (You can find the maximum acceleration
using the equation that defines s.h.m.)
