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Simple Harmonic Motion - Multiple Choice Questions

Q1. A mass M hangs in equilibrium on a spring. M is made to oscillate about the equilibrium position by pulling it down 10 cm and releasing it. The time for M to travel back to the equilibrium position for the first time is 0.50 s. Which line, A to D, is correct for these oscillations?

 
Amplitude /cm
Period /s
A
10
1.0
B
10
2.0
C
20
2.0
D
20
1.0

 

Q2. A particle oscillates with undamped simple harmonic motion. Which one of the following statements about the acceleration of the oscillating particle is true?

A It is least when the speed is greatest.
B It is always in the opposite direction to its velocity.
C It is proportional to the frequency.
D It decreases as the potential energy increases.

 

Q3. Which one of the following statements is true when an object performs simple harmonic motion about a central point O?

A
 The acceleration is always away from O.
B
 The acceleration and velocity are always in opposite directions.
C
 The acceleration and the displacement from O are always in the same direction.
D
 The graph of acceleration against displacement is a straight line.

 

Q4. A particle of mass m executes simple harmonic motion in a straight line with amplitude A and frequency f. Which one of the following expressions represents the total energy of the particle?

A
22 mfA2
B
22 mf2A2
C
42 m2f2A
D
42 mf2A2

5

Q5. A body moves with simple harmonic motion of amplitude A and frequency b/2 .

What is the magnitude of the acceleration when the body is at maximum displacement?

A
zero
B
42Ab2
C
Ab2
D
42Ab-2

 

Q6. A simple pendulum and a mass-spring system are taken to the Moon, where the gravitational field strength is less than on Earth.

Which line, A to D, correctly describes the change, if any, in the period when compared with its value on Earth?

 
period of pendulum
period of mass-spring system
A
decrease
decrease
B
increase
increase
C
no change
decrease
D
increase
no change

 

Q7. A simple pendulum and a mass-spring system both have the same time period T at the surface of the Earth. If taken to another planet where the acceleration due to gravity was half that on Earth, which line, A-D, in the table gives correctly the new periods?

 
simple pendulum
mass-spring
A
T
B
T
C
D

 

Q8. Which one of the following statements is not true for a body vibrating in simple harmonic motion when damping is present?

A
 The damping force is always in the opposite direction to the velocity.
B
 The damping force is always in the opposite direction to the acceleration.
C
 The presence of damping gradually reduces the maximum potential energy of the system.
D
 The presence of damping gradually reduces the maximum kinetic energy of the system.

 

Q9. The frequency of a body moving with simple harmonic motion is doubled. If the amplitude remains the same, which one of the following is also doubled?

A
 the time period
B
 the total energy
C
 the maximum velocity
D
 the maximum acceleration

 

Q10. The time period of a pendulum on Earth is 1.0 s. What would be the period of a pendulum of the same length on a planet with half the density but twice the radius of Earth?

A
0.5 s
B
1.0 s
C
1.4 s
D
2.0 s