showmethephysics.com
Simple Harmonic Motion

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

I. Vibrating Mass on a Spring

Oscillator Diagram
$$KE_1 + PE_1 = KE_2 + PE_2$$

Where is the acceleration the greatest? Why?

Smallest? Why?

Teacher CER Answer Key
Reasoning: Acceleration is proportional to displacement. Maximum at amplitude, zero at equilibrium.

↑ Menu

II. Period

Period - time for one full

determined by .... and

$$T = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}$$

III. Energy Changes – Conservation of Energy

Energy Conservation Diagram

PE at C equals .....

Ex) Mass M is attached to a spring with a spring constant k. If the maximum displacement of a mass M from its equilibrium position is A, find the velocity of the mass at B:

Position as a function of time

$X = A \cos \theta$, [ when $t = 0, X = A$ ]

Since we can replace $\theta$ with $\omega t$.

$$X = A \cos(\omega t)$$

Where A is amplitude, T is period, and t is time.

$X = A \cos([\text{______}]t)$

$X = A \cos([\text{_____}]t)$

Graph Analysis

What is the Amplitude? Period?

Waveform Wave A Waveform Wave B

Sample Problems

Do Problems 1 - 5, 8 - 12

1. Where is the block located when its velocity is a maximum in magnitude?

Spring Oscillator Diagram
A) x = 0
B) x = ±A
C) x = +A/2
D) x = -A/2

2. Where is the block located when its potential energy is a maximum?

A) x = 0
B) x = ±A
C) x = +A/2
D) x = -A/2

3. Where is the block located when its acceleration is a minimum in magnitude?

A) x = 0
B) x = ±A
C) x = +A/2
D) x = -A/2

4. What is the period of the system if the amplitude is doubled?

A) 2T
B) 4T
C) T
D) 1/2T

5. What is the period of the system when it is located on the Moon?

A) 6T
B) T/6
E) T
D) $T/\sqrt{6}$

Free Response Problems

1. Potential Energy Graph Analysis

A 0.4 kg object is attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with the total energy of 0.2 J. The potential energy as a function of position presented by the graph below:

PE Graph Analysis
  1. What is the amplitude of oscillations?
  2. What is the spring constant?
  3. What is the kinetic energy of the system at point x = 2.5 cm?
  4. Indicate point or points where the kinetic energy equals the potential energy of the system.
  5. What is the maximum speed of the object?

2. Kinetic Energy Graph Analysis

A 0.20 kg object attached to a horizontal spring undergoes SHM with total energy of 0.40 J. The kinetic energy as a function of position presented by the graph below:

KE Graph Analysis
  1. What is the maximum displacement from equilibrium?
  2. What is the maximum speed of the object?
  3. What is the spring constant?
  4. Indicate point or points where the kinetic energy equals the potential energy of the system.
  5. What is the potential energy of the system at point x = 2 cm?

S.H.M. – Pendulum

(T) Period of a Pendulum

Finding the height of a pendulum with a length of L and an angle $\theta$:

Pendulum Length L Pendulum Height h
$$T_p = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}$$

Pendulum MCQ Set

1. If the mass of the pendulum is doubled what is the new period of the pendulum?

A) T/2
B) 2T
C) T
D) $\sqrt{2}T$

2. If the length of the pendulum is doubled what is the new period of the pendulum?

A) T/2
B) 2T
C) T
D) $\sqrt{2}T$

3. What is the length of a simple pendulum if it oscillates with a period of 2.0 s?

Pendulum Period Image
A) 2.0 m
B) 1.0 m
C) 0.5 m
D) 0.1 m

4. Displaced up by a distance 0.2 m. What is the maximum speed?

Pendulum Speed Lift
A) 1 m/s
B) 2 m/s
C) 3 m/s

5. Speed of the ball at the lowest point?

A) $\sqrt{2gL}$
B) $\sqrt{2gL(1-\cos\theta)}$
C) $\sqrt{gL}$

Free Response: Collisions

3. Clay-Pendulum Collision

A 20. g piece of clay moving at a speed of 50. m/s strikes a 500. g pendulum bob at rest. The length of a string is 0.80 m. After the collision, the clay-bob system starts to oscillate as a simple pendulum.

Clay Collision Diagram
  1. What is the speed of the clay-bob system after the collision?
  2. What is the maximum angular displacement of the pendulum?
  3. What is the period of the clay-bob oscillating system?
  4. What is the total energy of the oscillating system?

The pendulum bob makes one complete oscillation and the string breaks at the lowest point.

  1. What is the maximum horizontal distance of the bob when it strikes the floor 0.70 m below?

4. Inelastic Spring Collision

A small block moving with a constant speed v collides inelastically with a block M attached to a spring k. Find speed and amplitude after collision:

Spring Collision Diagram

Instructional Video II & Wave Analysis

6. A second identical spring k is added in parallel. What is the period of oscillations?

Parallel Springs
A) 2T
B) $T/\sqrt{2}$
C) $\sqrt{2}T$

7. If the mass in each system is doubled, which of the following is true about the new period?

Mass-springSimple pendulum
C) $\sqrt{2}T$
$T$
A) $T$
$T$

8. Formula: $x = (0.1\text{ m})\sin(4\pi t)$. What is the period?

A) 0.5 s
B) 1 s
C) 2 s

9. Formula: $x = (0.5\text{ m})\cos(\pi t)$. What is the amplitude?

A) 0.5 m
B) 1 m

10. Identify velocity and acceleration at the time 1.5 s from graph below:

Graph Analysis 1.5s
D) $v > 0, a = 0$
B) $v = 0, a = 0$

11. Which is true about the amplitude and period from graph below?

Amplitude Period Graph
AmplitudePeriod
D) 1 m
0.8 s
A) 2 m
0.4 s

12. An object oscillates at the end of a spring. The position as a function of time is presented by the graph. Which of the following formulas represent the position and velocity of the object?

Final Matching Graph
A) $x = (0.5)\sin(\pi t)$ $v = (0.5\pi)\sin(\pi t)$
B) $x = (0.5)\sin(\pi t)$ $v = (0.5\pi)\cos(\pi t)$
C) $x = (0.5)\cos(\pi t)$ $v = (0.5\pi)\sin(\pi t)$
D) $x = (0.5\pi)\sin(\pi t)$ $v = (0.5)\sin(\pi t)$
Teacher CER Answer Key
Final Answers: 10:D, 11:D, 12:B.

↑ Menu