Chapter 3 - Simple Harmonic Motion

Question 1

What is meant by the amplitude of an Oscillation?

Answer 1

The maximum displacement of the oscillating object from equilibrium.

Question 2

What is meant by the equilibrium position?

Answer 2

The lowest point of the oscillation. The position where the speed is at its maximum and where the acceleration is zero.

Question 3

What is meant by the Time Period of an oscillation?

Answer 3

The time for one complete cycle of oscillations.

Question 4

What is meant by the Frequency of an oscillation?

Answer 4

The number of cycles per second made by the oscillating object.

Question 5

What is meant by Phase Difference?

Answer 5

The amount by which two cyclical motions of the same frequency, are out of step with each other.

Question 6

During simple harmonic motion, the variation of velocity against time is given by the gradient of…?

Answer 6

Displacement against time

Question 7

During simple harmonic motion, the variation of acceleration against time is given by the gradient of…?

Answer 7

Velocity against time

Question 8

Simple harmonic motion is defined as oscillating motion in which the acceleration is proportional to the ______ and always in the opposite direction to the ______?

Answer 8

Displacement

Question 9

Maximum displacement = ±_____?

Answer 9

Amplitude

Question 10

During simple harmonic motion, the acceleration is always in the opposite direction to the ________?

Answer 10

Displacement

Question 11

What is the name of the resultant force acting on the object towards the equilibrium?

Answer 11

Restoring force

Question 12

During oscillation, where does the Restoring force (Or resultant force) act towards?

Answer 12

Towards the equilibrium position

Question 13

During oscillation of a mass-spring system, how can you reduce the frequency?

Answer 13

Adding extra mass OR Using weaker springs

Question 14

During a mass-spring system oscillation, what provides the Restoring force?

Answer 14

The Tension in the spring

Question 15

During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the tension in the spring equal to?

Answer 15

Tension = kΔL (Where ΔL is the extension and k is the spring constant)

Question 16

During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the restoring force on the object equal to?

Answer 16

-kx (Where x is the displacement of the mass relative to the equilibrium point and k is the spring constant)

Question 17

During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the acceleration equal to?

Answer 17

a = restoring force/mass = -kx/m

Question 18

During a mass-spring system oscillation, where is the Tension at a maximum?

Answer 18

When the mass is at its amplitude

Question 19

During a mass-spring system oscillation, between what two values do the tension vary from?

Answer 19

mg + kA to mg - kA

Question 20

During a mass-spring system oscillation, where is the Tension at a minimum?

Answer 20

At the equilibrium point

Question 21

During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the Time Period equal to?

Answer 21

Time Period = 1/f = 2π√(m/k) = 2π√(L/g)

Question 22

What is the definition of a free oscillation?

Answer 22

An oscillation with constant amplitude (Because no friction is acting on it)

Question 23

During a free oscillation, what do the only forces acting on it combine to make?

Answer 23

The restoring force

Question 24

During a free oscillation on a mass-spring system, what do the Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy add together to make? (At all times)

Answer 24

1/2kA² (Where A is the Amplitude and k is the spring constant) which is the same as the potential energy at maximum displacement and the Kinetic energy at zero displacement.

Question 25

During a free oscillation, what shape would the Potential energy give?

Answer 25

A parabola

Question 26

During a free oscillation, what shape would the Kinetic energy give?

Answer 26

An inverted parabola

Question 27

Describe Light Damping

Answer 27

Reducing an oscillation by reducing the Amplitude by a small amount after each cycle. Light Damping can take a long time to stop an oscillation completely.

Question 28

Describe Heavy Damping

Answer 28

Reducing an oscillation by reducing the Amplitude by a moderate amount after each cycle. Heavy Damping stops an oscillation to Equilibrium quicker than Light Damping.

Question 29

Describe Critical Damping

Answer 29

Reducing an oscillation by stopping the system after it has been displaced and released from Equilibrium. Critical Damping prevents the system from oscillating. Critical Damping stops the system oscillating in the shortest time possible.

Question 30

Describe Overdamping

Answer 30

Reducing an oscillation by stopping the system after it has been displaced. Overdamping prevents the system from oscillating. However, it takes longer to return the system to equilibrium than Critical Damping.

Question 31

In terms of Oscillations, what is meant by resonance?

Answer 31

When the applied frequency to an Oscillation is equal to its natural frequency

Question 32

In terms of Oscillations, what is meant by a periodic force?

Answer 32

A force applied at regular intervals

Question 33

When does an Oscillation undergo Forced Oscillations?

Answer 33

When a periodic force is applied to it

Question 34

What is meant by an Oscillation’s natural frequency?

Answer 34

The frequency a system Oscillates at without a periodic force being applied to it

Question 35

What is the Phase Difference between the displacement and periodic force during resonance?

Answer 35

½π

Question 36

During resonance, the ______ the damping, the _______ the amplitude becomes

Answer 36

1. Lighter/Heavier

2. Larger/Smaller

Question 37

As the applied frequency becomes increasingly larger than the natural frequency of a mass-spring system, the amplitude of oscillations ________ more and more

Answer 37

Decreases

Question 38

As the applied frequency becomes increasingly larger than the natural frequency of a mass-spring system, the Phase Difference ________ from ___ until the displacement is ____ radians out of phase with the periodic force

Answer 38

1. increases
2. ½π
3. π