FOR THE SERIOUS MIND’S
1. An object performs simple harmonic motion of amplitude 5cm and period
4s. If the object starts from the centre of the oscillation, calculate
i. The frequency of the oscillation. ANS=0.25Hz
ii. The displacement 0.5s after the start. ANS=3.54cm
iii. The maximum acceleration of the motion. ANS= 12.35cms2
iv. The velocity at a displacement of 3cm. ANS=±6.3cms-1
2. (a) State the conditions for an oscillatory motion to be considered simple
harmonic. ANS: The conditions for an oscillatory motion to be considered
simple harmonic motion are:
The acceleration must be directly proportional to the displacement from the
fixed point
The acceleration must always be directed towards the fixed point
The motion must be periodic
The motion must be repeated
The total energy must remain the same
The period of oscillation is constant
(b) A body of mass 0.3kg executes simple harmonic motion with period of
2.5s and amplitude of 0.04m. Determine
i. Maximum velocity of the body. ANS=0.1m/s
ii. Maximum acceleration of the body. ANS=0.25m/s2
3. A body of mass 200g is executing simple harmonic motion with an
amplitude of 20mm. The maximum force which acts upon it is 0.064N.
Calculate
i. Its period of oscillation. ANS=1.57s
ii. Its maximum velocity. ANS=0.08m/s
4. (a) In what direction does the force that keeps a body in simple harmonic
motion takes. ANS=The acceleration of simple harmonic motion is always
directed towards the fixed point. Since it is the force that provides
acceleration, then for simple harmonic motion, the force is also directed
always towards the fixed point.
(b) A body performing simple harmonic motion has an amplitude of 2cm
and a frequency of 15Hz. If the initial angular phase angle is 20°
i. Write down the equation of motion if the body performs simple harmonic
motion. ANS: X=0.02sin(30πt +π/9)
ii. Calculate the maximum velocity. ANS=1.9m/s
5. (a) Write down the expression for the velocity of a body performing
simple harmonic motion.
(b) A particle performs simple harmonic motion in a straight line about a
centre C. When displacements from C are 5cm and 13cm, its velocities are
25cm/s and 7cm/s respectively.
i. Find the amplitude. ANS=13.46cm
ii. What is the period of motion. ANS=3.143s
6. The displacement of a particle of mass 0.2kg executing simple harmonic
motion is indicated by the equation x=10sin [πt/3-π/12]. Calculate the:
i. Angular velocity
ii. Amplitude
iii. Maximum velocity
iv. Maximum acceleration
v. Phase angle
vi. Phase difference
vii.Displacement
viii. Velocity
ix. Acceleration
x. Total energy
7. A body vibrates in simple harmonic motion with a frequency of 50Hz and
amplitude of 4cm. Find
(a) The period. ANS= 0.02s
(b) The acceleration at the middle and at the end of the path of oscillation.
ANS=4x103m/s2 (at the end) and 0 at the middle
(c) The velocities at the middle and at the end of path of oscillation. ANS=4πm
(at the middle and 0m/s at the end of path of oscillation)
(d) The velocity and acceleration at a distance of 2cm from the centre of
oscillation. ANS=10.88m/s, 1973.92m/s2
8. (a) Define simple harmonic motion. ANS= Is defined as the motion of a
particle whose acceleration is always directed towards a fixed point and is
directly proportional to its displacement from the point.
(b) Sketch and explain the variation of potential energy and kinetic energy
with displacement, on the axes, for a particle executing simple harmonic
motion.
9. (a) State two conditions for an oscillatory motion to be considered simple
harmonic. ANS
The acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement from the fixed
point along its path
The acceleration is directed towards the fixed point
there is always a restoring force
(b) Give two examples of systems that can be caused to perform simple
harmonic motion. ANS
A loaded spiral spring
A loaded test tube floating in a liquid
A cantilever
The balance wheel of a clock or watch
Simple pendulum
Tuning fork
Bifilar suspension
(c) A body of mass 0.3kg is made to perform simple harmonic motion with
a period of 2.50s and amplitude of 0.04m. Calculate the maximum
i. Velocity of the particle. ANS=0.1m/s
ii. Acceleration of the particle. ANS=0.25m/s2
iii. Energy associated with the motion. ANS=0.0015J
10. (a) Write expression for the velocity of a body performing simple
harmonic motion.
(b) Use the expression in above to deduce the velocities of the body at the
positions of equilibrium and maximum displacement.
11. A body of mass 0.5kg is attached to a vertical spring with a force constant
of 1.5x102Nm-1. The body is displaced vertically 2.0m below its
equilibrium position and released. If the subsequent motion of the body is
simple harmonic, calculate the
i. Period of motion
ii. Frequency of the motion
12. A body of mass 20g performs a simple harmonic motion at a frequency of
5Hz. At a distance of 10cm from the mean position, its velocity is
200cm/s. Calculate its.
i. Maximum displacement from the mean position
ii. Maximum velocity
iii. Maximum potential energy
13. Perform the following calculations on simple
(a) The period of a simple pendulum Q is 1.5s. Calculate the period of another
simple pendulum R which makes 500 vibrations in the time Q takes to execute
400 vibrations. ANS=1.20s
(b) A simple pendulum makes 50 complete oscillations in 100s. Calculate the
frequency of oscillations. ANS=0.5Hz
(c) The period of a swinging pendulum is 2.8s. Calculate the length of the
pendulum. [g=10m/s2, π=3.142]. ANS=1.99m
(d) A swinging pendulum has a period of T. if its length is doubled, the period
becomes.
(e) A body executing a simple harmonic motion has an angular speed of 2rad/s
and maximum displacement of 5cm. Determine the magnitude of its
acceleration. ANS=0.2m/s2
(f) The period of a simple pendulum X is 5s. What is the period of a simple
pendulum Y which makes 50 vibrations in the same time it takes X to make
20 vibrations?
(g) The period of a body in simple harmonic motion is 0.0025s. Calculate its
frequency. ANS=
Perform the following:
14. Perform the following:
i. Explain damped oscillation in relation to the motion of a simple pendulum.
ANS= In a damped oscillation, the amplitude of oscillation decreases
gradually with time because it loses its energy due to air resistance
ii. During a training session, two footballers pass a ball repeatedly between
themselves. Give two reasons why the to and fro motion of the ball is not
simple harmonic. ANS: Reasons why the to and fro motion of the ball is not
simple harmonic.
The acceleration is not directed towards a fixed point
The acceleration of the ball is not directly proportional to displacement
There is no equilibrium position
The restoring force is not directed towards the centre
15. An object of mass 0.4kg attached to the end of a string is whirled round in
a horizontal circle of radius 2.0m with a constant speed of 8m/s1. Calculate
the angular velocity of the object. ANS=4rad/s
16. The period of oscillation of a particle executing simple harmonic motion is
4π seconds. If the amplitude of oscillation is 0.3m, calculate the maximum
speed of the particle. ANS=1.5m/s
17. A body moving with simple harmonic motion in a straight line has
velocity, V and acceleration, a, when the instantaneous displacement, x in
cm, from its maximum position is given by x=2.5sin0.4πt, where t is in
seconds. Determine the magnitude of the maximum
i. Velocity. ANS=
ii. Acceleration. ANS=
18. d
19. d
20. d
