Problem Set 14: Oscillations

AP Physics C Supplementary Problems

1. An oscillator consists of a block of mass 0.50 kg connected to a spring. When set

into oscillation with amplitude 35 cm, it is observed to repeat its motion every
0.50 s. Find (a) the period, (b) the frequency, (c) the angular frequency, (d) the
spring constant, (e) the maximum speed, and (f) the maximum force exerted on
the block.

2. A 20 N weight is hung from the bottom of a vertical spring, causing the spring to
stretch 20 cm. (a) Calculate the spring constant. This spring is now placed
horizontally on a frictionless table. One end of it is held fixed and the other end is
attached to a 5.0 N weight. The weight is then moved, stretching the spring an
additional 10 cm, and released from rest. (b) Calculate the period of oscillation.

3. A body oscillates with the simple harmonic motion according to the equation

x = (6.0m) cos[(3πrad / s )t + π rad ] .

3

Calculate a) the displacement, (b) the velocity, (c) the acceleration, and (d) the
phase at the time t = 2.0 s. Find also (e) the frequency and (f) the period of
motion.

4. A particle executes linear harmonic motion about the point x = 0. At t = 0, it has

displacement x = 0.37 cm and zero velocity. The frequency of the motion is 0.25
Hz. Determine a) the period, (b) the angular frequency, (c) the amplitude, (d) the
displacement at time t, (e) the velocity at time t, (f) the maximum speed, (g) the
maximum acceleration, (h) the displacement at t = 3.0 s, and (i) the speed at t =
3.0 s.

5. A 0.10 kg block slides back and forth along a straight line on a smooth horizontal
surface. Its displacement from the origin is given by

x = (10cm) cos[(10rad / s )t + π rad ] .

2

(a) Calculate the oscillation frequency. (b) Calculate the maximum speed
acquired by the block. At what value x does this occur? (c) Calculate the
maximum acceleration of the block. At what value of x does this occur? (d)
What force must be applied to the block to give it this motion?

Problems selected from Halliday, D., & Resnick, R. (1993). Fundamentals of Physics (4th ed.). New
York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Oscillations 2

6. Two blocks (m = 1.0 kg and M = 10 kg) and a spring (k = 200 N/m) are arranged
on a horizontal, frictionless surface as shown below. The coefficient of static
friction between the two blocks is 0.40. Calculate the maximum possible
amplitude of the simple harmonic motion if no slippage is to occur between the
blocks.

m
k

7. An oscillator consists of a block attached to a spring (k = 400 N/m). At some

time t, the position (measured from the equilibrium location), velocity, and
acceleration of the block are x = 0.10 m, v = -13.6 m/s, a = -123 m/s2. Calculate
(a) the frequency, (b) the mass of the block, and (c) the amplitude of the
oscillation.

8. Two particles oscillate in simple harmonic motion along a common straight line
segment of length A. Each particle has a period of 1.5 s but they differ in phase
by π/6 radians. (a) How far apart are they (in terms of A) 0.50 s after the lagging
particle leaves one end of the path? (b) Are they moving in the same direction or
in opposite directions at this time?

9. Two identical springs are attaced to a block of mass m and to fixed supports as
shown below. Show that the frequency of oscillation on the frictionless surface is

1 2k
f = .
2π m

k k

m
Oscillations 3

10. A block weighing 14 N, which slides without friction on a 40o incline, is

connected to the top of the incline by a light spring of unstretched length 0.45 m
and force constant 120 N/m, as shown below. (a) How far from the top of the
incline does the block rest in equilibrium? (b) If the block is displaced slightly
down the incline, what is the period of the ensuing oscillations?

40o

11. An oscillating bock-spring system has a mechanical energy of 1.0 J, an amplitude

of 0.10 m, and a maximum speed of 1.2 m/s. Find (a) the force constant of the
spring, (b) the mass, and (c) the frequency of oscillation.

12. When the displacement is one-half the amplitude xm, what fraction of the total
energy is (a) kinetic and (b) potential in simple harmonic motion? (c) At what
displacement, in terms of the amplitude, is the energy half kinetic and half
potential?

13. A 3.0 kg particle is in simple harmonic motion in one dimension and moves
according to the equation

x = (5.0m) cos[(π rad / s )t − π rad ] .

3 4

(a) At what value of x is the potential energy equal to half the total energy? (b)
How long does it take the particle to move to this position from the equilibrium
position?

14. The balance wheel of a watch vibrates with an angular amplitude of π rad and a
period of 0.50 s. Find (a) the maximum angular speed of the wheel, (b) the
angular speed of the wheel when its displacement is π/2 rad, and (c) the angular
acceleration of the wheel when its displacement is π/4 rad.

15. Calculate the length of a simple pendulum that marks seconds by completing a
full cycle every 2 s.
Oscillations 4

16. Two oscillating systems that you have studied are the block-spring and the simple
pendulum. There is an interesting relation between them. Suppose that you have
a weight on the end of a spring, and when the weight is in equilibrium, the spring
is stretched a distance h. Show that the frequency of this block-spring system is
the same as that of a simple pendulum whose length is h.

17. A simple pendulum with length L is swinging freely with small angular
amplitude. As the pendulum passes its central or equilibrium position, its cord is
suddenly and rigidly clamped at its midpoint. In terms of the original period of
the pendulum T, what will the new period be?

18. A stick of uniform density and length L oscillates as a physical pendulum, pivoted
about point O. (a) Derive an expression for the period of the pendulum in terms
of L and x, the distance from the point of support to the center of gravity of the
pendulum. (b) Show that, if L = 1.00 m, the period will have a minimum value
for x = 28.87 cm. (c) Show that, at a site where g = 9.800 m/s2, this minimum
value is 1.525 s.

x
CM
Oscillations 5

Answers:
1. a) 0.50 s b) 2.0 Hz c) 12.6 rad/s
d) 79.4 N/m e) 4.4 m/s f) 27.8 N
2. a) 100 N/m b) 0.45 s
3. a) 3.0 m b) -49 m/s c) -266 m/s2
d) 20 rad e) 1.5 Hz f) 0.67 s
4. a) 4s b) 1.57 rad/s c) 0.37 cm
d) (0.37cm) cos[(π rad / s )t ] e) (−0.58cm / s ) sin[(π rad / s )t ]
2 2
f) 0.59 cm/s g) 0.91 cm/s2 h) 0 cm
i) 0.58 cm/s
5. a) 1.6 Hz b) 100 cm/s at 0 cm c) 1000 cm/s2 at ± 10 cm
d) (−1N ) cos[(10rad / s )t + π rad ]
2
6. 0.22 m
7. a) 5.58 Hz b) 0.325 kg c) 0.40 m
8. a) 0.18A b) same direction (both having negative velocity)
9. proof
10. a) 0.525 m b) 0.69 s
11. a) 200 N/m b) 1.4 kg c) 1.9 Hz
12. a) 75% b) 25% c) 0.71A
13. a) 3.5 m b) 0.74 s
14. a) 39.5 rad/s b) -34.2 rad/s c) -124 rad/s2
15. 0.99 m
16. proof
17. 0.707T
L2 + 12 x 2
18. a) 2π b) proof c) proof
12 gx