Simple Harmonic Motion (A/L Combined Mathematics)

1. A particle of mass m is attached to one end of an elastic string of natural length a and modulus of elasticity . The other end of the
string is attached to a fixed point A on a smooth horizontal plane. Initially the particle is kept at rest at a distance 2a from the point A

and then released. Show that it is in a simple harmonic motion for a time

ma

2. A particle P of mass m which lies on a smooth plane is attached to one end of a light spring of natural length l and modulus
elasticity 2mg, whose other end is attached to a fixed point O on the plane. Initially the spring is unstreatched and the particle is
displaced a distance less than l, along the direction of OP and released. Prove that the displacement x of the particle at time t,

satisfies the equation

x +

2g
l

x = 0.If the greatest velocity of the particle is

gl
2 , find the amplitude of the motion.

3. One end of a light elastic string is attached to a fixed point of a ceiling and the other end to a particle which hangs in equilibrium
and causes an extension l in the string. The equilibrium of the particle is disturbed, at time t = 0, by giving it a velocity 2

gl

vertically downwards.
Prove that
(i) the maximum extension of the string is 3l.
(ii) the string becomes slack after a time

7
6

l
g .

(iii) the particle will not hit the ceiling, provided that the natural length of the string exceeds

(iv) the time needed to particle to reach its maximum height is

than

( 3+ 76 ) gl

3l
2

when the natural length of the string is greater

3l
2 .

4. A particle of mass m is attached to one end of a light elastic string of natural length l and the other end of the string is attached to a

fixed point O. When the particle hangs in equilibrium the extension of the string is

l
3 . Find the modulus of elasticity of the string.

The particle is held at the point distant

l
2

vertically below O, and is released from rest. Find the velocity of the particle when it

first reaches the point A distant l vertically below O. Let B be the lowest point reached by the particle. Show that, for the motion of the

x +

particle from A to B, the extension x of the string satisfies the equation

Assuming that the solution of the above equation is of the form x =

l
3

3g
l
x
l
3

( )

+ cos t

= 0.

+ sin t , find the values of

the constants , and . Hence, find the centre and the amplitude of the simple harmonic motion
performed by the particle from A to B.
Show that the particle reaches the point B after a time

l
2
1+
g
3 3

from the instant of release. (2013)

5. A and B are two points on a smooth horizontal table at a distance 8l apart. A smooth particle P of mass m lies at a point on AB in
between the points A and B. The particle P is attached to the point A by a light elastic string of natural length 3l and modulus of
elasticity 4 and to the point B by a light elastic string of natural length 2l and modulus of elasticity .
If the particle P is at equilibrium at a point C, show that AC =

42
11 l .

The particle P is held at the mid-point M of AB and then is released from rest. When the particle P is at a distance x from the point A
along AB, obtain tensions of the two strings
Write down the equation of motion of the particle P for

11
42 l
x
6 ml
11

40
11 .l x 4l and show, in the usual notation, that

= 0.

Assuming that the solution of the above equation is of the form y = A

Find the velocity of the particle P when it is at a point, distant

cos t

+B

sin t , find the constants A, B and .

41
11 l from the point A. ( 2012).
(P.T.O.)

6. A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of a light elastic string of natural length l. The other end of the string is attached to a
fixed point O at a height 4l from a horizontal floor. When the particle P hangs in equilibrium, the extension of the string is l. Show that
the modulus of elasticity of the string is mg. The particle P is now held at O and projected vertically downwards with a velocity

gl

. Find the velocity of the particle when it has fallen a distance l. Write down the equation of the motion for the particle P,

when the length of the string is 2l + x, where l x 2l, and show that

x +

g
l

x = 0, in the usual notation. Assuming that the

above equation gives

x 2

g
l

c2

x2

), where c (>0) is a constant, find c. Show that the particle P comes to

instantaneous rest when it reaches the floor and that the time taken from O to reach the floor is

1
3 (3

-3 + 2)

l
g

( 2011-A/L New)
5. One end of a light elastic string of natural length l is attached to a fixed point O of a ceiling. A particle P of mass m is attached to
the other end of the string. When the particle P hangs in equilibrium, the extension of the string is l. Show that the modulus of
elasticity of the string is mg.
While the particle P hangs in equilibrium, another particle Q of mass m is held at the point O and released from rest. The particle Q
moves vertically downwards along the string, under gravity, collides and coalesces with P. Show that the complete particle R
consisting of both particles P and Q will begin to move with velocity

gl

for the composite particle R, when the extension of the string is x and show that

writing y = x 2l show that

g
2l

vertically downwards. Obtain the equation of motion

g
x +
2l

y = 0. Assuming that the above equation gives

(x-2l) = 0 , in the usual notation. By

y 2 =

where c (>0) is a constant, find the value of c. Show that the maximum extension of the string is (2 +

g
2l

c2 -

y 2 ),

)l. When the composite

particle R reaches the lowest point, the particle Q suddenly drops out. Using the Principle of Conservation of Energy, find the velocity
with which the particle P hits the ceiling.
(2011- A/L Old)
6. A particle P of mass m is attached to one end of an elastic string of natural length l with the other end of the string being attached
to a fixed point O of a ceiling. If is the modulus of elasticity of the string, Show that, when the particle P hangs in equilibrium, the

mgl
. The string is now stretched by a further length b (>a) such the OP is vertical and

extension a of the string is given by a =

equal to l+a+b and the particle P is released from rest. When the length of the string is l+a+x, where a x b, write down the

equations of motion of the particle P and show that,

above equation is of the form x = A cos

g
a

t + B sin

g
a

g
a

x =o, in the usual notation. Assuming that the solution of the

t, find the constants A and B.

Show that, the particle P performs simple harmonic motion for a time

of the particle P at the time when it leaves simple harmonic motion is

a
+
g 2

( )

x 2+ y 2

sin 1

( ab )

and the velocity

b2a2
g
() upwards. Show also that, the particle P thereafter
a

moves under gravity and will strike the ceiling with non-zero velocity if b> a

7. A point P moves on the circle

where =

1+

2
mg . (2010)

a2 with uniform speed a. If Q is the foot of the perpendicular from P on Y-axis,

show that Q executes simple harmonic motion with period

2
.

A light spiral spring of natural length l is fixed at the lower end with its axis vertical. A particle of mass m placed at the upper end can
compress the spring a distance d(<l), when it is at rest. If the same particle is dropped on the upper end of the spring from a height h,
show that the particle will execute a simple harmonic motion with amplitude a=

In this motion, if the particle remains on the spring for at least an interval of time

d 2+ 2d h
3
2

, provided l a + d.

d
g , find the maximum value of

( hd )

(2009)
8. Two particles P and Q of masses m and 3m respectively, hang together in equilibrium at one end of a light elastic string of natural
length l, extending it to a length l+4a, the other end of the string being attached to a fixed point O. The particle Q suddenly falls off. If

the length of the string after a time t is l + x, obtain the equation

Given that x=a + b sin t +c cos t, where

d2 x g
+ x-a) =0, for x>0.
dt 2 a

g
a , is the solution of the above equation, find the values of the constants b

and c.
Find the maximum height reached by the particle P above the initial position and show that the time taken to reach this height is

a
g

{-+2

}, where is the acute angle

cos1

( 13 )

(2008) .

9. One end of a light elastic string of natural length l is attached to a fixed point O, while the other end of the string is attached to a

particle of mass m. When the particle hangs in equilibrium, the length of the string is

3l
2

. Find the modulus of elasticity of the

string.
The particle is pulled a distance a vertically down from its equilibrium position, and released from rest there. The displacement at
time t, of the particle, measured downwards from the equilibrium position is x. Show that

2g
d2 x
+ 2 x=0, where 2 =
2
l , so long as the string is taut.
dt
(i) In the case when a <

l
2 , find the period and the amplitude of the ensuing motion.

(ii) In the case when a =

l
2

l
l
cos1
2g
l+2 b

+b, where b> 0, show that the time taken for the string to first become slack is

)]

d2 x
2
+
2
dt

[You may assume that the solution of the equation

x=0 is x=Acost + Bsint; where A and B are constants to be

determined.] (2007)
10. One end of a string with natural length l and modulus mg is attached to a fixed point which is distance 2l away from one edge of a
smooth horizontal table. A particle P of mass m is attached to the other end of the string. The particle P is attached to a second
particle Q of mass m, using a light inelastic string. Initially Q is kept at the edge of the table so that OP = PQ = l and pushed away
gently to start movement of the system from rest. At time t, OP = l+x and, when P is on the table Q is distance x below the surface of
the table. Using the principle of conservation of mechanical energy or otherwise, show that

where

g
2l

x 2

[ l2( lx )2 ]

. Find the centre and amplitude of the on going simple harmonic motion of the particle P. Show that the

particle P, reaches the edge of the table when t =

l
2g

and find its speed at the time. (2006)

11. A thin light elastic string of natural length 4a and modulus of elasticity 8mg is fixed vertically at its lower end O. A particle p of

mass m is attached to its upper end P, is in equilibrium at a point A vertically above O. Show that OA=

7a
2 . Now another

particle Q of the same mass m is attached to P and the system is started moving from rest. Show that the equation of motion of the

combined object is

g
x =
a x , where x is the displacement of the combined object from the point B vertically above O such that

OB=3a.
Let the lowest point the system reach be C. Find the distance OC and the time taken by the combined object to travel from A to C.
When the combined particle is at C, the particle Q is just removed, show that the equation of motion of P in the resulting motion is

given by

2g
y
Y =
a

, where y is the displacement of P from A.

Assuming a solution Y=cost + sint for this equation , find the values of the constants , and .
Hence, show that the time taken by the particle P to move from C to D is

2a
g

,where D is the point vertically above O such

that OD=4a. Find also the speed of the particle P when it reaches D. (2014).
W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc. PG.Dip.M.Sc.)