AL Physics/S.H.M./P.

PLK VICWOOD K.T. CHONG SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

AL Physics Exercise
Simple Harmonic Motion

1. A 2.0 kg block is dropped from a height of 0.40 m onto a spring of force constant k =
1960 N/m. Find the maximum distance the spring will be compressed (neglect friction).
[0.1 m]

2. An object is attached to a vertical spring and slowly lowered to its equilibrium position.
This stretches the spring by an amount d. If the same object is attached to the same vertical
spring but permitted to fall instead, through what maximum distance does it stretch the
spring? [Double]

3. An ideal massless spring S can be compressed 1.0

m by a force of 100 N. This same spring is placed
at the bottom of a frictionless inclined plane which
M
makes an angle of θ = 30º with the horizontal Figure 3
(Figure 3). A 10 kg mass M is released from the
top of the incline and is brought to rest momentarily h
spring S
after compressing the spring 2.0 m. (a) Through
what distance does the mass slide before coming to 30º
rest? (b) What is the speed of the mass just before
it reaches the spring? [(a) 4.1 m (b) 4.5 m/s]

4. A massless spring of force constant 7.0 N/m is cut into halves. (a) What is the force
constant of each half? (b) The two halves are then suspended separately to form a parallel
springs system. What is the equivalent force constant of the springs system. [(a) 14 N/m
(b) 28 N/m]

5. Two springs are attached to a mass m and k1 k2

to fixed supports as shown in Figure 5.
m
Show that the equivalent force constant of
the springs system k = k 1 + k 2, where k 1
and k 2 are the force constant of the two Figure 5
springs.
d2x
6. The equation of motion of a oscillating system is given by = − bx , where b = 4 s-2.
dt 2
(a) Find the period of the oscillating system. (b) Write down the expressions for the time
variation of the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the system. [(a) 3.14 s]

7. A body oscillates with simple harmonic motion according to the equation x = (6.12
m)cos[(8.38 rad/s)t + 1.92 rad].
Find (a) the displacement, (b) the velocity, and (c) the acceleration at the time t = 1.90 s.
Find also (d) the frequency and (e) the period of the motion.
[(a) 3.27 m (b) 43.4 m/s (c) -229.5 m/s2 (d) 1.33 Hz (e) 0.75 s]

8. A 3.94-kg block extends a spring 15.7 cm from its unstretched position. The block is
removed and a 0.520-kg object is connected to the same spring. Find the period of its
oscillation. [289 ms]
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9. An oscillator consists of a block of mass 512 g connected to a spring. When set into
oscillation with amplitude 34.7 cm, it is observed to repeat its motion every 0.484 s. Find
(a) the period, (b) the frequency, (c) the angular frequency, (d) the force constant, (e) the
maximum speed, and (f) the maximum force exerted on the block. [(a) 0.484 s (b) 2.07
Hz (c) 13 rad/s (d) 86.3 N/m (e) 4.5 m/s (f) 30 N]

10. A 5.22-kg object is attached to a spring and set vibrating. The maximum speed of the
object is 15.3 cm/s and the period is 645 ms. Find (a) the force constant of the spring, (b)
the amplitude of the motion, and (c) the frequency of oscillation. [(a) 495 N/m; (b) 1.57
cm; (c) 1.55 Hz]

11. The piston in the cylinder head of a locomotive has a stroke of 76.5 cm. What is the
maximum speed of the piston if the drive wheels make 193 rev/min and the piston moves
with simple harmonic motion? [15.5 m/s]

12. A 2.14-kg object hangs from a spring. A 325-g body hung below the object stretches the
spring 1.80 cm farther. The 325-g body is removed and the object is set into oscillation.
Find the period of the motion. [0.69 s]

13. A massless spring of force constant 3.60 N/m is cut

into halves. (a) What is the force constant of each
half? (b) The two halves, suspended separately, Figure 13
support a block of mass M (see Figure 13). The
system vibrates at a frequency of 2.87 Hz. Find the
value of the mass M. [(a) 7.2 N/m (b) 0.044 kg]
M
14. Two springs are attached to a mass m and to fixed
supports as shown in Figure 14. (a) Show that the k1 k2
equivalent force constant of the spring system k = m
k 1 + k 2. (b) Find the frequency of oscillation of the
mass-spring system in terms of k 1, k 2 and m. [(b)
Figure 14
1 k1 + k 2
]
2π m

15. A stone is swinging in a horizontal circle 0.8 m in diameter, at 30 rev/min. A distant light
causes a shadow of the stone to be formed on a nearby wall. What is the amplitude of the
motion of the shadow? What is the frequency? What is the period? [0.4 m, 0.5 Hz, 2s]

16. A ball moves in a circular path of 0.15-m diameter with a constant angular speed of 20
rev/min. Its shadow performs simple harmonic motion on the wall behind it. Find the
acceleration and speed of the shadow (a) at a turning point of the motion, (b) at the
equilibrium position, and (c) at a point 6 cm from the equilibrium position. [(a) 0.329 m/s2,
0 m/s (b) 0 m/s2, 0.157 m/s (c) 0.263 m/s2, 0.0942 m/s]

17. A block of mass 2 kg hangs from a spring of force constant k = 800 N/m. The block is
pulled 20 cm from equilibrium and released. (a) What are the amplitude, angular frequency,
and period of the motion. (b) What are the velocity and acceleration of the block when it is
12 cm from equilibrium? [(a) 20 cm, 20 rad/s, 0.314 s (b) 4800 cm/s2, 320 cm/s]

18. When does the block of Problem 17 first reach the point 10 cm below the equilibrium
point? [π/60 s]
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19. A block of mass 4 kg hangs from a spring of force constant k = 400 N/m. The block is
pulled down 15 cm below equilibrium and released. (a) Find the amplitude, frequency, and
period of the motion. (b) Find the kinetic energy when the block is 10 cm above
equilibrium. [(a) 0.15 m, 5/π Hz, π/5 s (b) 2.5 J]

20. Refer to Problem 19. How long does it take the block to go from 12 cm below equilibrium
(on the way up) to 9 cm above equilibrium? [π/20 s]

21. A body of mass 36 g moves with shm of amplitude A = 13 cm and period T = 12 s. At

time t = 0 the displacement, x, is +13 cm. (a) Find the velocity when x = 5 cm. (b) Find
the force acting on the body when t = 2s. [(a) 6.28 cm/s (b) 6.4 × 10-4 N]

22. Refer to Problem 21. Find the shortest time of passage from x = +6.5 cm to x = -6.5 cm.
[2s]

23. Given that the equation of motion of a mass is x = 0.20 sin (3.0t) m, find the velocity and
acceleration of the mass when the object is 5 cm from its equilibrium position. Repeat for x
= 0. [0.58 m/s, -0.45 m/s2; 0.60 m/s, 0 m/s2]

24. A 12.3-kg particle is undergoing simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of 1.86 mm.
The maximum acceleration experienced by the particle is 7.93 km/s². (a) Find the period of
the motion. (b) What is the maximum speed of the particle? (c) Calculate the total
mechanical energy of this simple harmonic oscillator. [(a) 3.04 ms; (b) 3.84 m/s; (c) 90.7 J]

25. A 5.13-kg object moves on a horizontal frictionless surface under the influence of a spring
with force constant 9.88 N/cm. The object is displaced 53.5 cm and given an initial velocity
of 11.2 m/s back toward the equilibrium position. Find (a) the frequency of the motion, (b)
the initial potential energy of the system, (c) the initial kinetic energy, and (d) the amplitude
of the motion. [(a) 2.2 Hz; (b) 141.4 J; (c) 321.8 J; (d) 97 cm]

26. (a) When the displacement is one-half the amplitude, what fraction of the total energy is
kinetic and what fraction is potential in simple harmonic motion? (b) At what displacement
is the energy half kinetic and half potential? [(a) p.e. 1/4 , k.e. 3/4 ; (b) 0.7 × amplitude]

27. An oscillating block-spring system has a mechanical energy of 1.18 J, an amplitude of 9.84
cm, and a maximum speed of 1.22 m/s. Find (a) the force constant of the spring (b) the
mass of the block, and (c) the frequency of oscillation. [(a) 244 N/m; (b)1.59 kg; (c) 2.0
Hz]

28. An oscillator consists of a block attached to a spring (k = 456 N/m). At some time t, the
position (measured from the equilibrium location), velocity, and acceleration of the block are
x = 0.112 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 oscillation. [(a) 5.3 Hz; (b) 0.415 kg (c) 0.425 m]

29. Find the length of a simple pendulum whose period is 1.00 s at a location where g = 9.82
m/s². [24.9 cm]

30. A simple pendulum of length 1.53 m makes 72.0 complete oscillations in 180 s at a certain
location. Find the acceleration due to gravity at this point. [9.66 m/s2]

31. An object of mass 1.26 kg attached to a spring of force constant 5.38 N/cm is set into
oscillation by extending the spring 26.3 cm and giving the object a velocity of 3.72 m/s
 AL Physics/S.H.M./P.4

toward the equilibrium position of the spring. Calculate the amplitude of the resulting simple
harmonic motion. [31.9 cm]

32. A body of mass 100 g hangs from a long spiral spring. When pulled down 10 cm below its
equilibrium position and released, it vibrates with a period of 2 s. (a) What is its velocity as
it passes through the equilibrium position? (b) What is its acceleration when it is 5 cm
above the equilibrium position? (c) When it is moving upward, how much time is required
for it to move from a point 5 cm below its equilibrium position to a point 5 cm above it? (d)
How much will the spring shorten if the body is removed? [(a) 31.4 cm/s; (b) 49.3 cm/s2;
(c) 0.333 s; (d) 99.3 cm]

33. A block is on a piston that is moving vertically with simple harmonic motion. (a) At what
amplitude of motion will the block and the piston separate if the period of the piston’s
motion is 1.18 s? (b) If the piston has an amplitude of 5.12 cm in its motion, find the
maximum frequency for which the block and piston will be in contact continuously. [(a)
34.6 cm; (b) 2.2 Hz]

34. Two particles execute simple harmonic motion of the same amplitude and frequency along
the same straight line. They pass one another when going in opposite directions each time
their displacement is half their amplitude. Find the phase difference between them. [120º]

35. A force of 60 N stretches a certain spring 30 cm. A body of mass 4 kg is hung from this
spring and allowed to come to rest. It is then pulled down 10 cm and released. (a) What is
the period of the motion? (b) What are the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of
the body when it is 5 cm above the equilibrium position, moving upward? (c) What is the
tension in the spring when the body is 5 cm above the equilibrium position? (d) What is the
shortest time required to go from the equilibrium position to the point 5 cm above? (e) If a
small object were placed on the oscillating body, would it remain in contact with the body
or leave it? (f) If a small object were placed on the oscillating body and its amplitude
doubled, where would the object and the oscillating body begin to separate? [(a) 0.889 s
(b) 2.5 m/s2, downwards (c) 29.2 N (d) 0.074 s (e) remain in contact (f) 19.6 cm]

36. Two springs, each of unstretched length 0.2 m but having different force constants k 1 and k 2
are attached to opposite ends of a block of mass m on a level frictionless surface (Figure
37). The outer ends of the springs are now attached to two pins P1 and P2, 10 cm from the
original positions of the ends of the springs. Let k 1 = 1 N/m, k 2 = 3 N/m, m = 0.1 kg. (a)
Find the extension of each spring when the block is in its new equilibrium position, after the
springs have been attached to the pins. (b) Find the period of vibration of the block if it is
slightly displaced from its new equilibrium position and released. [(a) 0.05 m, 0.15 m (b)
0.99 s]

37. The block in problem 37 is oscillating with an amplitude of 0.05 m. At the instant it passes
through its equilibrium position, a lump of putty of mass 0.1 kg is dropped vertically onto the
block and sticks to it. (a) Find the new period and amplitude. (b) Was there a loss of
mechanical energy? If so, where did it go? (c) Would the answers be the same if the putty
had been dropped on the block when it was at one end of its path? [(a) 1.41 s, 3.53 cm;
(b) Yes, friction; (c) No]

0.1 m 0.1 m
0.2 m 0.2 m
P1 P2
m
k1 k2

Figure 37