Lesson 13.1.1

13.1.1 Conditions and equations for simple harmonic motion Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 13

20 questions

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Lesson 13.1.1, Conditions and equations for simple harmonic motion: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 13: Oscillations, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the condition for simple harmonic motion?

    • The restoring force is proportional to displacement and points to equilibrium, F = -kx.
    • The force is constant in size and always points in the same direction throughout the motion.
    • The object moves at constant speed in a circle, with a force that does no work.
    • The force is proportional to the square of the displacement and points away from equilibrium.

  2. In the equation F = -kx, what does the negative sign show?

    • The displacement is always negative.
    • The force acts opposite to the displacement, towards the equilibrium position.
    • The force is always zero at the equilibrium position.
    • The spring has negative mass.

  3. Which relationship links the angular frequency ω to the period T?

    • ω = T^2 / (2 π)
    • ω = T / (2 π)
    • ω = 2 π / T
    • ω = 2 π T

  4. What is the period of a mass-spring oscillator of mass m and spring constant k?

    • T = sqrt(m / k)
    • T = 2 π sqrt(m / k)
    • T = 2 π m / k
    • T = 2 π sqrt(k / m)

  5. Which factor does the period of a simple pendulum for small angles NOT depend on?

    • The length of the string
    • The value of g
    • The square root of the length
    • The mass of the bob

  6. A mass of 0.50 kg is on a spring of stiffness 200 N m^-1. What is its period of oscillation?

    • 0.063 s
    • 0.31 s
    • 0.0050 s
    • 1.6 s

  7. A simple pendulum of length 1.0 m is at a place where g = 9.81 m s^-2. What is its period for small swings?

    • 4.0 s
    • 0.32 s
    • 2.0 s
    • 1.0 s

  8. An oscillator has angular frequency 12.6 rad s^-1 and displacement 0.050 m. What is its acceleration?

    • -2.0 m s^-2
    • -79 m s^-2
    • -0.79 m s^-2
    • -7.9 m s^-2

  9. A system oscillates at frequency 5 Hz. What is its angular frequency?

    • 0.2 rad s^-1
    • 10 rad s^-1
    • 5 rad s^-1
    • about 31 rad s^-1

  10. A spring extended by 0.030 m has spring constant 150 N m^-1. What is the restoring force?

    • 4.5 N
    • 5000 N
    • 0.2 N
    • 450 N

  11. A 0.20 kg mass oscillates on a spring with period 0.40 s. What is the spring constant?

    • about 197 N m^-1
    • about 4.9 N m^-1
    • about 49 N m^-1
    • about 0.13 N m^-1

  12. What length of simple pendulum gives a period of 1.0 s, using g = 9.81 m s^-2?

    • 0.50 m
    • 1.0 m
    • 0.10 m
    • 0.25 m

  13. Which situation is an example of simple harmonic motion?

    • A satellite moving in a circular orbit at constant speed.
    • A ball thrown vertically upwards and falling back under gravity.
    • A small mass on a spring that obeys Hooke's law, oscillating about its equilibrium.
    • A bouncing ball that loses height after each bounce.

  14. Why is a simple pendulum only approximately simple harmonic?

    • Gravity is not constant during the swing because the bob moves towards the Earth's core.
    • The string stretches by a large amount during each swing, which changes its length.
    • The restoring force is proportional to sin(θ), not θ, so SHM is approximate.
    • The bob's mass changes during each swing as it moves through the air and loses energy.

  15. A pendulum swings with a larger amplitude. Its period is found to increase slightly. Why?

    • The restoring force is no longer proportional to displacement, so SHM fails.
    • The bob gains mass at larger amplitudes, which increases its inertia and lengthens the period.
    • Gravity decreases at large amplitudes because the bob rises higher above the lowest point.
    • The string becomes shorter at large amplitudes because it bends and curls inward.

  16. If the amplitude of a simple harmonic oscillator is doubled, by what factor does its total energy change?

    • 2
    • 1/2
    • 4
    • 8

  17. Two identical springs are connected in parallel to a mass. How does the period change compared with a single spring?

    • It is multiplied by sqrt(2), since the effective stiffness halves.
    • It is doubled, since two springs take twice as long.
    • It is halved, since the mass is shared.
    • It is multiplied by 1/sqrt(2), since the effective stiffness doubles.

  18. What is a restoring force in SHM?

    • A force that acts away from the equilibrium position.
    • A force that depends only on the velocity of the object.
    • A force that acts towards the equilibrium position and grows with displacement.
    • A constant force that never changes direction.

  19. Which quantity is directly proportional to displacement in SHM?

    • Velocity
    • Acceleration (with a negative sign)
    • Period
    • Frequency

  20. Which quantity is independent of the amplitude in SHM?

    • The maximum acceleration
    • The period
    • The maximum speed
    • The total energy

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