Lesson 13.1.2

13.1.2 Displacement and velocity-time graphs of oscillations Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 13

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 13.1.2, Displacement and velocity-time graphs of oscillations: 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 does the gradient of a displacement-time graph give?

    • The acceleration at that point.
    • The period of the motion.
    • The displacement at that point.
    • The velocity at that point.

  2. What does the gradient of a velocity-time graph give?

    • The displacement at that point.
    • The frequency of the motion.
    • The energy of the oscillator.
    • The acceleration at that point.

  3. On a displacement-time graph for SHM, where is the velocity greatest?

    • At the equilibrium position, where the graph is steepest.
    • At the maximum displacement, where the graph is flat.
    • Velocity is the same at all points.
    • At zero displacement only in the first cycle.

  4. On a displacement-time graph for SHM, where is the acceleration greatest in magnitude?

    • At the maximum displacement, where the restoring force is largest.
    • At the equilibrium position, where the speed is largest.
    • At the midpoint between zero and maximum displacement only.
    • Acceleration is zero at all points.

  5. What is the phase relationship between velocity and displacement in SHM?

    • Velocity is always opposite to displacement.
    • Velocity lags displacement by a half cycle.
    • Velocity leads displacement by a quarter cycle (π/2).
    • Velocity and displacement are in phase.

  6. If x = A cos(ω t), what is the displacement at t = 0?

    • -A
    • 0
    • A ω
    • A

  7. A simple harmonic oscillator has x = 0.04 cos(2 π t) metres. What is its displacement at t = 0.25 s?

    • 0 m
    • 0.02 m
    • 0.04 m
    • -0.04 m

  8. For the same oscillator (x = 0.04 cos(2 π t) m), what is the maximum speed?

    • 0.25 m s^-1
    • 1.6 m s^-1
    • 0.13 m s^-1
    • 0.04 m s^-1

  9. For the same oscillator (x = 0.04 cos(2 π t) m), what is the maximum acceleration?

    • 9.8 m s^-2
    • 0.25 m s^-2
    • 1.6 m s^-2
    • 0.08 m s^-2

  10. An oscillator has period 2.0 s. What is the time between successive zero crossings of its displacement?

    • 1.0 s
    • 2.0 s
    • 4.0 s
    • 0.5 s

  11. A SHM oscillation has amplitude 3.0 cm and frequency 2.0 Hz. What is its maximum speed?

    • 0.19 m s^-1
    • 0.094 m s^-1
    • 0.38 m s^-1
    • 1.2 m s^-1

  12. For an oscillator with x = A sin(ω t), what is the velocity at t = 0?

    • A ω
    • A ω^2
    • -A ω
    • 0

  13. Why is the velocity of an oscillator zero at maximum displacement?

    • The period of the oscillation is zero at each extreme of its motion, so it stops.
    • The restoring force is zero at the extremes, which is why the object stops moving.
    • At maximum displacement the velocity is zero, so the object momentarily stops.
    • The object has zero mass at the extremes of its motion, so it stops for an instant.

  14. For x = 0.1 sin(3t) m, what is the maximum acceleration?

    • 0.9 m s^-2
    • 0.3 m s^-2
    • 2.7 m s^-2
    • 0.1 m s^-2

  15. For x = A cos(ω t), at what time does the displacement first become zero?

    • t = π / (2 ω)
    • t = π / (4 ω)
    • t = 2 π / ω
    • t = π / ω

  16. On an acceleration-displacement graph for SHM, what is the gradient?

    • ω^2
    • -ω^2
    • ω
    • -ω

  17. For SHM of amplitude A, what is the speed at displacement A/2, as a fraction of the maximum speed?

    • 0.25
    • 0.50
    • about 0.87
    • about 0.71

  18. What is the shape of a velocity-time graph for SHM compared with its displacement-time graph?

    • It is shifted by half a cycle so the peaks coincide with the displacement peaks.
    • It is shifted by a quarter cycle, so its peaks occur where the displacement is zero.
    • It is a straight line for all time.
    • It is identical in shape and in phase.

  19. Which graph is used to find the acceleration at a point in SHM?

    • A displacement-time graph, using its peak height
    • A velocity-time graph, using its gradient
    • An energy-time graph only
    • A displacement-time graph, using its area

  20. An oscillator has x = 0.02 sin(4t) m. What is its maximum acceleration?

    • 0.32 m s^-2
    • 0.08 m s^-2
    • 1.28 m s^-2
    • 0.02 m s^-2

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