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SHM-HW 1 - SOLUTIONS
1. In simple harmonic motion, the restoring force must change the same way as:
a. amplitude c. velocity e. distance squared
b. frequency d. distance

2. Tripling the displacement from equilibrium of an object in simple harmonic motion will change the object’s maximum acceleration
by what factor?
a. one-third c. 3
b. 1 d. 9
3. What is the period of a 4.12 m long pendulum?
a. 2.01 s c. 4.07 s
b. 3.11 s d. 9.69 s

4. Three pendulums, with masses m1, m2 = 2m1, and m3 = 3m1, have the same shape and length and are suspended at the same
point. Rank them according to their periods, from shortest to longest.
a. 1, 2, 3 b. 3, 2, 1 c. 2, 3, 1 d. 2, 1, 3 e. All the above
are the same

5. How does the restoring force acting on a pendulum bob change as the bob swings from maximum distance toward the
equilibrium position, and then passing through the equilibrium position to the other side? How do the bob’s acceleration (along
the direction of the motion) and velocity change?

Let’s say it starts at A;

From A to B restoring force decreases, therefore acceleration decreases, but speed is increasing.
At B: speed is maximum, restoring force and acceleration is zero.
From B to C restoring force increases, therefore acceleration increases, but in opposite direction then before
(from A to B), so speed is decreasing.

6. A clown is rocking on a rocking chair in the dark. His glowing red nose moves back and forth a distance of 0.42 m exactly 30
times a minute, in a simple harmonic motion.
a. What is the amplitude of this motion?
b. What is the period of this motion?
c. What is the frequency of this motion?
A = d/2 = 0.21 m f = 30/60 Hz = 0.5 Hz T = 1/f = 2s f = 0.5 Hz

7. Is every periodic motion SHM? Explain.

No; if a periodic motion is caused by restoring force, that motion is still not SHM unless restoring increases the same way as
distance.

8. A mass moves in simple harmonic motion with amplitude A and period T. How long does it take for the mass to move a distance
of 2A? A distance 3A?
T/2 ; 3 T/4

9. A mass moves in simple harmonic motion with amplitude A and period T. How much distance does it cover in the timeT? In the
time 5T/2?
The mass travels a distance 4A in the time T and a distance 10A in the time 5T/2.

10. An object oscillating with simple harmonic motion completes a cycle in time T. If the objects amplitude is doubled, the time
required for one cycle is still T, even though the object covers twice the distance. How can this be? Explain.
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The period remains the same because, even though the distance traveled by the object is doubled, its speed at any given time
is also doubled.

SHM-HW 2 - SOLUTIONS
1.By what factor should the length of a simple pendulum be changed if the period of vibration were to be tripled?
T2 L 3T1 L L2 L2
 2  2 3 9
T1 L1 T1 L1 L1 L1

a. 3 c. 9
b. 6 d. 27

2. On the planet Xenos, an astronaut observes that a 1.00 m long pendulum has a period of 1.50 s. What is the free-fall
acceleration on Xenos?
L 2
g  4 L / T
2
g = 17.3 m/s2
T  2
g

3. An object attached to one end of a spring makes 20 vibrations in 10 seconds. Its frequency is:
f = 2 Hz

4. A block attached to a spring oscillates in simple harmonic motion along the x axis. The limits of its motion are x = 10 cm and x =
50 cm and it goes from one of these extremes to the other in 0.25 s. Its amplitude and frequency are:

a. 40 cm, 2 Hz b. 20 cm, 4 Hz c. 40 cm, 2 Hz d. 25 cm, 4 Hz e. 20 cm, 2 Hz

5. A basketball player dribbles a ball with a steady period of T seconds. Is the motion of the ball periodic?
Is it simple harmonic? Explain.
The motion is periodic. It is not simple harmonic, however, because the position and velocity of the ball do not vary sinusoidally
with time.

6. A grandfather clock keeps correct time at sea level. If the clock is taken to the top of a nearby high mountain,
would you expect it to (i) keep correct time, (ii) run slow, or (iii) run fast? Explain.
Since gravity is usually weaker on top of a mountain, the period of the pendulum would increase. As a result the clock would run
slow.

7. A pendulum of length L has a period T. How long must the pendulum be if its period is to be 2T?
The length of the pendulum must be increased to 4L.

8. Suppose you were kidnapped and held prisoner by space invaders in a completely isolated room, with nothing but a watch and a
pair of shoes (including two shoelaces of known length). Explain how you might determine whether this room is on Earth or
somewhere else (Moon ?)?
For small angles, the period, T, of a simple pendulum is given by T  2 L / g where L is the length of the pendulum.
You could use one of the shoelaces and one of the shoes to make a pendulum. You could then set the pendulum into oscillation
and use the watch to measure the period of the pendulum. g = 42 L/T2 If the value is close to 9.80 m/s2, then it can be
concluded that the room is on Earth. If the value is close to 1.6 m/s 2, then it can be concluded that the room is on the moon. If
neither, you are lost in space. Can’t even wait for a new colony on the Moon.

9. Suppose two people are swinging on identical playground swings that are next to one another. They are talking to each other as
the swings move back and forth in synchronism. Why do the swings remain synchronized, even though the two people have
different masses.

Period of a pendulum depends only on its length and g. In this case the lengths are equal, therefore periods are equal.

10. How is it possible for some opera singers to shatter a crystal goblet with their voices?
If they hit the natural frequency, the amplitude of the oscillations of the crystal goblet could increase dramatically if they sing for
some extended period of time.
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SHM – HON – HW 3 – SOLUTIONS
1. F = kx = (53 N/m)(0.8m) = 42 N
2. no change. Period of the block-spring does not depend on gravitational acceleration

3. Which ones of the following statements is true concerning an object executing simple harmonic motion?
A) Its velocity is never zero. TRUE at the ends
B) Its acceleration is never zero. TRUE in the middle
C) Its velocity and acceleration are simultaneously zero. NEVER
D) Its velocity is zero when its acceleration is a maximum. TRUE
E) Its maximum acceleration is equal to its maximum velocity. NONSENSE

4. F = kx k = F/x = (20.0N)/(0.20m) = 100 N/m

m
T  2 T = 1.3 s
k

5. ω = π/3 x0 = 0.5 m magnitude v0 = ωx0 = 0.5 m/s

6. ω = π/3 ω = 2π f = 2π/T T = 2π/ω = 6 s

7. ω=6 magnitude v0 = ωx0 = 12 m/s x0 = 2.0 m

8. magnitude a0 = ω2x0 = (2.6)2(0.075) = 0.51 m/s2

9. magnitude a0 = ω2x0 x0 = a0/ω2 = (15.8 m/s2 ) / (2.51 rad/s)2

x0 = 2.51 m

10. KEmax = ½ kx2 KEmax = ½ (16 N/m)(0.25m)2 = 0.50 J

11. F = kx k = F/x = 10 N/m W = ½ kx2 = 0.8 J

12. EPE = ½ kx2 = ½ (40.0)(0.20)2 = 0.8 J EPE = KE = mgh

h = (0.8 J)/(0.50 kg)(9.81 m/s2) = 0.16 m

d = h/sin 300 = 0.32 m

13. EPE = ½ kx2 = KE = mgh = (0.025 N)(2.84 m) = 0.071 J

½ k (0.055 m)2 = 0.071 J k = 47 N/m

14. ½ mv2 = mgh ½ v2 = gh

h = 24 m – (242 – 4.52 )1/2 = 0.43
m
v = 2.9 m/s

15. C

16. A simple harmonic oscillator with a period of 2.0 s is subject to damping so that it loses one percent of its
amplitude per cycle. About how much energy does this oscillator lose per cycle?

   
2
E1  x02 E2  const. 0.9 x0  const. 0.81x02
2.0%
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m1 m2 T1 2.00 m1
17. T1  2  2.00 s T2  2    0.775 T2
k k T2 T2 m2
= 2.58 s

18. B
A) reduce the spring constant. INCREASE T, DECREASE f
B) decrease the mass of the block on the end of the spring.
.

19. E) Its acceleration is greatest when the mass has reached its maximum displacement.
ACCELERATION IS PROPORTIONAL TO DISPLACEMENT

20. x1 = 0.010 m
F = kx k = F/x k = (0.20)(9.81)/0.010 = 196.2 N/m

oscillations: x0 = 0.050 m ω = 2π f = 2π/T

m k
T  2  = 31.32 = 10π
k m
x = 5 cos (10π t)

21. at equilibrium position: x = 0

ME = EPE at maximum extension = max KE
ME = ½ kx2 = ½ (196.2 N/m)(0.05 m)2 = 0.25 J
½ m v2 = 0.25 v = 1.57 m/s = 157 cm/s

22. What is the maximum acceleration of the block?

magnitude a0 = ω2 x0 = (31.32)2 (0.05) = 49 m/s2

23. ME = EPE at maximum extension

ME = ½ kx2 = ½ (196.2 N/m)(0.05 m)2 = 0.25 J

24. x0 = 0.045 m ω = 2π f = 2π/T