PHYS 212 Fall12

CSULA

Chapter 15: Oscillatory Motion

Homework Assignment #1

Conceptual Problems
1.

A body oscillates with simple harmonic motion along the x-axis. Its displacement varies with time according to
the equation x = 5.0 cos (t). The acceleration (in m/s2) of the body at t = 1.0 s is approximately
a. 3.5

2.

d. 90

e. 4.3

b. 0.25

c. 0.50

d. 0.79

e. 1.0

A particle executes a SHM with an amplitude A. At what position x does its speed equal one half of its maximum
speed vmax?

3
A
4

a.
4.

c. 14

The motion of a particle connected to a spring is described by x = 10 sin (t). At what time (in s) is the potential
energy equal to the kinetic energy?
a. 0

3.

b. 49

3
A
2

b.

c.

3
A
4

3A

d.

2
3

e.

The mass in the figure slides on a frictionless surface. If m = 2 kg, k1 = 800 N/m and k2 = 500 N/m, the frequency
(f) of oscillation (in Hz) is approximately
a. 6

b. 2

c. 4

d. 8

e. 10

Open-Ended Problems
5.

The mat of a trampoline is held by 32 springs, each having a spring constant of 5000 N/m. A person with a mass
of 40.0 kg jumps from a platform 1.93 m high onto the trampoline. Determine the stretch of each of the springs.

6.

An ore car of mass 4000 kg starts from rest and rolls downhill on tracks from a mine. A spring with k = 400 000
N/m is located at the end of the tracks. At the springs maximum compression, the car is at an elevation 10 m
lower than its elevation at the starting point. How much is the spring compressed in stopping the ore car? Ignore
friction.

7.

A block of mass M is supported by two identical parallel vertical springs, each with a spring constant k. What will
be the angular frequent () of the motion.

Title2
3

8.

An automobile (m = 1.00 10 kg) is driven into a brick wall in a safety test. The bumper behaves like a spring (k
= 5.00 106 N/m), and is observed to compress a distance of 3.16 cm as the car is brought to rest. What was the
initial speed of the automobile?

9.

An archer pulls her bow string back 0.4 m by exerting a force that increases uniformly from zero to 240 N. What
is the equivalent spring constant of the bow, and how much work is done in pulling the bow?

10.

The motion of a piston in an auto engine is simple harmonic. If the piston travels back and forth over a distance of
10 cm, and the piston has a mass of 1.5 kg, what is the maximum speed of the piston and the maximum force
acting on the piston when the engine is running at 4200 rpm?