Accelerated Physics

Practice: Simple Harmonic Motion Page 1 of 4

Name _____________________________________ Date __________________ Period ________

PRACTICE: SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
k = 20.0 N/m

30.0 cm

1.14
kg
x=0

+30.0 cm

1. The block shown above is resting on a horizontal frictionless surface. The block is moved to the right 30.0
cm and released at time t = 0.
a. Determine the period of oscillation for the block.

b. Determine the frequency of oscillation for the block.

c. Draw a free-body diagram for the block when it is at position 30.0 cm.

d. Determine the net force acting on the block when it is at position 30.0 cm.

e. Determine the acceleration of the block when it is at position 30.0 cm.

f.

At what position does the block reach its maximum speed?

g. Determine the maximum speed of the block. (Hint: Use energy conservation!)

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Practice: Simple Harmonic Motion Page 2 of 4

h. On the axes below, graph the position of the block as a function of time for two oscillations. Label each
axis with the quantity and the unit. Show values for the maximum and minimum positions and for the
period of oscillation.

i.

Use your graph (and what you know about periodic functions), to write an equation that represents the
position (in meters) of the block as a function of time (in seconds).

j.

Use your equation to calculate the position of the block at t = 1.80 s.

k. Determine the velocity of the block at t = 1.80 s. (Hint: Use energy conservation!)

l.

*On the axes below, graph the velocity of the block as a function of time for two oscillations. Label each
axis with the quantity and the unit. Show values for the maximum and minimum velocities and for the
period of oscillation. (Hint: You really only need your answers to a and g in order to make this graph.)

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Practice: Simple Harmonic Motion Page 3 of 4

position (m)

2. Consider the following function which represents the position of a 1.25-kg object attached to a spring
undergoing simple harmonic motion:

time (s)
a. Determine the frequency of oscillation for the object.

b. Determine the spring constant of the spring.

c. Determine the maximum speed of the object.

d. Write an equation for the position (in meters) of the block as a function of time (in seconds).

e. *Write an equation for the velocity (in m/s) of the block as a function of time (in seconds).

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Practice: Simple Harmonic Motion Page 4 of 4

3. The diagram shows a 0.50-kg block attached to an ideal spring on a frictionless surface. The block
experiences no net force when it is at position C.
The block is pulled to the left from position C to position A and released. The block then oscillates between
positions A and E. Consider position C to be x = 0 and "to the left" to be the positive direction. Treat the
initial vertical position of the block as y = 0.
A

10.0 cm 10.0 cm
20.0 cm

20.0 cm

a. What is the direction of the block's acceleration as it moves from A to C? How do you know?

b. What is the direction of the block's acceleration as it moves from C to A? How do you know?

c. For which intervals is the block speeding up? (from __ to __)

d. At which position(s) is the velocity of the block zero? How do you know?

e. At which position(s) is the acceleration of the block zero? How do you know?

f.

How does the velocity at B compare to the velocity at C? Half as fast? Less than half as fast? Greater
than half as fast? How do you know?