PSI AP Physics 1 Name: ___________________

Simple Harmonic Motion Test v1 Date:________________

Multiple Choice Section

Questions 1-2
A 0.l -kilogram block is attached to an initially unstretched spring of force
constant k = 40 N/m as shown right. The block is displaced 0.1 m from the
equilibrium point and released from rest at time t = 0.

1. What is the maximum potential energy of the oscillating system?

(A) 40 J (B) 0.1 J (C) 0.4 J (D) 0.2 J

2. At what time after release will the block first return to its initial
position?
   
s s s s
(A) 40 (B) 20 (C) 10 (D) 5

Questions 3-4 Refer to the graph to the right of the displacement x

versus time t for a particle in simple harmonic motion.

3. Which of the following graphs shows the kinetic energy K of the

particle as a function of time t for one cycle of motion?

(A) (B) (C) (D)

4. Which of the following graphs shows the kinetic energy K of the particle as a function of
its displacement x?

(A) (B) (C) (D)

5. When a mass m is hung on a certain ideal spring, the spring stretches a distance d. If
the mass is then set oscillating on the spring, the period of oscillation is proportional to
d g d m
(A) g (B) d (C) mg (D) g

6. When the length of a simple pendulum is tripled, the time required for one complete
vibration
(A) increases by a factor of 3.
(B) increases by a factor of √3.
(C) does not change.
(D) decreases to 1/√3 of its original value.

7. Both pendulum A and B are 3.0 m long. The period of A is T. Pendulum A is twice as
heavy as pendulum B. What is the period of B?
(A) 0.5T (B) T (C) 1.4T (D) 2T

8. An object undergoes SHM and position as a function of time is presented by the

following formula: x= (0.1 m) Sin (2πt). What is the period of oscillations?
(A) 2 s (B) 1 s (C) 0.5 s (D) 0.1 s

9. A block is attached to a spring and oscillates on a horizontal frictionless surface. When

the block is at a point of maximum displacement, another identical block is placed on
top of it without disrupting its motion. What happens to the maximum kinetic energy
and the period?
Maximum KE Period
(A) Decreases Decreases
(B) Decreases Increases
(C) Stays the same Decreases
(D) Stays the same Increases
10. A block is attached to a spring and oscillates on a horizontal frictionless surface and the
position vs. time graph is shown below. Which is the velocity vs. time graph?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
Multi Correct Questions
Directions: For each of the following, two of the suggested answers will be correct. Select
the best two choices to earn credit. No partial credit will be earned if only one correct
choice is selected.

11. A student wishes to determine the spring constant of a spring in a mass-spring

oscillating system. Which of the following pieces of equipment will provide the
measured quantities needed for this calculation?
(A) Protractor
(B) Balance
(C) Stopwatch
(D) Accelerometer

12. When and object is in simple harmonic motion passes through its equilibrium point,
which of the following are true?
(A) Is speed is at a minimum.
(B) Its displacement is at a maximum.
(C) Its potential energy is at a minimum.
(D) Its acceleration is zero.
PSI AP Physics 1 Name: ___________________

Simple Harmonic Motion Test v1 Date:________________

Free Response Section

A 3.0 kg object subject to a restoring force F is undergoing simple harmonic motion with a small
amplitude. The potential energy U of the object as a function of distance x from its equilibrium
position is shown above. This particular object has a total energy E: of 0.4 J.

(a) What is the object's potential energy when its displacement is +4 cm from its
equilibrium position?

(b) What is the farthest the object moves along the x-axis in the positive direction? Explain
your reasoning.

(c) Determine the object's kinetic energy when its displacement is -5 cm.

(d) What is the object's speed at x = 0 m?

(e) Suppose the object undergoes this motion because it is the bob of a simple
pendulum as shown above. If the object breaks loose from the string at the instant
the pendulum reaches its lowest point and hits the ground at point P shown, what
can you do to increase the distance that the bob travels? Explain.
PSI AP Physics 1
Simple Harmonic Motion Test v1

Solution Guide

Multiple Choice (12 points)

1. D 5. A 9. D
2. C 6. B 10. A
3. B 7. B 11. B, C
4. C 8. B 12. C, D

Free Response (15 Points)

a. (2 points)
0.05 J read from the graph. If you calculate it from the total energy and potential energy
equations, you get 0.064 J. Either answer is acceptable.

b. (4 points)
10 cm, when the system is at the maximum displacement its potential energy is equal to
its total energy and its kinetic energy is zero, the potential energy is equal to the total
energy when U = 0.4 J and x = 0.10 m

c. (3 points)
Etotal = U + KE so KE = Etotal – U
At 0.05 m U = 0.1 J
KE = 0.4 J – 0.1 J = 0.3 J

d. (3 points)
1
𝐾𝐸 = 𝑚𝑣 2
2
2𝐾𝐸 2(0.4𝐽) 𝑚
𝑣=√ =√ = 0.52
𝑚 3𝑘𝑔 𝑠

e. (3 points)
Increase the amplitude to increase the total energy of the system. The bob will be
moving faster at x = 0 which will increase the distance it will travel before it hits the
ground.

Or.
Lift the pendulum higher off the floor. This will increase the time it takes the bob to
reach the ground allowing it to move a farther distance.