Name _____________________________________Student ID ______________ Score _______

last first

I Lecture multiple choice (5 points each)

1 A student makes a simple harmonic oscillator using two

springs. One spring has spring constant 𝑘1 , and the other has
spring constant 𝑘2 . The student connects the springs to a
mass 𝑚, in the two ways shown, and then displaces the mass
to the right. Which case has higher oscillation frequency?

A Case 1
B Case 2
C They are the same
D Not enough information is provided

2 An oscillator with angular frequency of 1.00 s-1 has initial displacement of 1.00 m and initial
velocity of 1.72 m/s. What is the amplitude of oscillation?

A 1.0 m
B 1.7 m
C 2.0 m
D 2.4 m
E Not enough information is provided

3 Which of these forces could result in simple harmonic motion? The positive values of 𝐹(𝑥)
correspond to the forces acting in the positive 𝑥 direction.

A 𝐹(𝑥) = −5𝑥 + 8
B 𝐹(𝑥) = 5𝑥
C 𝐹(𝑥) = −5𝑥
D A and C
E B and C

4 You are on the ground and observing a jet traveling in air at a constant height of 4500 m with a
speed of 650 m/s. How long after the spaceship has passed directly overhead will the shock
wave reach you?

A 4.3 s
B 6.9 s
C 11.2 s
D 13.2 s
E 21.3 s

Phys 123 Midterm exam 1 1

Name _____________________________________Student ID ______________ Score _______
last first

5 Suppose you are standing 2.40 m away from a speaker that produces a sound in all directions
uniformly. The intensity level of the sound you hear is 75 dB. You move and sound intensity
level becomes 69 dB. What is your new distance from the speaker?

A 1.2 m
B 1.7 m
C 3.5 m
D 4.8 m
E 9.6 m

6 You are on a train travelling north at 80.0 m/s relative to the ground. The air is still relative to
the ground when you hear the whistle of a train travelling south. You know that train whistles
are emitted with a frequency of 262 Hz, but the whistle appears to have a frequency of 350 Hz.
What is the speed of the other train?

A 8.3
B 26 m/s
C 146 m/s
D 221 m/s
E 540 m/s

7 An electromagnetic wave with a wavelength of 500 nm in vacuum enters a dielectric for which
𝜅 = 1.30. Note that the refractive index is given by 𝑛 = √𝜅. What are the frequency, 𝑓, and
wavelength, 𝜆, of the wave inside the dielectric?

A 𝑓 = 5.00×1014 Hz and 𝜆 = 526 nm

B 𝑓 = 5.26×1014 Hz and 𝜆 = 439 nm
C 𝑓 = 5.26×1014 Hz and 𝜆 = 600 nm
D 𝑓 = 6.00×1014 Hz and 𝜆 = 439 nm
E 𝑓 = 6.00×1014 Hz and 𝜆 = 500 nm

8 You are 870 mm in front of a flat vertical mirror and notice that the mirror is just large enough
to see the top of your hat. Your eyes are 130 mm below the top of the hat. What is the position
of the top edge of the mirror relative to your eyes?

A 65 mm below your eyes

B 65 mm above your eyes
C 130 mm below your eyes
D 130 mm above your eyes
E 500 mm below your eyes

Phys 123 Midterm exam 1 2