AP Physics - Oscillations Practice Test (Updates to #s: 1, 8 & 9 on Thursday, April 02, 2009)

Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1 A body oscillates with simple harmonic motion along the x-axis. Its displacement varies with time according to the equation x = 5.0 sin (t). The acceleration (in m/s2) of the body at t = 0.5 s is approximately a. 3.5 b. 49 c. 14 d. 43 e. 4.3 2 The amplitude of a system moving with simple harmonic motion is doubled. The total energy will then be a. 4 times larger b. 3 times larger c. 2 times larger d. the same as it was e. half as much 3 A uniform rod (mass m = 1.0 kg and length L = 2.0 m) pivoted at one end oscillates in a vertical plane as shown below. The period of oscillation (in s) is approximately

a. 4.0 b. 1.6 c. 3.2 d. 2.3 e. 2.0 4 The figure shows a uniform rod (length L = 1.0 m, mass = 2.0 kg) suspended from a pivot a distance d = 0.25 m above its center of mass. The angular frequency (in rad/s) for small oscillations is approximately

a. 1.0 b. 2.5 c. 1.5 d. 4.1 e. 3.5 5 Three pendulums with strings of the same length and bobs of the same mass are pulled out to angles 1, 2 and 3 respectively and released. The approximation sin = holds for all three angles, with 3 > 2 > 1. How do the angular frequencies of the three pendulums compare? a. 3 > 2 > 1 b. Need to know amplitudes to answer this question. c. Need to know to answer this question. d. 1 > 2 > 3 e. 1 = 2 = 3

6 An object of mass m is attached to string of length L. When it is released from point A, the object oscillates between points A and B. Which statement about the system consisting of the pendulum and the Earth is correct?

a. The gravitational potential energy of the system is greatest at A and B. b. The kinetic energy of mass m is greatest at point O. c. The greatest rate of change of momentum occurs at A and B. d. All of the above are correct. e. Only (a) and (b) above are correct. 7 A graph of position versus time for an object oscillating at the free end of a horizontal spring is shown below. The point at which the object has negative velocity and zero acceleration is

a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E 8 At sea level, at a latitude where , a pendulum that takes 2.00 s for a complete swing back and forth has

a length of 0.993 m. What is the value of g in m/s2 at a location where the length of such a pendulum is 0.970 m with the same time period? a. 0.0983 b. 3.05 c. 9.57 d. 10.0 e. 38.3 9 A 2.00 m-long 6.00 kg ladder pivoted at the top hangs down from a platform at the circus. A 42.0 kg trapeze artist climbs to a point where her center of mass is at the center of the ladder and swings at the systems natural frequency. The angular frequency (in s1) of the system of ladder and woman is a. 1.01 b. 2.05 c. 4.03 d. 8.10 e. 16.2 10 To double the total energy of a mass oscillating at the end of a spring with amplitude A, we need to a. increase the angular frequency by . b. increase the amplitude by . c. increase the amplitude by 2. d. increase the angular frequency by 2. e. increase the amplitude by 4 and decrease the angular frequency by .

AP Physics - Oscillations Practice Test Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: ANS: B A D D E D C C B B