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AP Physics 1: Oscillations — Practice Questions & Answers
Simple harmonic motion explained: restoring force, period and frequency, mass-spring and pendulum systems, and energy exchange.
180 practice questions available for this unit — here are 10 with full answers and explanations.
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Practice questions with answers
1
Multiple choice · Easy
Which condition is required for an object to undergo simple harmonic motion?
The restoring force is proportional to the displacement and directed toward equilibrium
The restoring force is constant in magnitude and direction
The restoring force is proportional to the velocity
The restoring force always points away from equilibrium
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Why In SHM the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and points back toward equilibrium (F = -kx).
2
Multiple choice · Easy
An oscillator completes 20 full cycles in 5.0 s. What is its frequency?
4.0 Hz
0.25 Hz
100 Hz
5.0 Hz
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Why Frequency is cycles per second: f = 20 / 5.0 s = 4.0 Hz.
3
Multiple choice · Easy
A simple harmonic oscillator has a period of 0.50 s. What is its frequency?
2.0 Hz
0.50 Hz
1.0 Hz
5.0 Hz
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Why Frequency is the reciprocal of period: f = 1 / T = 1 / 0.50 s = 2.0 Hz.
4
Multiple choice · Easy
At which point in its motion does a mass on a spring oscillating in SHM have maximum speed?
At the equilibrium position
At maximum displacement
Halfway between equilibrium and maximum displacement
The speed is the same everywhere
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Why Speed is greatest at the equilibrium position, where kinetic energy is maximum and the restoring force is zero.
5
Multiple choice · Easy
For a mass-spring oscillator in SHM, at the point of maximum displacement (amplitude), the acceleration is
maximum in magnitude
zero
equal to g
directed away from equilibrium
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Why At maximum displacement the restoring force is largest, so acceleration is maximum; the object is momentarily at rest so speed is zero.
6
Fill in the blank · Easy
The maximum displacement of an oscillator from its equilibrium position is called the
Check answer
Answer:
amplitude
Why The amplitude is the maximum magnitude of displacement from equilibrium during oscillation.
7
Multiple choice · Medium
A 0.50 kg mass on a spring with spring constant 200 N/m oscillates in SHM. What is the period of the motion? (Use T = 2*pi*sqrt(m/k).)
0.31 s
3.1 s
0.050 s
0.16 s
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Why T = 2*pi*sqrt(0.50/200) = 2*pi*sqrt(0.0025) = 2*pi*(0.050) = 0.31 s.
8
Multiple choice · Medium
A simple pendulum has a length of 1.0 m. What is its period on Earth (g = 9.8 m/s^2)? (Use T = 2*pi*sqrt(L/g).)
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Why T = 2*pi*sqrt(1.0/9.8) = 2*pi*sqrt(0.102) = 2*pi*(0.319) = 2.0 s.
9
Multiple choice · Medium
A mass-spring oscillator has amplitude A and spring constant k. What is the total mechanical energy of the system?
(1/2)*k*A^2
k*A^2
(1/2)*k*A
2*k*A^2
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Why Total energy in SHM equals the maximum elastic potential energy: E = (1/2)*k*A^2.
10
Multiple choice · Medium
If the mass on a spring oscillator is quadrupled (made 4 times larger) while k stays the same, the period of oscillation
doubles
is unchanged
quadruples
is cut in half
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Why Since T is proportional to sqrt(m), quadrupling m multiplies the period by sqrt(4) = 2.
Key terms in Oscillations
Oscillation: A repeated back-and-forth motion of an object about a central reference point.
Periodic Motion: Any motion that repeats itself in equal intervals of time.
Simple Harmonic Motion: Oscillation in which the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and directed opposite to it.
SHM: The common abbreviation for simple harmonic motion.
Restoring Force: A force that always acts to push or pull an oscillating object back toward its equilibrium position.
Equilibrium Position: The location where the net force on an oscillating object is zero and where it would rest at rest.
Displacement: The directed distance of an oscillating object from its equilibrium position at a given moment.
Amplitude: The maximum displacement of an oscillating object from its equilibrium position, measured in m.
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