PHYS220 Summer-2020 Sample Exam-1

Part-1: Spring-Mass Oscillation

1. A block executes simple harmonic motion between x = A and x = +A. The time taken for it to go
from x = 0 to x = A/2 is T1 and to go from A/2 to A is T2. Then
(a) t1 = 1.5t2
(b) t2 = 1.5t1
(c) t1 = t2
(d) t1 = 2t2
(e) t2 = 2t1
Solution

2. A block of mass m = 2 kg is attached to a spring with spring constant k = 200 N/m, and is set to
oscillate on a frictionless horizontal surface with amplitude A. At time t = 0 its position is x0 = 0 and
its velocity is v0 = +5 m/s. When its position has the value x = A/2 then its acceleration has the
possible value of:
(a) a = amax / 4.
(b) a = amax / 2
(c) a = -amax /2
(d) a = amax
(e) a =
√ 3 amax
2
Solution
A −1
a=−ω 2 x=−ω2 = a
2 2 max

3. A block of mass m = 2kg is attached to a spring with spring constant k = 200 N/m and set to
oscillate on a frictionless horizontal surface. The block’s total mechanical energy is 160 J. Which
of the following is true about the oscillation amplitude and maximum speed?
(a) A = 0.1 m, vmax = 40 m/s
(b) A = 0.4 m, vmax = 40 m/s
(c) A = 0.1 m, vmax = 4 m/s
(d) A = 0.4 m, vmax = 4 m/s
(e) A = 1 m, vmax = 10 m/s
Solution
1 320
2
1
k A2=160 → A=
√ k
=1.26 m

320
2 √
m v 2max =160→ v max =
m
=12.65 m/s

4. A particle is in simple harmonic motion along the x axis. The amplitude of the motion is A. At one
point in its motion its kinetic energy is K = 5 J and its potential energy is U = 3J. When it is at x =
A/2, the kinetic and potential energies are
(a) K = 4J, U = 4J
(b) K = 2J, U = 6J
(c) K = 6J, U = 2J
(d) K = 6J, U = 2J
(e) K = 2J, U = 6J
Solution
1
K +U = k A 2=8 J
2

1 2 1 A 2 1 1
U= kx = k
2 2 2
= ( ) (
4 2
k A 2 =2 J )
Then, K=6 J
Part-2: Simple pendulum

1. The amplitude of oscillation of a simple pendulum is increased from 1° to 4°. Its maximum
tangential acceleration changes by a factor of:
(a) 1/6
(b) 1/2
(c) 2
(d) 4
(e) 16
Solution
m at =mg sinθ → at =g sin θ
at ,f sin θ f sin 4 °
= = =4
at , i sin θi sin 1°

2. A simple pendulum of length L and mass M has frequency f. To increase its frequency to 2f:
(a) increase its length to 4L
(b) increase its length to 2L
(c) decrease its length to L/2
(d) decrease its length to L/4
(e) decrease its mass to M /4
Solution
g g L
ω ' =2 ω →ω ' 2=4 ω2 → =4 → L' =
L' L 4

3. A simple pendulum has a string of length L = 1 m and a bob of mass m = 0.25 kg. The angular
π
deviation from equilibrium as function of time is given by θ ( t )=θmax rad cos ⁡(ωt− ). When the
2
+θ
angle with the vertical is half its maximum value, θ= max for the first time. Which of the
2
following is true about the bob’s velocity?
(a) v = + vmax /2
(b) v =  vmax /2
(c) v = + vmax 3/2
(d) v =  vmax 3/2
(e) v = + vmax 2/2
Solution
π θ π π 1 π π
( ) ( ) (
θ ( t )=θmax cos ωt − → max =θmax cos ωt− →cos ωt − = →ωt − =
2 2 2 2 2 ) 2 3
dθ π π 3 − 3 dθ
=−ωθ max sin ωt− =−ω θ max sin =−ω θ max √ = √
dt ( ) 2 3 2 2 dt max ]
−√3
After multiplying both sides by the length of the string, v= v
2 max
4. A simple of pendulum of length L is set to oscillate in simple harmonic motion with maximum
angle of θmax = 10°. The bob gravitational potential energy is zero at its lowest vertical point.
When the bob’s height from its lowest point is at half its maximum, h = hmax / 2, then its angle from
the vertical is:
(a) 0°
(b) 5°
(c) 6°
(d) 7°
(e) 10°
Solution
hmax
h=
2
1
L (1−cos θ )= L ( 1−cos θmax )
2
1
cos θ= ( 1+cos θ max )=0.9924 →θ=±7.07 °
2
Part-3: Wave on a string

1. A wave traveling on a stretched string is described by the equation y ( x , t )= A sin ( kx−ωt ) . The
maximum transverse velocity of an element on the string is:
(a) Aω
(b) ω /k
(c) dω /dk
(d) dy /dt
(e) x /t

x
[
2. A transverse wave on a string is described by the following equation y= A sin 2 π (ft− ) . The
λ ]
maximum transverse velocity of an element on the string is equal to four times the wave velocity if
πA
(a) λ=
4
(b) λ=πA/2
(c) λ=πA
(d) λ=2 πA
(e) λ=4 πA
Solution
ω
v y. max =ωA ; v=
k
ω 4 4λ πA
v y ,max =4 v → ωA=4 → A= = → λ=
k k 2π 2

3. A wave traveling on a string has the following wave function, y ( x , t )= A sin ⁡( kx+ ωt+ φ). At time t =
0 the point x = 0 has a displacement of y (0,0)=0 and is moving in the negative y-direction. Which
of the following is true about the phase constant and the wave speed direction?
(a) φ=0 and the wave is moving in the x direction.
π
(b) φ= and the wave is moving in the ‒x direction.
2
π
(c) φ= and the wave is moving in the +x direction.
2
(d) φ=π and the wave is moving in the x direction.
(e) φ=π and the wave is moving in the +x direction.
Solution
From the form of the wavefunction, the wave is traveling in the –x direction.
y ( 0,0 )= A sin φ → 0=A sin φ→ sin φ=0 → φ=0∨π rad
v ( 0,0 )
v y ( 0,0 ) =ωA cos φ → cos φ= y <0 → φ=π rad
ωA
4. Two identical but separate strings, with the same tension, carry sinusoidal waves with the same
frequency. Wave A has an amplitude that is twice that of wave B and transmits energy at a rate
that is (__answer below__) that of wave B.
(a) half
(b) twice
(c) one-fourth
(d) four times
(e) eight times
Solution:
μ A =μB =μ ; ω A =ω B =ω ; T A =T B =T ; A A =2 A B =2 A
1 T 1 T
2 √ (
P A = μ ω2 (2 A)2
μ
=4 μ ω2 A 2
2 μ√)
=4 P B

5. A sinusoidal wave on a string is described by the wave function y = 0.02 sin (30x − 400t) (SI units).
If the string’s linear mass density is μ = 0.005 kg/m, then the transmitted power is:
(a) 1.3 W
(b) 2.13 W
(c) 4.48 W
(d) 5.54 W
(e) 106 W
Solution:
1
P= μ ω 2 A2 v
2
ω
A=0.02 m; ω=400 rad / s ; k =30 rad /m; v= =13.33 m/s
k