Certainly, let's work through these physics problems step-by-step.

7. A 200-g block connected to a light spring for which the force constant is 5.00 N/m is free to oscillate
on a horizontal, frictionless surface. The block is displaced 5.00 cm from equilibrium and released from
rest, as in Figure 15:7.

A. Find the period of its motion.

The period (T) of simple harmonic motion is given by the formula:

T = 2π * sqrt(m/k)

where:

m = mass of the block = 0.200 kg

k = force constant of the spring = 5.00 N/m

Plugging in the values:

T = 2π * sqrt(0.200 kg / 5.00 N/m) = 2π * sqrt(0.040) = 2π * 0.200 = 1.26 s

B. Determine the maximum speed of the block.

The maximum speed (v_max) occurs at the equilibrium position (x = 0) and is given by:

v_max = ω * A = sqrt(k/m) * A

where:

ω = angular frequency = 2π/T = 4.99 rad/s

A = amplitude = 0.0500 m

Plugging in the values:

v_max = sqrt(5.00 N/m / 0.200 kg) * 0.0500 m = 0.354 m/s

C. What is the maximum acceleration of the block?

The maximum acceleration (a_max) occurs at the maximum displacement (x = ±A) and is given by:
a_max = ω^2 * A

where:

ω = angular frequency = 2π/T = 4.99 rad/s

A = amplitude = 0.0500 m

Plugging in the values:

a_max = (4.99 rad/s)^2 * 0.0500 m = 1.24 m/s^2

D. Express the position, speed, and acceleration as functions of time.

Position (x): x(t) = A * cos(ω*t)

= 0.0500 m * cos(4.99 rad/s * t)

Speed (v): v(t) = -ω * A * sin(ω*t)

= -4.99 rad/s * 0.0500 m * sin(4.99 rad/s * t)

= -0.249 m/s * sin(4.99 rad/s * t)

Acceleration (a): a(t) = -ω^2 * A * cos(ω*t)

= -(4.99 rad/s)^2 * 0.0500 m * cos(4.99 rad/s * t)

= -1.24 m/s^2 * cos(4.99 rad/s * t)

8. The total mechanical energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is a constant of the motion and is
proportional to the square of the amplitude.

The total energy E of a simple harmonic oscillator is the sum of its kinetic energy and potential energy:

E = (1/2) * k * A^2 + (1/2) * m * v^2

where:

k = force constant of the spring

A = amplitude

m = mass
v = speed

Since the total energy E is constant, we can say that E is proportional to A^2:

E = (1/2) * k * A^2 + (1/2) * m * (ω * A)^2

= (1/2) * k * A^2 + (1/2) * m * ω^2 * A^2

= (1/2) * (k + m * ω^2) * A^2

∝ A^2

Therefore, the total mechanical energy E of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to the square of
the amplitude A.

9. A 0.500 kg cart connected to a light spring for which the force constant is 20.0 N/m oscillates on a
horizontal, frictionless air track.

A. Calculate the total energy of the system and the maximum speed of the cart if the amplitude of the
motion is 3.00 cm.

Given:

m = 0.500 kg

k = 20.0 N/m

A = 0.0300 m

Total energy E:

E = (1/2) * k * A^2 + (1/2) * m * v_max^2

Solving for v_max:

v_max = sqrt(2 * (k * A^2 / m))

= sqrt(2 * (20.0 N/m * (0.0300 m)^2 / 0.500 kg))

= 0.612 m/s
Total energy E:

E = (1/2) * k * A^2 + (1/2) * m * v_max^2

= (1/2) * 20.0 N/m * (0.0300 m)^2 + (1/2) * 0.500 kg * (0.612 m/s)^2

= 0.0900 J + 0.0900 J

= 0.180 J

B. What is the velocity of the cart when the position is 2.00 cm?

The velocity v at any position x is given by:

v = ±sqrt(2 * (E - (1/2) * k * x^2) / m)

Plugging in the values:

v = ±sqrt(2 * (0.180 J - (1/2) * 20.0 N/m * (0.0200 m)^2) / 0.500 kg)

v = ±sqrt(2 * (0.180 J - 0.0400 J) / 0.500 kg)

v = ±sqrt(2 * 0.140 J / 0.500 kg)

v = ±0.529 m/s

C. Compute the kinetic and potential energies of the system when the position is 2.00 cm.

Kinetic energy (K):

K = (1/2) * m * v^2

= (1/2) * 0.500 kg * (0.529 m/s)^2

= 0.0700 J

Potential energy (U):

U = (1/2) * k * x^2
 = (1/2) * 20.0 N/m * (0.0200 m)^2

= 0.0400 J

Total energy E = K + U = 0.0700 J + 0.0400 J = 0.110 J

10. How much shorter would our length unit be had Huygens' suggestion been followed?

Huygens suggested that the international unit of length could be defined as the length of a simple
pendulum with a period of exactly 1 second.

The length (L) of a simple pendulum with a period of 1 second is given by the formula:

T = 2π * sqrt(L/g)

where:

T = period = 1 s

g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s^2

Solving for L:

1 = 2π * sqrt(L/9.8)

L = (1 / (2π))^2 * 9.8 = 0.0986 m

Therefore, the length unit defined by Huygens' suggestion would be approximately 9.86 cm, which is
about 10 cm or 4 inches shorter than the current meter.

Here are the answers to your questions:

(a) transverse (b) longitudinal? Why? (3 pts)

Answer: The "wave" at a baseball game is an example of a transverse wave. In a transverse wave, the
motion of the medium (in this case, the people standing up) is perpendicular to the direction of wave
propagation. As the wave travels around the stadium, the people stand up and sit down in a direction
that is transverse (perpendicular) to the direction the wave is moving. This is in contrast to a longitudinal
wave, where the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

12. A sinusoidal wave traveling in the positive x direction has an amplitude of 15.0 cm, a wavelength of
40.0 cm, and a frequency of 8.00 Hz. The vertical position of an element of the medium at t = 0 and x = 0
is also 15.0 cm, as shown in Figure 16.9 (5 pts).

(A) Find the wave number k, period T, angular frequency ω and speed v of the wave.

Answer:

(A) To find the wave number k, period T, angular frequency ω, and speed v of the wave, we can use the
following formulas:

Wave number (k):

k = 2π / λ

where λ is the wavelength

Period (T):

T=1/f

where f is the frequency

ω = 2π / T

Speed (v):

v=λ/T

or

v=ω/k

Given information:

- Amplitude = 15.0 cm

- Wavelength (λ) = 40.0 cm

- Frequency (f) = 8.00 Hz

Step 1: Calculate the wave number (k)

k = 2π / λ

k = 2π / 40.0 cm

k = 0.157 cm^-1

Step 2: Calculate the period (T)

T=1/f

T = 1 / 8.00 Hz

T = 0.125 s

Step 3: Calculate the angular frequency (ω)

ω = 2π / 0.125 s

ω = 50.3 rad/s

Step 4: Calculate the speed (v)

v=λ/T

v = 40.0 cm / 0.125 s

v = 320 cm/s

or

v=ω/k

v = 50.3 rad/s / 0.157 cm^-1

v = 320 cm/s

Therefore, the wave number k is 0.157 cm^-1, the period T is 0.125 s, the angular frequency ω is 50.3
rad/s, and the speed v is 320 cm/s.