Physics · Pearson Edexcel 9PH0 · Topic 13

Oscillations

Simple harmonic motion, damping, forced oscillations and resonance.

  • 11 sub-topics
  • Taught in Year 13
  • 91 practice questions
  • 11 animated lessons
Practice questions (91) Lessons Worksheets All Edexcel Physics topics

What the specification says

Every sub-topic Pearson Edexcel can examine in this topic, with its reference number from the official specification. The Y12 and Y13 tags show when each sub-topic is usually taught.

  1. 181Condition for simple harmonic motionY13
  2. 182Equations of simple harmonic motionY13
  3. 183Mass–spring system and simple pendulumY13
  4. 184Velocity from a displacement–time graphY13
  5. 185Acceleration from a velocity–time graphY13
  6. 186ResonanceY13
  7. 187CP16: Determine an unknown mass using resonant frequenciesY13
  8. 188Energy in damped and undamped oscillatorsY13
  9. 189Free and forced oscillationsY13
  10. 190Forced oscillations near the natural frequencyY13
  11. 191Damping and plastic deformationY13

Try 3 questions

Easy, medium and hard questions from this topic, each with a worked solutions and the mark for every step. All 91 questions in this topic, free, no account needed.

Oscillations

Not needed for Year 12Easy

Free and forced oscillations · Year 13 · 2 marks

A child on a swing is pushed periodically.
  1. Distinguish between free and forced oscillations.
    (2)
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  1. Free: oscillates at its natural frequency with no periodic driving force.
  2. Forced: a periodic driving force makes it oscillate at the driving frequency.

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Oscillations

Not needed for Year 12Medium

A simple pendulum · Year 13 · 3 marks

A simple pendulum has length 0.90 m. Take g=9.81 m s−2g = 9.81\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-2}}.
  1. (a)
    Calculate its period.
    (2)
  2. (b)
    State why the swings must be small.
    (1)

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Part (a)2 marks

  1. For small swings a pendulum moves with simple harmonic motion.TT=2πlg{}= 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{l}{g}}=2π0.909.81{}= 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{0.90}{9.81}}
  2. Give 3 significant figures.T=1.90 sT = 1.90\ \mathrm{s}

Part (b)1 mark

  1. For large angles the motion is no longer simple harmonic.The formula uses sin⁡θ≈θ\sin\theta \approx \theta, which is only true for small angles.

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Oscillations

Not needed for Year 12Hard

Finding a mass from resonance · Year 13 · 4 marks

A mass of 0.3 kg on a spring has a resonant frequency of 1.84 Hz. An unknown mass is added, and the resonant frequency falls to 1.36 Hz.
  1. (a)
    Calculate the spring constant.
    (2)
  2. (b)
    Calculate the unknown mass.
    (2)

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Part (a)2 marks

  1. ff=12πkm{}= \frac{1}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}
  2. k=40.0 N m−1k = 40.0\ \mathrm{N\,m^{-1}}

Part (b)2 marks

  1. m1+M=k4π2f22m_1 + M = \frac{k}{4\pi^2f_2^2}
  2. M=0.250 kgM = 0.250\ \mathrm{kg}

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