Question 1

A 50 g mass is attached to a spring with spring constant $$k = 8.0\ \mathrm{N/m}$$ and oscillates with amplitude $$A = 0.10\ \mathrm{m}. $$What is the maximum speed of the mass during its motion?

Accepted Answer

$$v_{\mathrm{max}} = 2\pi f A = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} A = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{8.0}{0.050}} 	imes 0.10 \approx 2.52\ \mathrm{m/s}$$

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the period $$T of a $$simple pendulum of length $$L$$ and mass $$m is $$correct?

Accepted Answer

$$T$$ depends only on $$L$$ and $$g$$, not on $$m or $$amplitude.

Question 3

A patient’s blood flows through a vessel of radius $$R$$ and length $$L. If $$the vessel narrows to half its original radius, by what factor does the volume flow rate $$Q$$ change, assuming the pressure difference $$\Delta p$$ and viscosity $$\eta$$ remain constant?

Accepted Answer

It decreases by a factor of $$16.$$

Question 4

Which equation correctly describes the position $$x(t) of a $$mass undergoing simple harmonic motion with amplitude $$A$$ and frequency $$f$$?

Accepted Answer

$$x(t) = A \cos(2\pi f t)$$

Question 5

A child swings on a playground swing (a simple pendulum). If the length of the swing is doubled, what happens to the period $$T$$?

Accepted Answer

It increases by a factor of $$\sqrt{2}.$$

Question 6

A mass on a spring oscillates with amplitude $$A. At $$what position is the kinetic energy of the mass maximized?

Accepted Answer

At $$x = 0$$

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why airplanes can fly, according to Bernoulli’s principle?

Accepted Answer

Air moves faster above the wing, creating lower pressure above than below.

Question 8

A physical pendulum has its mass distributed along its length. If the moment of inertia $$I is $$increased while keeping the mass $$m$$ and distance $$d$$ from the pivot to the center of gravity constant, what happens to the frequency of oscillation?

Accepted Answer

The frequency decreases.

Question 9

Which of the following describes the effect of damping on a simple harmonic oscillator?

Accepted Answer

The amplitude decreases exponentially over time.

Question 10

A mass oscillates on a spring with frequency $$f. If $$the amplitude is doubled, what happens to the frequency?

Accepted Answer

It remains the same.

Question 11

A system is driven by a periodic external force with frequency $$f_{\mathrm{drive}}. $$When does resonance occur?

Accepted Answer

When $$f_{\mathrm{drive}}$$ matches the natural frequency.

Question 12

A pendulum clock is moved from Earth to the Moon, where $$g is $$smaller. What happens to the period of the pendulum?

Accepted Answer

It increases.

Question 13

Which formula gives the frequency $$f of a $$mass $$m on a $$spring with spring constant $$k$$?

Accepted Answer

$$f = \frac{1}{2\pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$$

Question 14

A mass oscillates on a spring. At which point in its motion is the potential energy maximized?

Accepted Answer

At $$x = \pm A$$

Question 15

In the context of the circulatory system, why does most of the pressure drop occur in the smaller vessels?

Accepted Answer

Because viscosity has a larger effect in smaller vessels.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the relationship between simple harmonic motion and uniform circular motion?

Accepted Answer

Simple harmonic motion is the projection of uniform circular motion onto one dimension.

Question 17

A damped oscillator has a time constant $$	au. $$After a time $$t = 2	au$$, what fraction of the initial amplitude $$A_0$$ remains?

Accepted Answer

$$A_0/e^2$

Question 18

Which of the following is true about the energy in undamped simple harmonic motion?

Accepted Answer

The sum of kinetic and potential energy is conserved.

Question 19

A sound wave enters the cochlea and produces a large-amplitude vibration at a specific location on the basilar membrane. What physical phenomenon is responsible for this frequency discrimination?

Accepted Answer

Resonance

Question 20

A tube carries a viscous fluid. According to Poiseuille’s equation, which change will most dramatically increase the flow rate $$Q$$?

Accepted Answer

Doubling the radius $$R of $$the tube

Lecture 24: Oscillations, Simple Harmonic Motion, and Fluid Dynamics

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