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Oscillations

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

Card preview (24)

#1
Front (Question)

Define displacement.

Back (Answer)

Distance from the equilibrium position

#2
Front (Question)

Define amplitude

Back (Answer)

Maximum displacement from the equilibrium position

#3
Front (Question)

Define period

Back (Answer)

Time taken to complete one oscillation

#4
Front (Question)

Define frequency

Back (Answer)

The number of complete oscillations per unit second.

#5
Front (Question)

What is angular frequency?

Back (Answer)

The rate of change of the angular position

#6
Front (Question)

Two equations for angular frequency?

Back (Answer)

2π / T 2 π f

#7
Front (Question)

Define simple harmonic motion.

Back (Answer)

A type of motion where the acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement and acts towards the equilibrium position.

#8
Front (Question)

Defining equation for SHM?

Back (Answer)

a = - ω^2 x

#9
Front (Question)

What does an acceleration against displacement graph look like for an object oscillating in SHM?

Back (Answer)

Straight-line graph. Check Notion.

#10
Front (Question)

What is oscillating motion?

Back (Answer)

• Object is in equilibrium position. • Force applied. • Object displaced then oscillates.

#11
Front (Question)

What are two features of SHM that can be inferred from the equation?

Back (Answer)

• acceleration ∝ displacement - minus sign means that acceleration and displacement act in opposite directions

#12
Front (Question)

Is angular frequency constant in SHM? What does this mean?

Back (Answer)

Yes. f and T are constant

#13
Front (Question)

Suggest two ways you could investigate the time period and frequency of objects moving with SHM.

Back (Answer)

• Pendulum with mass attached. - Spring.

#14
Front (Question)

Suggest two reasons why a fiducial marker should be placed at POE

Back (Answer)

• Object will always pass POE (unlike maximum displacement position) • Reduces uncertainty in timing measurements

#15
Front (Question)

How can you investigate the time period of an object moving in SMH?

Back (Answer)

Record time taken for several oscillations -> less uncertainty due to human error

#16
Front (Question)

What is an isochronous oscillator?

Back (Answer)

An oscillator that has the same T period regardless of the amplitude.

#17
Front (Question)

Why is time period independent of amplitude in SHM?

Back (Answer)

As amplitude increases, speed increases so time period is constant.

#18
Front (Question)

Equations to find the displacement of an object oscillating in SMH?

Back (Answer)

x = A cos ω t (Starts at amplitude) x = A sin ω t (Starts at POE)

#19
Front (Question)

What happens when the ω of an oscillator increases with no change to the amplitude?

Back (Answer)

Time period changes -> Velocity changes

#20
Front (Question)

What happens to velocity when amplitude increases?

Back (Answer)

• Isochronic oscillator = same time period - Travel greater distance in same time period -> velocity increases

#21
Front (Question)

Equation to find velocity of a simple harmonic oscillator?

Back (Answer)

V = ± ω √ A^2 - x^2

#22
Front (Question)

Equation to find V max of a simple harmonic oscillator

Back (Answer)

V max = ω A

#23
Front (Question)

What does an energy against displacement graph look like for an object oscillating in SHM?

Back (Answer)

Two parabolas. Check Notion

#24
Front (Question)

How do you work out the Ek of a mass-spring system?

Back (Answer)

Ek = Et - Ep Ek = 1/2 k (A^2 - x^2)