Phy 212: General Physics II 1

Chapter 15 Worksheet : Oscillations

Simple Harmonic Motion:

1. A mass (0.5 kg) attached to an ideal spring (k=50 N/m), which is attached firmly to a wall at
the other end, oscillates along a horizontal frictionless surface. The maximum displacement of
the oscillating mass from its equilibrium position (xm) is 0.2 m.
xo

k
m

a. What is the angular frequency (), frequency (f) and period (T) of the oscillating mass?

k ω 1 1
Ans. ω= = 10 rad , f= = 1.59 cycles
s (or Hz) , T = = = 0.628 s
m s
2p f 1.59 Hz
b. Write out the equation for the position as a function of time, x(t), for this oscillating mass.

Ans. ( 10 rads ) t + f �
x(t) = xmcos(ωt + f ) = (0.2m)cos �
� �
c. Determine the velocity and acceleration equations for the oscillating mass.

Ans. ( 10 rads ) t + f �
v(t) = vmsin(ωt + f ) = -(2 ms )sin �
� �

( 10 rads ) t + f �
a(t) = amcos(ωt + f ) = -(20 sm2 )cos �
� �
d. What is the value of the maximum velocity and acceleration for the oscillating mass?

Ans. vm = ωxm = 2 ms and am = ω2xm = 20 sm2

e. What is the velocity of the spring at the “rest” position of the spring? Hint: Apply
conservation of energy and calculate the kinetic energy of the mass.

Ans. E(t) = K(t) + U(t) = 1

2 mv2 + 1
2 kx2 = 1
2 kx2m = 1 J

2(1 J)
when x(t) = xo, E(t) = 1
2 mv2 = 1 J � v = = 2 ms
m
f. What is the potential energy of the mass at xo? at ± xm?

Ans. U(t) = 1
2 kx2o = 0 J and U(t) = 1
2 kx2m = 1 J
g. The above spring is then replaced with a different spring resulting in a period of oscillation of
0.10 s. What is the spring constant, k, for this new spring?
2
m �2p �
Ans. T = 2p � k = m � � = 395 m
N
k T
� �
Phy 212: General Physics II 2
Chapter 15 Worksheet : Oscillations

2. A cylinder (cyl=800 kg/m3) floats on the surface of a calm body of fresh water. The cylinder
has a radius of 0.10 m and a length of 0.8 m.
a. What is the volume of water displaced by the cylinder as it floats in the water surface?
m ρ V
Ans. According to Archimedes’ Principle, FB = ρwgVdisp = mg � Vdisp = = cyl cyl
ρw ρw

The volume of the cylinder is: Vcyl = A faceh = p r h = 0.0251 m

2 3

The volume displaced is: Vdisp =

ρcylVcyl
=
( 800 ) ( 0.0251 m )
kg
m3
3

= 0.0201 m3
kg
ρw 998 m3

b. How deep into the water does the cylinder extend?

Vdisp 0.0201 m3
Ans. Vdisp = A faceyo � yo = = = 0.640 m ,
A face 0.0314 m2
where yo is the distance from water surface to the bottom surface of the cylinder.
3. The above cylinder is then pressed 0.05 m into the water, released and observed to oscillate
on the water surface (ignore the production of water waves due to the cylinder’s oscillation).
a. Apply Newton’s 2nd Law to construct the force equation for the oscillating mass.

Ans. Fnet = ma = FB - mg = ρwgVdisp - mg

b. What is the angular frequency (), frequency (f) and period (T) of the oscillating cylinder?

d2y -ρwgA face Dy(t)- mg -ρwgA face ( y(t)-yo ) - mg

Ans. from above, a = 2
= =
dt m m
Since,
ρwgA face yo = mg
d2y(t) �ρ gA � �ρ gA � �ρ g �
� a(t) = = - � w face �
y(t) = - � w face � y(t) = - � w � y(t)
dt2 � mρ A � h � cyl face
ρ �
h � cyl �
� � � �

ρwg ω 1
Therefore, ω = = 3.91 rad
s , f = = 0.622 Hz , T = = 1.61 s
ρcylh 2p f
c. Determine the displacement equation for the cylinder.

Ans. ( 3.91 rads ) t + f �

y(t) = ymcos(ωt + f ) = (-0.05m)cos �
� � ( 3.91 rads ) t � p �
= (0.05m)cos �
� �
d. Determine the velocity and acceleration equations for the oscillating mass.

Ans. ( 3.91 rads ) t � p �

v(t) = vmsin(ωt + f ) = -(0.196 ms )sin �
� �

( 3.91 rads ) t � p �
a(t) = amcos(ωt + f ) = -(0.764 sm2 )cos �
� �
e. What is the value of the maximum velocity and acceleration for the oscillating mass?

Ans. vm = ωym = 0.196 ms and am = ω2ym = 0.764 sm2

Phy 212: General Physics II 3
Chapter 15 Worksheet : Oscillations

Simple Pendulum:
4. A simple pendulum (mass = 2 kg and r = 0.5 m) is held in an
elevated 10o position then released, resulting in oscillating motion.
Assume the small angle approximation, sin  ≈  (in radians), for
this problem.
a. Determine the torque equation, (t), for the oscillating
pendulum. 10o
2
dθ(t)
Ans.  net =I = -mgrsinθ(t) � -mgrθ(t)
dt2
b. What is the angular frequency (), frequency (f) and period (T)
for the pendulum?
2
dθ mgr �
� mgr �
� g �
�
Ans. from above, 2
= -θ
�= - � θ
�= 2- � θ � �
dt �I � �mr � �r �
g ω 1
Therefore, ω = = 4.43 rad , f= = 0.705 Hz , T = = 1.42 s
r s
2p f
c. If the pendulum length, r, were increased to 1.5 m, what is the frequency (f) and period (T)
for the pendulum?

g ω 1
Ans. ω= = 2.56 rad , f = = 0.407 Hz , T = = 2.46 s
r s
2p f
d. What is the period (T) for the (original) pendulum on the moon (g moon= 1.63 m/s2)?

gmoon ω 1
Ans. ω= = 1.81 rad , f= = 0.287 Hz , T = = 3.48 s
r s
2p f
Physical Pendulum
5. A hollow thin-walled ring (mass = 0.1 kg and r = 0.1 m) is hung by a small support nail and
given a light tap, resulting in oscillating motion. Assume the small angle approximation, sin  ≈
 (in radians) and there is no slippage between the cylinder and the nail.
a. Determine the torque equation, (t), for the oscillating ring.
2
dθ(t)
Ans.  net = I = -mgrsinθ(t) � -mgrθ(t)
dt2
b. What is the angular frequency (), frequency (f) and period (T) for the pendulum?
2
dθ mgr �
� � mgr � �g �
Ans. from above, 2
= -θ
�= - � � 2 θ = -2 � θ� �
dt �I � �mr + mr � �2r �
g
Therefore, ω = = 7.00 rad
s
, f = 1.11 Hz , T = 0.898 s
2r
c. Determine the effective length of this physical pendulum (i.e. the center of oscillation).

2 g g
Ans. since ω = � r = 2 = 0.2 m
rω