Concept Questions

Simple Harmonic Motion

(1 - 8) Each force in the list of forces that make up this series of questions is the net, external force acting
on an object of mass mo that is free to move in the x direction only. The vector x is the displacement of the
object relative to a fixed point on the x axis (this could be the origin). The symbols a, b, c and d are positive
constants and Fo is a small constant force directed in the positive x direction. The proposition (True, T or
False, F) is that each of these forces would cause the object on which it is acting to undergo simple
harmonic motion.

___ 1. F = a x

___ 2. F = - d x

___ 3. F = - (a x + b x2 )

___ 4. F = (√(a + b + c)) x

___ 5. F = - a x + Fo

___ 6. F = - (b e(c/d)) x

___ 7. F = - (√(a + b/d + c)) x

___ 8. F = - a (√(x•x))

(9 - 17) An object with mass mo, free to move on a one dimensional, horizontal frictionless surface is
subjected to a restoring force of magnitude kox where x is the distance separating the object from its
equilibrium position, i. e., the position is which the net force acting on it is zero. The direction of this
restoring force acting on the object is such that it always pushes or pulls the object back toward its
equilibrium position. The object is pulled aside until it is a distance Ao from its equilibrium position, held at
rest and released. The object then undergoes simple harmonic motion with period To. The total energy
associated with the motion of the object is Eo. As the object passes through its equilibrium position its
speed is vo.

___ 9. If the spring constant, ko, had been slightly larger, the speed of the object as it passed through its
equilibrium position would have been ___ vo.
(A) equal to (B) less than (C) more than (D) incomparable with

___ 10. If the spring constant, ko, had been slightly smaller, the period of the motion would have been ___ To.
(A) more than (B) equal to (C) less than (D) incomparable with

___ 11. If the spring constant, ko, had been slightly larger, the total energy associated with the motion of the
object would have been ___ Eo.
(A) less than (B) more than (C) equal to (D) incomparable with

___ 12. If the object had been released from rest at a distance less than Ao from its equilibrium position, the
speed of the object as it passed through its equilibrium position would have been ___ vo.
(A) equal to (B) less than (C) more than (D) incomparable with

___ 13. If the object had been released from rest at a distance greater than Ao from its equilibrium position, the
period of the motion would have been ___ To.
(A) more than (B) equal to (C) less than (D) incomparable with
___ 14. If the object had been released from rest at a distance less than Ao from its equilibrium position, the total
energy of the motion would have been ___ Eo.
(A) less than (B) more than (C) equal to (D) incomparable with

___ 15. If the mass of the object had been slightly less than mo, the speed of the object as it passed through its
equilibrium position would have been ___ vo.
(A) equal to (B) less than (C) more than (D) incomparable with

___ 16. If the mass of the object had been slightly larger than mo, the period of the motion would have been ___
To.
(A) more than (B) equal to (C) less than (D) incomparable with

___ 17. If the mass of the object had been slightly less than mo, the total energy of the motion would have been
___ Eo.
(A) less than (B) more than (C) equal to (D) incomparable with

F,T,F,F,T / T,T,F,C,A / B,B,B,A,C / A,C