More practice questions

  1. Q4. What is the phase difference between the acceleration and the velocity in SHM, and which leads?

    Show answerHide answer

    With x = A cos ωt, v = ωA cos(ωt + π/2) and a = ωA cos(ωt + π), so a is π/2 ahead of v.

  2. Q5. At what displacement is the speed half its greatest value?

    Show answerHide answer

    ω√(A − x) = ωA/2 gives A − x = A/4, so x = ±(√3/2)A, about ±0.87A.

  3. Q6. A particle in SHM has an acceleration of −8 m/s when its displacement is +2 cm. Find its angular frequency and period.

    Show answerHide answer

    a = −ωx gives ω = 8/0.02 = 400, so ω = 20 rad/s and T = 2π/20, about 0.314 s.