AP Physics

Unit 7 - Simple Harmonic Motion

Intermediate

Mathematical

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# Part (a) – Use the formula for the period of a spring.

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 [katex] T = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{m}{k}} [/katex] The formula for the period [katex] T [/katex] of oscillation of a mass-spring system, where [katex] m [/katex] is the mass and [katex] k [/katex] is the spring constant.
2 Substitute [katex] m = 2 \, \text{kg} [/katex], [katex] k = 100 \, \text{N/m} [/katex] Insert the values into the formula to calculate the period.
3 [katex] T = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{2}{100}} = 2\pi\sqrt{0.02} \approx 0.89 \, \text{s} [/katex] Calculating the square root and then multiplying by [katex] 2\pi [/katex] gives the period. This calculation is independent of the amplitude of the oscillation (0.5 m or 1 m), assuming no damping and small angle.
4 [katex] T \approx 0.89 \, \text{s} [/katex] This is the period of oscillation for any initial stretching (i) 0.5 m and (ii) 1 m, since [katex] T [/katex] does not depend on amplitude for simple harmonic motion in ideal springs.

# Part (b) – The relationship between mass and period.

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 [katex] T’ = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{m’}{k}} [/katex]. If the mass [katex] m [/katex] is doubled, we substitute [katex] m’ = 2m = 4 \, \text{kg} [/katex] into the formula for period.
2 Substitute [katex] m’ = 4 \, \text{kg} [/katex], [katex] k = 100 \, \text{N/m} [/katex]. Insert the new mass into the period formula.
3 [katex] T’ = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{4}{100}} = 2\pi\sqrt{0.04} \approx 1.26 \, \text{s} [/katex]. Calculating the square root and multiplying by [katex] 2\pi [/katex] gives the new period.
4 [katex] T’ \approx 1.26 \, \text{s} [/katex] This is the new period of oscillation when the mass is doubled. The period increases, showing that it is dependent on mass.

# Part (c) – Justification.

Step Derivation/Formula Reasoning
1 [katex] F = -kx [/katex] The restoring force [katex] F [/katex] provided by the spring is proportional to the displacement [katex] x [/katex] and the spring constant [katex] k [/katex], according to Hooke’s Law.
2 Increasing mass requires a longer time to accelerate/decelerate due to spring force. For the same displacement, the spring force [katex] F [/katex] remains constant. When mass is doubled, although the same force acts on a larger mass, resulting in a lower acceleration ([katex] a = \frac{F}{m} [/katex]), leading to a longer period of oscillation.
3 Summary: Greater mass leads to reduced acceleration from the same force, increasing time for one complete oscillation. This explains why doubling the mass increases the period as shown in the earlier calculation. It showcases the inverse relationship between acceleration and mass in the context of Newton’s second law.

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  1. [katex] T \approx 0.89 \, \text{s} [/katex] for both (i) and (ii).
  2. [katex] T’ \approx 1.26 \, \text{s} [/katex]. In other words the period increase by a factor of [katex] \sqrt2 [/katex].
  3. Greater mass leads to reduced acceleration from the same force, increasing time for one complete oscillation.

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KinematicsForces
\(\Delta x = v_i t + \frac{1}{2} at^2\)\(F = ma\)
\(v = v_i + at\)\(F_g = \frac{G m_1 m_2}{r^2}\)
\(v^2 = v_i^2 + 2a \Delta x\)\(f = \mu N\)
\(\Delta x = \frac{v_i + v}{2} t\)\(F_s =-kx\)
\(v^2 = v_f^2 \,-\, 2a \Delta x\) 
Circular MotionEnergy
\(F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}\)\(KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2\)
\(a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}\)\(PE = mgh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{r}{g}}\)\(KE_i + PE_i = KE_f + PE_f\)
 \(W = Fd \cos\theta\)
MomentumTorque and Rotations
\(p = mv\)\(\tau = r \cdot F \cdot \sin(\theta)\)
\(J = \Delta p\)\(I = \sum mr^2\)
\(p_i = p_f\)\(L = I \cdot \omega\)
Simple Harmonic MotionFluids
\(F = -kx\)\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{l}{g}}\)\(P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{atm}} + \rho gh\)
\(T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\)\(Q = Av\)
\(x(t) = A \cos(\omega t + \phi)\)\(F_b = \rho V g\)
\(a = -\omega^2 x\)\(A_1v_1 = A_2v_2\)
ConstantDescription
[katex]g[/katex]Acceleration due to gravity, typically [katex]9.8 , \text{m/s}^2[/katex] on Earth’s surface
[katex]G[/katex]Universal Gravitational Constant, [katex]6.674 \times 10^{-11} , \text{N} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{kg}^2[/katex]
[katex]\mu_k[/katex] and [katex]\mu_s[/katex]Coefficients of kinetic ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) and static ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) friction, dimensionless. Static friction ([katex]\mu_s[/katex]) is usually greater than kinetic friction ([katex]\mu_k[/katex]) as it resists the start of motion.
[katex]k[/katex]Spring constant, in [katex]\text{N/m}[/katex]
[katex] M_E = 5.972 \times 10^{24} , \text{kg} [/katex]Mass of the Earth
[katex] M_M = 7.348 \times 10^{22} , \text{kg} [/katex]Mass of the Moon
[katex] M_M = 1.989 \times 10^{30} , \text{kg} [/katex]Mass of the Sun
VariableSI Unit
[katex]s[/katex] (Displacement)[katex]\text{meters (m)}[/katex]
[katex]v[/katex] (Velocity)[katex]\text{meters per second (m/s)}[/katex]
[katex]a[/katex] (Acceleration)[katex]\text{meters per second squared (m/s}^2\text{)}[/katex]
[katex]t[/katex] (Time)[katex]\text{seconds (s)}[/katex]
[katex]m[/katex] (Mass)[katex]\text{kilograms (kg)}[/katex]
VariableDerived SI Unit
[katex]F[/katex] (Force)[katex]\text{newtons (N)}[/katex]
[katex]E[/katex], [katex]PE[/katex], [katex]KE[/katex] (Energy, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy)[katex]\text{joules (J)}[/katex]
[katex]P[/katex] (Power)[katex]\text{watts (W)}[/katex]
[katex]p[/katex] (Momentum)[katex]\text{kilogram meters per second (kgm/s)}[/katex]
[katex]\omega[/katex] (Angular Velocity)[katex]\text{radians per second (rad/s)}[/katex]
[katex]\tau[/katex] (Torque)[katex]\text{newton meters (Nm)}[/katex]
[katex]I[/katex] (Moment of Inertia)[katex]\text{kilogram meter squared (kgm}^2\text{)}[/katex]
[katex]f[/katex] (Frequency)[katex]\text{hertz (Hz)}[/katex]

General Metric Conversion Chart

Example of using unit analysis: Convert 5 kilometers to millimeters. 

  1. Start with the given measurement: [katex]\text{5 km}[/katex]

  2. Use the conversion factors for kilometers to meters and meters to millimeters: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}}[/katex]

  3. Perform the multiplication: [katex]\text{5 km} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{km}} \times \frac{10^3 \, \text{mm}}{1 \, \text{m}} = 5 \times 10^3 \times 10^3 \, \text{mm}[/katex]

  4. Simplify to get the final answer: [katex]\boxed{5 \times 10^6 \, \text{mm}}[/katex]

Prefix

Symbol

Power of Ten

Equivalent

Pico-

p

[katex]10^{-12}[/katex]

Nano-

n

[katex]10^{-9}[/katex]

Micro-

µ

[katex]10^{-6}[/katex]

Milli-

m

[katex]10^{-3}[/katex]

Centi-

c

[katex]10^{-2}[/katex]

Deci-

d

[katex]10^{-1}[/katex]

(Base unit)

[katex]10^{0}[/katex]

Deca- or Deka-

da

[katex]10^{1}[/katex]

Hecto-

h

[katex]10^{2}[/katex]

Kilo-

k

[katex]10^{3}[/katex]

Mega-

M

[katex]10^{6}[/katex]

Giga-

G

[katex]10^{9}[/katex]

Tera-

T

[katex]10^{12}[/katex]

  1. 1. Some answers may vary by 1% due to rounding.
  2. Gravity values may differ: \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\) or \(10 \, \text{m/s}^2\).
  3. Variables can be written differently. For example, initial velocity (\(v_i\)) may be \(u\), and displacement (\(\Delta x\)) may be \(s\).
  4. Bookmark questions you can’t solve to revisit them later
  5. 5. Seek help if you’re stuck. The sooner you understand, the better your chances on tests.

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