1. A transverse wave travels from left to right. The diagram below shows how, at a particular instant of time, the displacement of particles in the medium varies with position. Which arrow represents the direction of the velocity of the particle marked P?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 1

2. The graph shows how the displacement varies with time for an object undergoing simple harmonic motion.

Which graph shows how the object’s acceleration a varies with time t?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 2

3. A particle oscillates with simple harmonic motion with period T.

At time t = 0, the particle has its maximum displacement. Which graph shows the variation with time t of the kinetic energy Ek of the particle?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 3

4. The graph shows measurements of the height h of sea level at different times t in the Bay of Fundy.

Which of the following gives the approximate amplitude and period of the tides?

Amplitude Period

A. 6.5 m 6 hours

B. 13 m 12 hours

C. 6.5 m 12 hours

D. 13 m 6 hours

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 4

5. The graph shows how the velocity v of an object undergoing simple harmonic motion varies with time t for one complete period of oscillation.

Which of the following sketch graphs best shows how the total energy E of the object varies with t?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 5

6. The graphs show how the acceleration a of four different particles varies with their displacement x.Which of the particles is executing simple harmonic motion?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 6

7. An object at the end of a spring oscillates vertically with simple harmonic motion. The graph shows the variation with time t of the displacement x. The amplitude is x0 and the period of oscillation is T.

Which of the following is the correct expression for the displacement x?

A. tT

x2

cos0

B. tT

x2

cos0

C. tT

x2

sin0

D. tT

x2

sin0

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 7

8. An object at the end of a spring oscillates vertically with simple harmonic motion. The graph shows the variation with time t of the displacement x. The amplitude is x0 and the period of oscillation is T.

Which of the following is the correct expression for the maximum acceleration of the object?

A. 0

2x

T

B. 02

2x

T

C. 02

24x

T

D. 0

24x

T

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 8

9. A particle performs simple harmonic oscillations. Which of the following quantities will be unaffected by a reduction in the amplitude of oscillations?

A. The total energy

B. The maximum speed

C. The maximum acceleration

D. The period(Total 1 mark)

10. Which graph correctly shows how the acceleration, a of a particle undergoing SHM varies with its displacement, x from its equilibrium position?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 9

11. A mass on the end of a horizontal spring is displaced from its equilibrium position by a distance A and released. Its subsequent oscillations have total energy E and time period T.

An identical mass is attached to an identical spring. The maximum displacement is 2A. Assuming this spring obeys Hooke’s law, which of the following gives the correct time period and total energy?

New time period New energy

A. T 4E

B. T 2E

C. T2 4E

D. T2 2E

(Total 1 mark)

12. For a system executing simple harmonic motion, the restoring force acting on the system is proportional to the

A. displacement of the system from equilibrium.

B. amplitude of oscillation.

C. elastic potential energy.

D. frequency of oscillation.(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 10

13. A cart, connected to two identical springs, is oscillating with simple harmonic motion between two points X and Y that are equidistant from point O.

The cart is in equilibrium at

A. all points between X and Y.

B. point O only.

C. points X and Y only.

D. points O, X and Y only.(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 11

14. The graph below shows how the displacement x of a particle undergoing simple harmonic motion varies with time t. The motion is undamped.

Which of the following graphs correctly shows how the velocity v of the particle varies with t?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 12

15. The graph below shows how the displacement x of a particle undergoing simple harmonic motion varies with time t. The motion is undamped.

Which of the following graphs shows how the total energy E of the particle varies with time t?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 13

16. A wooden block is at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface. A horizontal spring is attached between the block and a rigid support.

The block is displaced to the right by an amount X and is then released. The period of oscillations is T and the total energy of the system is E.

For an initial displacement of 2

X which of the following shows the best estimate for the period

of oscillations and the total energy of the system?

Period Total energy

A. T2

E

B. T4

E

C.2

T

2

E

D.2

T

4

E

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 14

17. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of a particle undergoing simple harmonic motion.

Which graph correctly shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the particle?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 15

18. The shock absorbers of a car, in good working condition, ensure that the vertical oscillations of the car are

A. undamped.

B. lightly damped.

C. moderately damped.

D. critically damped.(Total 1 mark)

19. Which of the following graphs shows the variation with displacement x of the speed v of a particle performing simple harmonic motion.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 16

20. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of a particle undergoing simple harmonic motion.

Which graph correctly shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the particle?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 17