Wave topics

Waves - multiple choice

When an object is oscillating in simple harmonic motion in the vertical direction, its
maximum speed occurs when the object
(a) is at its highest point.
(b) is at its lowest point.
(c) is at the equilibrium point.
(d) has the maximum net force exerted on it.
(e) has a position equal to its amplitude.
Because the total energy is fixed at kA 2/2, the maximum kinetic energy occurs at the
minimum potential energy, where x = 0. Thus, the maximum speed is at the equilibrium
position.
Any body moving with simple harmonic motion is being acted by a force that is
(a) constant.
(b) proportional to a sine or cosine function of the displacement.
(c) proportional to the inverse square of the displacement.
(d) directly proportional to the displacement.
(e) proportional to the square of the displacement.
The force law which gives rise to simple harmonic motion is F = -kx, so the force is
directly proportional to the displacement.
A system consists of a mass vibrating on the end of a spring. The total mechanical
energy of this system
(a) varies as a sine or cosine function.
(b) is constant only when the mass is at maximum displacement.
(c) is a maximum when the mass is at its equilibrium position only.
(d) is constant, regardless of the displacement of the mass from the equilibrium
position.
(e) is always equal to the square of the amplitude.
The total energy for a mass undergoing simple harmonic motion on a spring is kA 2/2.
This expression depends only on the amplitude, not the instantaneous position, so the
total energy is constant.
The period of a pendulum increases by a factor of four when transported to the surface
of the mythical planet Tundra. What is the gravitational acceleration on the surface of
Tundra compared to that on Earth?
(a) g/16
(b) g/4
(c) g/2
(d) 2g
(e) 16g
The period of a pendulum is given by T = 2 (g/L)1/2, from which g ~ 1/T 2. Thus, if the
period increases by a factor of 4, the local gravitational acceleration must decrease by a
factor of 16.
A string under tension carries transverse waves travelling at speed v. If the tension in
the string is halved and the linear density of the string is doubled, what is the wave
speed?

Wave topics

(a) the wave speed is unchanged.

(b) the wave speed is halved.
(c) the wave speed is quadrupled.
(d) the wave speed decreases to about 71% of v.
(e) the wave speed increases by about 41%.
The speed of a wave is equal to (T /)1/2, so if the conditions on the string are changed
to T/2 and 2, the speed becomes (T / 22)1/2 = (T /)1/2 / 2.
An object executing simple harmonic motion with angular frequency and amplitude A
has its most negative position at time t = 0. Which expression describes its motion?
(a) A sin(t + /2) (b) A sin(t)
(c) A sin(t + )
(d) A cos(t)
(e) A cos(t + )
The motion has x = -A at t = 0, which can be described by a variety of functions:
x(t) = -A cos(t) = A cos(t + ) = A sin(t - /2).
An object executing simple harmonic motion with amplitude A has its most negative
speed at time t = 0. Which of the following expressions describes its motion?
(a) A sin(t - /2)
(b) A sin(t)
(c) A sin(t + )
(d) A cos(t)
(e) A cos(t + )
The motion has its most negative speed at t = 0, so its position appears like the
negative of a sine function, which has a variety of representations, including:
x(t) = -A sin(t) = +A sin(t + ).
A mass attached to a spring vibrates with a period of 0.5 s. When the mass passes
through its equilibrium position, it is moving with a velocity of 0.2 m/s. What is the
amplitude of the motion?
(a) 0.016 m
(b) 0.032 m
(c) 0.1 m
(d) 0.4 m
(e) 1.25 m
The motion can be described by x = Asin(t), where = 2/T = 4. The velocity is
Acos(t). When the mass passes through its equilibrium position, x = 0, v = vmax = A.
Therefore, A = vmax/ = 0.2/(4) = 0.016m.
A mass m hanging on a string with a spring constant k has simple harmonic motion with
a period T. If the mass is doubled to 2m, the period of oscillation is
(a) 2T
(b) T /2
(c) 2 T
(d) T / 2
(e) T
The period of a spring is given by T = 2(m /k)1/2. Thus, if the mass is doubled, the
period increases by a factor of 2.
A mass hanging from a spring is pulled down from its
equilibrium position through a distance
A and then released
at t = 0. It oscillates with a frequency f. What is its
displacement as a function of time, x(t)?

x-axis

(a) A sin(2ft)
(b) -A sin(2ft)
(c) A cos(2ft) (d) -A cos(2ft) (e) A sin(t)
The displacement from equilibrium at t = 0 for the five functions is 0, 0, A, -A and 0,
respectively. Hence the solution is -A cos(2ft).

Wave topics

A mass m hanging from a spring of force constant

k oscillates
with a period To . If the same mass were hung from a spring
with force constant 3 k, what would be its period of oscillation?

k
m

(a) 3To
(b) 3To
(c) To
(d) To/ 3
(e) To/3
Since = (k / m)1/2, then the original period is To = 2(m / k)1/2. Changing the spring
constant changes the period to T = 2(m / 3k)1/2 = To / 3.
A string of length L is stretched between two fixed points and made to vibrate with a
node at location L/2. If the angular frequency of the vibration is , what function
describes the motion at L/2?
(a) 0
(b) A sin(t)
(c) A cos(t) (d) A sin(2L /) (e) A sin(L /)
By definition, there is no motion at a node, and hence y(t) = 0.
A mass is hung vertically from a spring of force constant ksp. When given an amplitude
of oscillation A, the mass has a maximum speed v during its motion. If the spring
constant is tripled to 3ksp, what amplitude is needed to give the mass the same
maximum velocity?
(a) A/ 3
(b) 3A
(c) A/3
(d) 3 A
(e) A
The total energy of the system is E = kspA2/2, and this must equal the maximum kinetic
energy mv2/2. For the energy to remain the same when the spring constant is tripled,
the amplitude must decrease by 3. That is,
kspA2/2 = 3kspAnew2/2
or
Anew2 = A2/3
--->
Anew = A/ 3.
A mass m hanging on a string with a spring constant k has simple harmonic motion with
a period T. If the mass is tripled to 3m, the period of oscillation is
(a) 3T
(b) T /3
(c) 3 T
(d) T / 3
(e) T
The period of a spring is given by T = 2(m /k)1/2. Thus, if the mass is tripled, the period
increases by a factor of 3.
An astronaut takes a simple pendulum with her on a voyage to the Moon. The
acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Moon is 1/6 of that on the Earth. What
is the ratio of the frequency of the pendulum as measured on the Moon compared to the
frequency on Earth?
(a) 1
(b) 6
(c) 1/6
(d) 6
(e) 1 / 6
The frequency f of a pendulum is proportional to f = 1/T ~ (g / l)1/2 ~ g. Hence, if g on
the Moon is 1/6 what it is on Earth, then f on the Moon is 1 / 6 what it is on Earth.
A mass m is hung from a stiff massless rod, hinged at the top so that the rod acts like a
pendulum with period To. If the mass is doubled, what is the new period in terms of the

Wave topics

original period To?

(a) 2To
(b) 2 To
(c) To
(d) To/2
(e) To/2
The angular frequency of a pendulum is (g / l), independent of mass. Hence, the
periods are the same.
A grandfather clock uses the swing of a large pendulum to measure time. Suppose that
such a clock is transported to a small planet where the local acceleration due to gravity
is 1/9 that on Earth. How many Earth hours would it take for the clock to complete 12
hours as measured by the hands of the clock?
(a) 12
(b) 36
(c) 4
(d) 4/3
(e) 72
The period of a pendulum is proportional to 1/ g, where g is the local acceleration due
to gravity. Thus, the period of the clock on the planet is 9 = 3 times that on Earth, and
it take 3 x 12 = 36 Earth hours for the clock to complete 12 hours on the planet.
A particular simple pendulum has a total energy Eo when it swings to a maximum angle
of o with respect to the vertical. What would be its total energy if it could reach a
maximum of 2o?
(a) Eo/2
(b) 2Eo
(c) Eo
(d) Eo/4
(e) 4Eo
In simple harmonic motion, the total energy is proportional to the square of the
amplitude. Thus, if the amplitude increases by a factor of two (from o to 2o), the total
energy must increase by a factor of 22 = 4.
A pendulum is oscillating with a total mechanical energy E0. When the pendulum is at its
maximum displacement, the kinetic energy K and the potential energy U are
(a) K=E0/2; U=E0/2
(b) K=0; U=E0
(c) K= E0; U= E0
(d) K=E0; U=0
(e) K=E0; U=E0/2
At its maximum displacement, the kinetic energy is zero, and all of the mechanical
energy is in the form of potential energy: K=0; U=Eo.
The angular displacement of a bar in a torsion pendulum is (t) = 3 cos 5t, where t is in
seconds. What is the magnitude of the rate of change of when = 1.5 radians [units
are quoted in s-1 below]?
(a) 13
(b) 3.0
(c) 7.5
(d) 15
(e) 5
The general expressions for the motion are (t) = o cos(t) and (t) = -o sin(t).
From the expression for the angle, (t) / o = cos(t) = 1/2 at the time in question.
Thus, sin(t) = [1 - 1/4]1/2 = 3 / 2. Hence, (t) = -53sin(t) = -533 / 2 = -12.99.
Radio station CBC-am broadcasts at a frequency of about 700 x 103 Hz, while CBC-fm
broadcasts at about 100 x 106 Hz. If the amplitude of the radio waves leaving the
broadcast towers were the same for both stations, what would be the ratio of the power
for CBC-am compared to CBC-fm?
(a) 2.0 x 104
(b)7 x 10-3
(c) 4.9 x 10-5
(d) 143 (e) none of [a]-[d]
The power of a wave is proportional to the square of the frequency. Hence, the ratio of
CBC-am to CBC-fm is (7 x 105 / 108)2 = 4.9 x 10-5.

Wave topics

A wave travels with a speed vo along a string under tension. If the mass of the string is
doubled, but its length and tension are unchanged, what would be the speed of the
wave?
(a) vo/ 2
(b) 2 vo
(c) 2vo
(d) vo/2
(e) vo/4
The speed of a wave on a string under tension is inversely proportional to the square
root of the mass per unit length. Thus, if the mass doubles, the speed drops to vo/ 2.
When plucked, a guitar string under a tension T vibrates with a frequency f. If you wish
to double the frequency at which the string vibrates, under what tension must you place
the string?
(a) 4T
(b) 2T
(c) T
(d) T/2
(e) T/4
1/2
The frequency f of the string is proportional to (T/ ) , where is the mass per unit
length. Hence, if you want to double f, you must quadruple T to 4T.
A string under tension carries transverse waves travelling at speed v. If the same string
is under four times the tension, what is the wave speed?
(a) v
(b) v/4
(c) v/2
(d) 4v
(e) 2v
1/2
The speed of a wave on a string is proportional to (T /) , where T is the tension in the
string. Thus, if the tension is doubled, the speed increases by a factor of 2.
A wave travels along a string under tension at a speed v. If the mass per unit length of
the string were twice as large, but the tension on the string is the same, how fast would
the wave travel in terms of its original speed?
(a) 2v
(b) 2 v
(c) v
(d) v / 2
(e) v /2
For travelling waves, v = (T / ). Thus, if doubles, then the velocity decreases by 2.
v
->
v / 2
A police car has a siren which wails at a wavelength according to a listener travelling
in the car. What is the wavelength of the siren as heard by a person standing on the
street as the car approaches them at a speed v? The speed of sound in air is c.
(a) 2v/c
(b) 0
(c) (1 + v/c)
(d) (1 - v/c)
(e)
A stationary listener hears the siren shifted to a shorter wavelength of (1 - v/c) because
of the Doppler effect.
The siren on an ambulance emits sound at a wavelength , according to its driver.
When the ambulance drives around a traffic circle, an observer at the centre of the circle
measures the wavelength of the sound from the siren to be
(a) >
(b) <
(c)
(d) 0
(e) depends on the ambulance speed
At the centre of the circle, the ambulance is moving neither towards nor away from the
observer, so the wavelength doesn't change.
On a calm day, the waves reaching a beach have an amplitude of 0.1 m. On a much
windier day, the amplitude is 0.5 m, although the speed and wavelength of the waves is
the same. What is the ratio of the power delivered by the waves on the windy day
compared to that on the calm day?
(a) 1
(b) 25
(c) 5
(d) 1/5
(e) none of (a)-(d)

Wave topics

The power of a wave is proportional to the amplitude squared, all other things being
equal. Thus,
Pwindy / Pcalm = (0.5 / 0.1)2 = 25.
Two radio stations, CBX and CBY, broadcast at the same power; however, the
broadcast frequency of CBX is one-third of CBY. What is the ratio of the amplitudes A
of their signal? ACBX / ACBY is given by
(a) 1/3
(b) 3
(c) 1
(d) 1/9
(e) 9
The power of a wave is proportional to 2A2 = (A)2. Thus, to have the same power at
one-third the frequency, the amplitude must be tripled (i.e. ACBX/ACBY = 3), since the
product of frequency and amplitude must be the same.
The sound level of a dogs bark is 50 dB. The intensity of a rock concert is 10,000 times
that of the dogs bark. What is the sound level of the rock concert?
(a) 10,050 dB
(b) 500,000 dB
(c) 90 dB
(d) 2000 dB
(e) 54 dB
From the equation for the sound intensity level = 10 log10(I /Io), the intensity of the
dog's bark is I = Io 10^(0.1) = Io 10^(0.150) = 105 Io. The rock concert is 104 times as
loud, which is therefore 109 Io. Thus, the sound intensity level is
= 10 log10(109 Io /Io) = 10 log10(109) = 90 dB.
One hundred cars are revving their engines in preparation for a race, each car engine
contributing 100 dB to the total. What is the sound intensity level of all 100 cars (in dB)?
(a) 100
(b) 200
(c) 10000
(d) 240
(e) 120
From the equation for the sound intensity level = 10 log10(I /Io), the intensity of a single
car is I = Io 10^(0.1) = Io 10^(0.1100) = 1010 Io. The group of cars is 102 times as
loud, which is therefore 1012 Io. Thus, the sound intensity level is
= 10 log10(1012 Io /Io) = 10 log10(1012) = 120 dB.
A wire is stretched between two fixed points separated by a distance L. What is the
longest wavelength that a standing wave can have on this wire?
(a) L
(b) 2L
(c) L /2
(d) 0
(e) no limit
If the fixed points occupy nodes, then the longest wavelength is 2L.
Suppose that a radio in a closed room has a decibel reading of 50. What would be the
decibel reading of 10 similar radios in the same room?
(a) 60
(b) 40
(c) 100
(d) 500
(e) 50 log2
On the decibel scale, the intensity is given by
= 10 log (I / Io)
where I is the sound intensity and Io is a reference intensity. If the intensity increases
by a factor of ten because of the ten radios, then the decibel reading changes according
to
= 10 log (10I / Io) = 10{log10 + log (I / Io)} = 10{1 + log (I / Io)}
or
= 10 + 10 log (I / Io).
Thus, the new reading is 60.

Wave topics

The displacement y(x,t) of a particular travelling wave has the form

y(x,t) = A sin(x + t /2).
What is the speed of this wave, ignoring its direction?
(a) /2
(b) 2
(c) 4
(d) 8
(e) none of [a-d]
The general expression for a travelling wave is
y(x,t) = A sin(2x / + 2t /T),
where is the wavelength and T is the period. Comparing with the equation in the
problem,
= 2
and
T = 4.
Since
c = /T,
then
c = 2/4 = /2.
A wave of the form A sin(t+ ) is added to a string carrying a wave of the form A
sin(t). What is the equation of the resulting wave?
(a) 0 (b) 2A sin(t)
(c) A sin(t+ /2) (d) -2Asin(t)
(e) none of [a-d]
The equation for the added wave can be written as A sin(t+ ) = -A sin(t). When the
two waves are added, they cancel: A sin(t) + [-A sin(t)] = 0.
A wave of the form A cos(t+ ) is added to a string carrying a wave of the form A
cos(t). What is the equation of the resulting wave?
(a) 0 (b) 2A cos(t)
(c) A cos(t+ /2) (d) -2Acos(t)
(e) none of [a-d]
The equation for the added wave can be written as A cos(t+ ) = -A cos(t). When the
two waves are added, they cancel: A cos(t) + [-A cos(t)] = 0.
The standing waves on a string of length L that is fixed at both ends have a speed v.
The three lowest frequencies of vibration are
(a) v/L, 2v/L, and 3v/L
(b) v/2L, v/L, and 3v/2L
(c) /2, , and 3/2
(d) L/v, 2L/v, and 3L/v
(e) /3, 2/3, and 3/3.
The frequency of a wave is given by f = v /. The wavelengths of the first few standing
waves are = 2L, L, 2L/3...
so that the frequencies are (v /L) (1/2)...(1)...(3/2)...

Wave topics

Waves - problems
A thin rod of mass M and length L pivots around a point L/3 from one end of the rod.
(a) What is the moment of inertia about the pivot point?
(b) What is the frequency of oscillation if L = 2 m?
By the parallel axis theorem,
I|| = Icm + MD2 where D is the distance from the cm to the axis of rotation
I||

Icm
L/3

L/6

In the diagram, the distance from the pivot point to the cm is D = L/2 - L/3 = L/6.
For a thin rod, Icm = ML2 / 12, so the parallel axis theorem yields:
I|| = ML2 / 12 + M(L/6)2 = ML2 ( 1/12 + 1/36 ) = ML2 (3 + 1)/36 = ML2 / 9.
(b) The frequency of a physical pendulum is
f = (mgD / I)1/2 / 2
= (Mg[L/6] / [ML2/9] )1/2 / 2
= (3g / 2L)1/2 / 2
Substituting,
f = ( [3 9.8] / [2 2] )1/2 / 2
= 0.43 s-1.

Wave topics
In a torsion pendulum, an object is hung from a
massless spring. When the object is twisted
through an angle ! about the vertical axis, it
experiences a restoring torque " = -#!, where # is
a constant. Find the period T of the pendulum in
terms of # and the moment of inertia I.

spring

The restoring torque on the object is given as = - .

But, by definition, = I = I d2 / dt2.
Thus, I d2 / dt2 = - , or
d2 / dt2 = -( / I),
which is the equation for simple harmonic motion.
From this form, we expect that the angular frequency is given by
2 = / I.
But since is related to the period T through
= 2f = 2/T
or
T = 2/,
we conclude
T = 2 / ( / I)1/2 = 2(I / )1/2.

motion
object

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10

Two identical objects each of weight 50 N are

attached by a wire, which slides over two
frictionless pulleys, as in the diagram.
If the wire is gently tapped in the vertical
direction half-way between the pulleys,
what is the lowest frequency at which
it will vibrate transversely? The mass
per unit length of the wire is 0.02 kg/m,
and it has a length of 0.2 m between pulleys.

0.2 m

The tension in the wire is just equal to the weight, as can be seen by considering a freebody diagram at one of the masses:

w
The speed of a transverse wave in this wire is then
v = (T / )1/2 = (50 / 0.02)1/2 = 50 m/s.
Tapping the wire induces a standing wave, whose maximum wavelength is
= 2L = 2 x 0.2 = 0.4 m.
Lastly, the frequency corresponding to this wavelength can be obtained from
v = f
or
f = v / = 50 / 0.4 = 125 s-1.

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11

A strip of elastic material with mass 5.00 g has an unstretched length of 50.0 cm and a
force constant of 200 N/m. The top of the elastic is hung from a fixed point and a mass
m is hung from the bottom of the band. The band is plucked in the middle to make it
vibrate.

Elastic
material

m
a) What is the lowest frequency tranverse vibration when m = 2.0 kg?
b) Does the transverse vibration have the same frequency as the longitudinal vibration?
(a) For transverse vibrations, the lowest frequency is given by
f = (1/2L) (S/)1/2,
where
L = length of material
S = tension
= mass per unit length.
What is when the elastic is stretched by a mass m = 2 kg?
Using S = F = -kx,
F = mg = 2 x 9.8 = 19.6 N
---> x = F /k = 19.6 / 200 = 0.098 m
Hence, the total length is 0.500 + 0.098 = 0.598 m
and the mass per unit length is
= 0.005 / 0.598 = 0.0084 kg/m.
Returning to the transverse frequency, we now have
f = (1/ 20.598) (19.6 / 0.0084)1/2 = 40.5 s-1.
(b) The frequency of the longitudinal vibration is
f = /2 = (1/ 2) (k /m)1/2.
Hence
f = (1/ 2) (200 /2)1/2 = 1.59 s-1.
Thus, the transverse and longitudinal frequencies are different for this system.

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12

A 10 kg mass is hung on the end of a wire of mass 10 grams and length L = 0.5 m, as
illustrated. (Assume that g = 10 m/s.)
(i) What is the longest wavelength at which the wire vibrates when plucked?
(ii) What is the speed of a wave on the wire?
(iii) What is the lowest frequency corresponding to your answer in part (i)?

vibration

0.5 m

10 kg

(i) The longest wavelength is 2L:

L
Thus, the longest wavelength is 2 x 0.5 = 1 m.
(ii) The speed of a wave on a wire is given by
v = (S / )
where the tension S in this case is
S = mg = 10 x 10 = 100 N
and the mass per unit length is
= 0.01 / 0.5 = 0.02 kg/m.
Hence the speed of the wave is
v = (100 / 0.02)1/2 = 5000 = 71 m/s.
(iii) The speed of a wave is related to the frequency f and wavelength through
v = f
so that
f = v / = 71 / 1 = 71 sec-1.

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13

A uniform string of length L hangs under its own weight vertically from the top end, while
the bottom end is free. As a function of height h from the lower end, show that the
speed v of a travelling wave is given by v = (gh)1/2. Quoting your source, you may
assume results for waves on a string as derived in class.
At any given height h, the tension in the string is equal to mhg, where mh is the mass of
the string below h. (must show a free-body diagram)

F
h

hg
This mass is equal to
mh = h
where is the mass per unit length (m/L).
From class, the speed of the wave is
v = (F/)1/2
which becomes
v = (hg / )1/2
= (gh)1/2.

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14

A singing bird delivers about 1.25 x 10-3 watts of power.

(a) If the power is uniformly distributed in all directions, what is the sound intensity level
(in dB) at a distance of 10 m?
(b) What is the magnitude of the intensity level if three birds sing at once?
(a) The intensity I of the sound is equal to the power per unit area, or
I = P / [area]
For sound spread uniformly over a spherical shell this is
I = P / 4R 2.
Thus,
I = 1.25 x 10-3 / (4 102)
= 1.0 x 10-6 w/m2.
The sound intensity level is given by
= 10 log10(I / Io) dB
where
Io = 10-12 w/m2.
Thus, we have
= 10 log10(1.0 x 10-6 / 10-12)
= 60 dB.
(b) If the intensity is tripled to 3 1.0 x 10-6 = 3.0 x 10-6 w/m2, the sound intensity level
increases to
= 10 log10(3.0 x 10-6 / 10-12)
= 65 dB.

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15

Two waves described by the equations x1(t) = A sin(t) and x2(t) = A cos(2t/3) are
emitted from nearby sources. What is the beat frequency generated by these waves?
The angular frequency of each wave can be found by comparing with the expression
x(t) = A sin(t)
(mandatory)
which leads to
1 = rad/s
2 = 2/3 rad/s.
The frequency f is related to by
f = / 2
so
f1 = / 2 = 1/2 s-1
f2 = (2/3) / 2 = 1/3 s-1.
Thus, the beat frequency is
fbeat = 1/2 - 1/3 = 1/6 s-1.

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16

Two stars with equal mass orbit one another at a constant tangential speed v = 3.0 x
104 m/s about their centre of mass. Light of the same exact frequency f is emitted from
each of the stars, and is observed on Earth some time later. The Earth lies in the orbital
plane of the stars, as in the diagram.

To Earth

(a) What is the maximum and minimum value of the frequency of light from the stars as
seen from Earth.
(b) Draw a diagram like the one above, and indicate at what locations the maximum
and minimum frequencies occur. Indicate where there are no frequency shifts.
(c) When both stars emit light simultaneously, what the maximum beat frequency
observed at Earth from the stars?
(the speed of light is 3.0 x 108 m/s)
(a) At the angular extremes, the Doppler shift of the light is
f' = f (1 v /c) = f [1 (3.0 x 104 / 3.0 x 108) ]
= (1 10-4) f.
Hence, the extrema are
f' = 1.0001 f and f' = 0.9999 f.
maximum
(b)

<-

no shift

->

To Earth

minimum

(c) When emitted simultaneously, the two light sources can have a maximum beat
frequency of
fbeat = fmax - fmin = 1.0001f - 0.9999f = 0.0002f.

Wave topics

17

A 200 gram mass vibrates in the x-direction without friction at the end of a massless
horizontal spring for which k = 7.2 N/m. The mass is displaced 5.0 cm from equilibrium
and released.
(a) Find the period of the vibration.
(b) Find maximum speed of the mass.
(c) Find the speed of the mass when it is 4.0 cm from equilibrium (quote v in cm/s).
(d) Find the magnitude of the acceleration when the mass is 2.0 cm from equilibrium
(quote a in cm/s2).
(a) The angular frequency is = (k /m)1/2 which here is
= (7.2 / 0.2)1/2 = (36)1/2 = 6 s-1.
Thus, the period is
T = 2/ = 2/6 = /3 s.
(b) The velocity is described by the function
v(t) = A cos(t)
which has a maximum value of
vmax = A.
Here, the numerical value of vmax is
vmax = 6 5.0 = 30 cm/s.
(c) One way to solve this question is by invoking conservation of energy
[maximum PE] = [sum of KE and PE at any x]
kA 2/2 = kx 2/2 + mv 2/2
or
v 2 = (k /m) (A 2 - x 2)
whence
v = (A 2 - x 2)1/2.
Numerically, this is
v = 6 (52 - 42)1/2
= 6 9
= 18 cm/s.
(d) The definition of simple harmonic motion for springs is
a(t) = - (k /m) x(t).
Here, we have
|a| = 2 x
= 62 2.0 = 72 cm/s.