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?
Lv 5
? asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 8 years ago

An object undergoing simple harmonic motion takes 0.25 s to travel from one point of zero velocity to the next?

An object undergoing simple harmonic motion takes 0.25 s to travel from one point of zero velocity to the next such point. The distance between those points is 36 cm. Calculate the (a) period, (b) frequency, and (c) amplitude of the motion.

I know the answers, I just don't know how to start the problem.

The answers are: (a) 0.50 s; (b) 2.0 Hz; (c) 18 cm

Thanks

Update:

Thanks Andrew. That was just what I needed!

2 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    These are all very straightforward results.

    The object will be stationary at two points in each cycle. The "positive" displacement and the "negative" displacement.

    so the time of 0.25 seconds is only half the time of the whole cycle.

    The whole cycle must be 2 * 0.25 s

    The frequency is how many cycles per second. If it takes 0.5 s ( a half a second for ONE cycle) how many of these can you get in a second?

    f = 1/T = 1/ 0.5 = 2 Hz

    And if the amplitude is defined as the furthest distance from the mean or midpoint of the oscillation then how does this compare to the distance between the two extremes?

    Clearly it must be half the distance between the extremes i.e 36 / 2 cm

  • 5 years ago

    For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avPGf

    1a. It is non-zero everywhere except when the displacement = 0. 1b. I can't see the picture.

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