Unit 3: Wave Behaviour
Topic 3.1: Simple Harmonic Motion Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Physics SL Topic 3.1. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Identify1 mark
2026
An oscillator is released from rest at its maximum displacement at t = 0. It oscillates with period T.
Which describes its kinetic energy during the first period?
Which describes its kinetic energy during the first period?
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2026
A simple pendulum has a length of 0.62 m.
Show that its period is about 1.6 s. (g = 9.8 m s−2)
Show that its period is about 1.6 s. (g = 9.8 m s−2)
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2025
A simple pendulum has period T on Earth. It is taken to a planet where the gravitational field strength is 4 times Earth's, and its length is doubled.
What is its period on the planet?
What is its period on the planet?
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2025
A glider on a spring of spring constant 150 N m−1 oscillates with amplitude 0.040 m.
Calculate the total energy of the oscillation.
Calculate the total energy of the oscillation.
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2025
A 2.0 kg cart is attached to a spring of spring constant 200 N m−1 and oscillates on a smooth track.
What is the period of the oscillation?
What is the period of the oscillation?
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2025
A toy bird of mass 0.50 kg bounces up and down on a spring of spring constant 18 N m−1.
How many oscillations does it make each second?
How many oscillations does it make each second?
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2025
A 0.30 kg mass oscillates with simple harmonic motion with ω = 8.0 rad s−1 and amplitude 0.050 m.
Calculate its total energy.
Calculate its total energy.
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2025
A mass on a spring of spring constant k oscillates with period T₁. The spring is replaced by one with spring constant 4k; the mass is unchanged. The new period is T₂.
What is T₂/T₁?
What is T₂/T₁?
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2025
The length of a simple pendulum is increased from 0.40 m to 1.6 m.
Determine (original frequency)/(new frequency).
Determine (original frequency)/(new frequency).
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2026
The displacement x, in m, of a piston is x = 0.060 cos(52t), with t in s.
Show that its maximum speed is about 3 m s−1.
Show that its maximum speed is about 3 m s−1.
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State the two conditions that the acceleration of an object must satisfy for the object to be undergoing simple harmonic motion.
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An oscillator completes one full cycle every 0.50 s.
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2025
A simple pendulum has period T. Its length is made 9 times longer and its bob is replaced by one of twice the mass.
What is the new period?
What is the new period?
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2026
Inside a vibration sensor, a 0.50 kg block is held by a spring (k = 320 N m−1) and damping is negligible.
Show that the block vibrates at about 4 Hz.
Show that the block vibrates at about 4 Hz.
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2025
A ruler clamped to a bench vibrates at 12.5 Hz. A pen on its tip draws a wavy trace on a strip of paper pulled steadily past it.
Calculate the time taken to draw five complete cycles of the trace.
Calculate the time taken to draw five complete cycles of the trace.
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2025
A graph of the resultant force F on an oscillating object against its displacement x is a straight line through the origin.
For simple harmonic motion, its gradient must be
For simple harmonic motion, its gradient must be
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2026
A model footbridge deck of mass 1.2 kg rests on springs with a combined spring constant of 1900 N m−1.
Show that the deck oscillates at about 6 Hz.
Show that the deck oscillates at about 6 Hz.
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2025
A data logger records the motion of a tuning fork prong vibrating at 440 Hz.
Calculate the time taken for 20 complete oscillations.
Calculate the time taken for 20 complete oscillations.
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2025
A playground swing behaves as a simple pendulum with angular frequency ω. A heavier child sits on it and the chains are replaced by chains twice as long.
What is the angular frequency now?
What is the angular frequency now?
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2025
The end of a diving board oscillates with simple harmonic motion. Its extreme positions are 0.30 m apart and its period is 0.75 s.
Calculate the maximum speed of the end of the board.
Calculate the maximum speed of the end of the board.
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