State the definition of simple harmonic motion in words.

Simple harmonic motion is motion in which the acceleration is proportional to the displacement from a fixed point and is always directed towards that point.

Why is there a minus sign in the equation a = −ω²x?

It shows that the acceleration is always directed opposite to the displacement, that is towards the equilibrium position.

How can the angular frequency be found from a graph of acceleration against displacement?

The gradient equals −ω², so ω is the square root of the magnitude of the gradient.

State a solution of a = −ω²x for the displacement of a body starting at maximum displacement.

x = A cos ωt, where A is the amplitude, since the phase constant is zero when timing starts at maximum displacement.

WJEC A-Level Physics 1420QS

Basic Physics

Topic overview Units and quantities Scalars, vectors and density Moments, centre of gravity and equilibrium Prefixes, derived units and unit conversion Adding coplanar vectors and the triangle of forces Resolving forces on an inclined plane Taking moments: beams, ladders and stability

Kinematics

Topic overview Describing motion Equations of motion and free fall Projectile motion Non-uniform acceleration and curved motion graphs Projectiles launched at an angle Measuring speed, acceleration and g in the laboratory

Dynamics

Topic overview Newton's second law and momentum Force and Newton's laws Impulse and the force–time graph Collisions and explosions in one dimension Free body diagrams and connected bodies Newton's third law pairs and everyday forces

Energy Concepts

Topic overview Work and power Conservation of energy and efficiency The work–energy relationship Gravitational potential energy and energy interchange Elastic potential energy and the force–extension graph Power, velocity and the efficiency of machines

Solids Under Stress

Topic overview Stress, strain and the Young modulus Stress–strain graphs and the behaviour of materials Measuring the Young modulus, and material properties Hooke's law and elastic strain energy Crystalline, amorphous and polymeric solids Dislocations, ductile and brittle fracture

Using Radiation to Investigate Stars

Topic overview Stellar spectra and black bodies Wien's law, Stefan's law and stellar properties The inverse square law and stellar distance Finding the radius and temperature of a star Multiwavelength astronomy

Particles and Nuclear Structure

Topic overview Quarks, leptons and hadrons The four interactions and conservation laws The first generation of quarks and leptons Antiparticles and annihilation Baryons, antibaryons and mesons Deducing quark compositions from charge Beta decay and quark flavour change Testing a reaction against the conservation rules

Conduction of Electricity

Topic overview Current, charge and the ampere Drift velocity and the equation I = nAvq The coulomb and the charge on an electron Conductors, insulators and other charge carriers The free-electron model and the speed of conduction

Resistance

Topic overview Calculating resistance from resistivity Potential difference, Ohm's law and power Resistivity, temperature and superconductivity The volt: energy transferred per unit charge Current–voltage characteristics of non-ohmic components Measuring resistance and resistivity in the laboratory The heating effect of a current and choosing a power equation Thermistors and how a semiconductor's resistance falls with temperature Conductance, conductivity and comparing materials

D.C. Circuits

Topic overview Kirchhoff's laws, and resistors in series and parallel Potential dividers, emf and internal resistance Cells, resistivity, power and energy Working out currents and potential differences in resistor networks Sensor circuits with thermistors and LDRs Internal resistance, power transfer and short-circuit current Ammeters, voltmeters and their effect on the circuit

The Nature of Waves

Topic overview What a wave is, and the wave equation Describing a wave: peaks, compressions and phase Polarisation and plane-polarised waves Displacement–time and displacement–position graphs Wavefronts and rays Phase difference between two points on a wave

Wave Properties

Topic overview Energy transfer and the wave equation Transverse and longitudinal waves, path difference and intensity Diffraction and superposition Two-source interference and the diffraction grating Stationary waves How much a wave spreads at a gap or an obstacle Coherence and the conditions for observable interference Young's double slit and λ = ay/D Measuring wavelength with a diffraction grating Measuring the speed of sound with stationary waves

Refraction of Light

Topic overview What refraction is and why it happens Refractive index and Snell's law Total internal reflection and optical fibres The wave model of refraction and n₁v₁ = n₂v₂ Snell's law at a boundary between two media Optical fibres: core, cladding and pulse broadening

Photons

Topic overview Photon energy and the electronvolt The photoelectric effect Stopping potential and the Planck constant The photoelectric effect and photon energies Line spectra and energy levels Demonstrating the photoelectric effect The electromagnetic spectrum and typical photon energies Electron diffraction and the de Broglie relationship Radiation pressure

Lasers

Topic overview Stimulated emission and the properties of laser light Population inversion, pumping and the laser cavity Why a two-level system cannot give a population inversion Three-level and four-level laser systems The semiconductor laser and its uses

Circular Motion

Topic overview Angular velocity, period and frequency Centripetal acceleration and centripetal force Angular measure, period and frequency Vertical circular motion Horizontal circular motion in practice

Vibrations

Topic overview Simple harmonic motion and its equations Oscillating systems and energy Damping and resonance The simple pendulum The mass–spring oscillator The displacement and velocity equations Graphs of displacement, velocity and acceleration The energy interchange in simple harmonic motion Free and forced oscillations Light, heavy and critical damping

Kinetic Theory

Topic overview The assumptions of kinetic theory Molecular speeds, temperature and real gases The Avogadro constant and the mole The ideal gas equation of state and molar mass The pressure of a gas and mean molecular kinetic energy

Thermal Physics

Topic overview Internal energy and heat Work, the first law and specific heat capacity Thermal equilibrium, temperature and absolute zero The internal energy of an ideal monatomic gas Work done by a gas at constant pressure The p–V diagram and work as an area Sign conventions and special cases of the first law Measuring specific heat capacity

Nuclear Decay

Topic overview Radioactive decay, activity and half-life Distinguishing the radiations, and background radiation Randomness and spontaneity in radioactive decay Writing and balancing nuclear decay equations The decay constant and activity The exponential decay law in calculations

Nuclear Energy

Topic overview Binding energy, mass defect and E = Δmc² Nuclear reactors and the chain reaction The binding energy per nucleon curve Mass–energy calculations for fission and fusion Nuclear power: the arguments for and against

Capacitance

Topic overview Capacitance and the parallel plate capacitor Energy, combinations and RC circuits Charging at constant current and measuring capacitance Dielectrics and relative permittivity The uniform field between capacitor plates Energy stored in a capacitor and the Q–V graph Exponential discharge, the time constant and log graphs Capacitors in series and parallel: charge and potential difference sharing

Electrostatic and Gravitational Fields of Force

Topic overview Electric and gravitational fields compared Field lines, equipotentials and combining fields Electric potential and the work done on a charge Gravitational potential and potential energy Adding potentials and fields from several sources Equipotential surfaces Comparing the two fields point by point

Orbits and the Wider Universe

Topic overview Kepler's laws and orbital motion The Doppler effect, dark matter and the expanding universe Newton's law of gravitation applied to orbits Deriving Kepler's third law Finding the mass of a central object Galactic rotation curves and dark matter The centre of mass of a two-body system Radial velocity and the Doppler shift of spectral lines Hubble's law and the age of the universe

Magnetic Fields

Topic overview Magnetic fields and field patterns Magnetic flux density and the force on a conductor The force on a moving charge and its circular path The Hall effect and the Hall voltage Magnetic fields due to a current in a wire and in a solenoid Forces between current-carrying conductors Charged particle beams, velocity selectors and accelerators

Electromagnetic Induction

Topic overview Magnetic flux and flux linkage Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction Lenz's law and the direction of the induced current Emf induced in a moving conductor The rotating coil and the a.c. generator

Option A: Alternating CurrentsOption A

Topic overview Alternating current and rms values Rms values, mean power and UK mains Induced emf and the oscilloscope Reactance, impedance and resonance Flux linkage in a rotating coil Mean power and energy in a.c. circuits Phasor addition in series a.c. circuits Resonance curves and the Q factor

Option B: Medical PhysicsOption B

Topic overview Medical physics Ultrasound imaging Radiation and living tissue X-ray production and beam control Attenuation and half-value thickness Radiography, fluoroscopy and CT scanning Acoustic impedance and ultrasound reflection Magnetic resonance imaging Absorbed dose, equivalent dose and effective dose Radionuclide tracers, the gamma camera and PET

Option C: The Physics of SportsOption C

Topic overview Centre of gravity, stability and moments Restitution, moment of inertia and angular momentum Rotational energy, projectiles and the flight of a ball Moments in the muscles and joints Applying the impulse equation in sport Moment of inertia and angular kinematics Torque, angular momentum and its conservation Rotational energy and energy conservation in sport

Option D: Energy and the EnvironmentOption D

Topic overview Factors affecting the rate at which the temperature of the Earth rises The Earth's thermal equilibrium, Wien's law and Stefan's law Renewable and non-renewable sources Solar energy and photovoltaic cells Wind, tidal and hydroelectric power Nuclear fission and fusion as energy sources U-values and rates of heat loss Fuel cells and how they work Fuel cells: benefits, limitations and the hydrogen economy Thermal conduction, conductivity and insulation

Mathematical Requirements (Appendix C)

Topic overview Significant figures and arithmetic means Uncertainty and how uncertainties combine Algebraic symbols and proportionality Rearranging and solving equations Small angle approximations Tangents and instantaneous rates of change Areas under curves and numerical methods Reading a tangent on a motion graph Straight-line graphs and y = mx + c What a gradient and an intercept represent Linearising a relationship to find a constant Log plots of exponential decay Choosing what to plot to find a constant Logarithmic scales and orders of magnitude Working with base-ten logarithms The shapes of common graphs Inverse and root relationships on a graph Areas, volumes and Pythagoras Geometry applied to physical situations Substituting into physical equations Trigonometry and right-angled triangles Resolving a force into components Radians, arc length and force diagrams Random processes and translating between representations Mean values and periodic functions Symbols for approximation and comparison

How Science Works (Appendix D)

Topic overview Apparatus and taking measurements Working safely with radioactive sources Planning an investigation Analysing and evaluating evidence Uncertainty, repeatability and drawing a conclusion

Vibrations

10 subtopics
30 things to know
A2 Unit 3

What Vibrations covers

Vibrations is examined on A2 Unit 3 of WJEC Physics, Oscillations and Nuclei. 140 recall questions across 10 subtopics.

Where it is assessed

A2 Unit 3

Oscillations and Nuclei.

Check the WJEC specification ↗

The 10 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Define the amplitude, period and frequency of an oscillation.

Evaluation

Where does resonance matter in practice?

Key term

Explain why the standard period equation fails for a pendulum swinging through a large angle.

Key term

A given mass and spring are used first hanging vertically and then sliding horizontally on a frictionless surface. Compare the two periods.

Numbers

A body oscillates with amplitude 0.12 m and period 0.40 s, starting from maximum positive displacement. Calculate its displacement 0.050 s later.

Key term

State the total energy of an undamped simple harmonic oscillator in terms of its amplitude.

Numbers

The amplitude of a lightly damped oscillator falls from 60 mm to 48 mm in one cycle. Calculate the amplitude after three complete cycles.

Key term

Explain why a pendulum swinging in air stops after a few minutes but the same pendulum in an evacuated case keeps going far longer.

Key term

State the defining equation of simple harmonic motion.

Key term

State the equation for the period of a mass on a spring.

Key term

How does the period of a mass–spring system change if the mass is quadrupled?

Key term

What is a free oscillation?

Key term

Under what condition does a simple pendulum perform simple harmonic motion?

Key term

State the equation for the period of a mass oscillating on a spring, defining each symbol with its unit.

Key term

How is the angular frequency related to the period and to the frequency?

Key term

What does the gradient of an acceleration against displacement graph represent?

Key term

Explain why the acceleration against displacement line must pass through the origin.

Key term

Give the kinetic energy of a simple harmonic oscillator in terms of its displacement.

Key term

Define the natural frequency of an oscillating system.

Key term

What is meant by a forced oscillation?

Key term

Describe the graph of acceleration against displacement for simple harmonic motion.

Numbers

Calculate the period of a 0.25 kg mass on a spring of stiffness 40 N m⁻¹.

Key term

What is damping?

Key term

The length of a simple pendulum is increased by a factor of four. What happens to its period?

Key term

What does the stiffness k of a spring mean?

Key term

Give the maximum speed of a simple harmonic oscillator and state where in the motion it occurs.

Key term

State the phase relationship between velocity and acceleration in simple harmonic motion.

Key term

Give the potential energy of a simple harmonic oscillator in terms of its displacement.

Key term

How does increasing the damping change the resonance curve?

Key term

What is meant by damping?

Take Vibrations further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

Distance vs Displacement
Distance: the total length of the path travelled, whatever its direction. Displacement: the straight-line separation from start to finish, in a stated direction.
Simple harmonic motion vs Damping
Simple harmonic motion: motion whose acceleration is proportional to displacement and directed towards the centre. Damping: the loss of energy from an oscillator to a resistive force.
Free oscillation vs Forced oscillation
Free oscillation: vibration at a system's own natural frequency after a single displacement. Forced oscillation: vibration driven continuously by an external periodic force.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
State the definition of simple harmonic motion in words.
Model answer
Simple harmonic motion is motion in which the acceleration is proportional to the displacement from a fixed point and is always directed towards that point.
2
State the defining equation of simple harmonic motion.
Model answer
a = −ω²x, where a is the acceleration, x is the displacement from the equilibrium position and ω is the angular frequency.
3
Why is there a minus sign in the equation a = −ω²x?
Model answer
It shows that the acceleration is always directed opposite to the displacement, that is towards the equilibrium position.
4
Describe the graph of acceleration against displacement for simple harmonic motion.
Model answer
A straight line through the origin with a negative gradient, the gradient being −ω².
5
How can the angular frequency be found from a graph of acceleration against displacement?
Model answer
The gradient equals −ω², so ω is the square root of the magnitude of the gradient.
6
State a solution of a = −ω²x for the displacement of a body starting at maximum displacement.
Model answer
x = A cos ωt, where A is the amplitude, since the phase constant is zero when timing starts at maximum displacement.

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Vibrations revision questions

What does Vibrations cover in WJEC A-Level Physics?: 10 subtopics: simple harmonic motion and its equations, oscillating systems and energy, damping and resonance, the simple pendulum, the mass–spring oscillator, the displacement and velocity equations, graphs of displacement, velocity and acceleration, the energy interchange in simple harmonic motion, free and forced oscillations and light, heavy and critical damping. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is Vibrations organised?: By the WJEC 1420QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

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