Giancoli, Physics : Principles with Applications, 5/E Chapter 11 -- Physlet® Problems

Chapter 11: Vibrations and Waves
Physlet® Problems

A mass is vibrating at the end of a spring as shown above. Position is shown in cm and time in seconds. Which of the following statements is correct? Start

The amplitude is 6 cm and the period is 1 sec.

The amplitude is 12 cm and the period is 1 sec.

The amplitude is 6 cm and the period is 2 sec.

The amplitude is 12 cm and the period is 2 sec.

A 2 kg mass is placed onto a spring scale as shown above. What is the spring constant if position is measured in cm? Start

4 N/m.

400 N/m.

80 N/m

Insufficient information. The mass of the pan on top of the spring is not specified.

A 200 gr mass is vibrating at the end of a spring as shown. Position is shown in cm and time in seconds. What is the total mechanical energy of the system? Start

36 mJ.

72 mJ.

0 J since the average position is zero.

Insufficient information. The spring constant must be specified.

A 200 gr mass is vibrating at the end of a spring as shown. Position is shown in cm and time in seconds. What is the spring constant? Start

0.80 N/m.

1.97 N/m.

33 N/m

Find the frequency of the wave shown above. Distance is shown in cm and time in seconds.

0.5 cycles/second.

4.0 cycles/second.

2.0 cycles/second.

The above simulation shows disturbances on two identical strings. What is the tension in the second string if the tension in the first string is 500 N?

The tension is the same in both strings.

The tension in the bottom string is twice that of the top string.

The tension in the bottom string is half that of the top string.

The tension in the bottom string is four times that of the top string.

The animation represents a cross section of a three dimensional sound wave propagating away from a source. Compare the sound intensity at x=4 and x=8. Distance is shown in cm and time in millisecond.

Intensity remains constant.

Intensity decreases by a factor of two.

Intensity decreases by a factor of four.

Insufficient information. The intensity depends on environmental factors.

Why are there no dead spots in the sound distribution when either the left or the right source is transmitting but there are multiple dead spots when both sources are transmitting?

Either source can block the sound wave from leaving the other from transmitting a wave.

Wave superposition produces interference effects.

Refraction bends the waves.

The above simulation shows how two waves can add together to produce a standing wave on a string. The third panel represents the string. The waves in the first two panels have been superimposed to produce the wave in the third panel. Which of the following statements is true?

Waves never pass through the point x=0 on the string since this point never moves.

The string is perfectly straight when the maxima in the first two panels overlap.

There is an instant in time when the string does not move.

The string is moving fastest when the maxima in the first two panels overlap.

Physlets used by permission of Wolfgang Christian, Davidson College. Physlet Problems ©Prentice Hall, Inc; written by Aaron Titus (North Carolina State University) and Wolfgang Christian, Davidson College.