Lesson 3.6.1.3

3.6.1.3 Simple harmonic systems Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.6.1.3, Simple harmonic systems: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 6: Further mechanics and thermal physics (A-level only), written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. The period of a mass-spring system is:

    • T = 2 pi sqrt(m k)
    • T = 2 pi m k
    • T = 2 pi sqrt(m / k)
    • T = 2 pi sqrt(k / m)

  2. The period of a simple pendulum for small oscillations is:

    • T = 2 pi l / g
    • T = 2 pi sqrt(g / l)
    • T = 2 pi l g
    • T = 2 pi sqrt(l / g)

  3. What is the small-angle approximation for sin(θ) when θ is in radians?

    • Equal to cos(θ)
    • Equal to θ
    • Equal to 1
    • Equal to tan(θ)

  4. Which variable does not affect the time period of a simple pendulum?

    • Gravitational field strength
    • Length of string
    • Pendulum length
    • Mass of bob

  5. What happens to the total mechanical energy of an undamped simple harmonic oscillator?

    • Remains constant
    • Increases continuously
    • Decreases exponentially
    • Fluctuates sinusoidally

  6. What happens to the amplitude of a lightly damped oscillator over time?

    • Remains constant
    • Drops to zero
    • Increases rapidly
    • Decreases gradually

  7. What describes the movement of an oscillator undergoing heavy damping?

    • Resonant oscillations occur
    • Constant amplitude oscillations
    • Increasing amplitude oscillations
    • No oscillations occur

  8. A 0.20 kg mass on a spring of stiffness 50 N m^-1 oscillates. What is its period?

    • 0.20 s
    • 0.063 s
    • 2.5 s
    • 0.40 s

  9. A simple pendulum has length 1.0 m (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is its period?

    • 4.0 s
    • 0.32 s
    • 1.0 s
    • 2.0 s

  10. By what factor must a simple pendulum's length change to double its period?

    • Quarter
    • Half
    • Two
    • Four

  11. A mass-spring system has period 1.5 s with a 0.40 kg mass. What is the spring constant?

    • 14 N m^-1
    • 0.9 N m^-1
    • 7.0 N m^-1
    • 2.4 N m^-1

  12. A simple pendulum of length 0.25 m is used where g = 1.6 m s^-2. What is its period?

    • 6.2 s
    • 1.0 s
    • 0.40 s
    • 2.5 s

  13. How does the period of a mass-spring system change if mass is quadrupled?

    • Halves
    • Quadruples
    • Doubles
    • Remains unchanged

  14. A 0.20 kg mass on a spring of stiffness 80 N m^-1 oscillates with amplitude 0.050 m. What is its total energy?

    • 0.10 J
    • 0.20 J
    • 0.40 J
    • 0.02 J

  15. A 0.20 kg mass on a spring of stiffness 400 N m^-1 oscillates with amplitude 0.050 m. What is its maximum speed?

    • 0.20 m s^-1
    • 1.0 m s^-1
    • 0.40 m s^-1
    • 2.2 m s^-1

  16. A student measures the period of a 0.50 m pendulum as 1.42 s. Using T = 2 pi sqrt(l/g), what is g?

    • about 9.8 m s^-2
    • about 0.98 m s^-2
    • about 3.5 m s^-2
    • about 19.6 m s^-2

  17. A 0.50 kg mass on a spring has period 0.80 s. A further 0.20 kg is added to the mass. What is the new period?

    • 0.67 s
    • 0.95 s
    • 0.80 s
    • 1.13 s

  18. What approximation is required for a simple pendulum to execute simple harmonic motion?

    • Large angle approximation
    • Zero friction approximation
    • Constant speed approximation
    • Small angle approximation

  19. How does light damping affect the time period of a simple harmonic oscillator?

    • Virtually unchanged
    • Reduces to zero
    • Doubles period
    • Halves period

  20. A 0.50 kg mass on a spring of stiffness 20 N m^-1 has amplitude 0.10 m. What is its maximum speed?

    • 0.63 m s^-1
    • 0.04 m s^-1
    • 1.26 m s^-1
    • 0.20 m s^-1

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