THE PRACTICE STUDIO

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PRACTICE · MEMBERSIntermediate · Single correct

PRACTICE / Energy in SHM

How fast is an oscillator halfway to an end?

A particle undergoes ideal simple harmonic motion with amplitude A and angular frequency ω. At one instant its displacement from equilibrium is A/2.

What is its speed as a fraction of the maximum speed?

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • Amplitude: A
  • Displacement: A/2
  • Maximum speed: ωA

Undamped one-dimensional SHM. The requested speed is a magnitude, regardless of the direction of travel.

  1. A12\tfrac12
  2. B32\tfrac{\sqrt3}{2}
  3. C34\tfrac34
  4. D11

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