Oscillations

An oscillator is subjected to a damping force that is proportional to its velocity. A sinusoidal force is applied to it. After a long time: 

A. its amplitude is an increasing function of time 

B. its amplitude is a decreasing function of time 

C. its amplitude is constant 

D. its amplitude is a decreasing function of time only if the damping constant is large 

E. its amplitude increases over some portions of a cycle and decreases over other portions

In simple harmonic motion, the magnitude of the acceleration is: 

A. constant 

B. proportional to the displacement 

C. inversely proportional to the displacement 

D. greatest when the velocity is greatest 

E. never greater than g

A particle oscillating in simple harmonic motion is: 

A. never in equilibrium because it is in motion 

B. never in equilibrium because there is always a force 

C. in equilibrium at the ends of its path because its velocity is zero there 

D. in equilibrium at the center of its path because the acceleration is zero there 

E. in equilibrium at the ends of its path because the acceleration is zero there 

In simple harmonic motion, the displacement is maximum when the: 

A. acceleration is zero 

B. velocity is maximum 

C. velocity is zero 

D. kinetic energy is maximum 

E. momentum is maximum 

An oscillatory motion must be simple harmonic if: 

A. the amplitude is small 

B. the potential energy is equal to the kinetic energy 

C. the motion is along the arc of a circle 

D. the acceleration varies sinusoidally with time 

E. the derivative, dU/dx, of the potential energy is negative

The amplitude of any oscillator can be doubled by: 

A. doubling only the initial displacement 

B. doubling only the initial speed 

C. doubling the initial displacement and halving the initial speed 

D. doubling the initial speed and halving the initial displacement 

E. doubling both the initial displacement and the initial speed

If an object moves back and forth repeatedly around a mean position it is called

A. oscillating

B. revolving

C. rotating

D. motion