Saint Louis University

School of Engineering and Architecture

Physics Department
Preliminary Term Exam
Class Number: __________
Name: ______________________________
Test I. MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE. Write TRUE on the space provided if the statement
is correct; otherwise, underline the statement which makes the statement incorrect and
write the word or phrases to replace the incorrect statement. (20 points)
_________________1. Periodic motion occurs whenever the body has
a stable equilibrium position and a restoring force that acts
when it is displaced from equilibrium.
_________________2. Period is the number of cycles per unit time
while frequency is the time for one cycle.
_________________3. Simple harmonic motion is the type of periodic
motion where the restoring force is directly proportional to the
mass of the vibrating body.
_________________4. A simple pendulum consists of a point mass at
the end of a massive massless string.
_________________5. The small angle approximation states that for
any angle in degree units, sin is approximately equal to .
_________________6. A wave is any disturbance from an equilibrium
condition that propagates or travels from one region to another.
_________________7. Mechanical waves are disturbance that can
travel through empty space or vacuum.
_________________8. In a transverse wave, the particles are
displaced in a direction parallel to the direction of energy
transport.
_________________9. The velocity of a transverse wave is equal to
the square-root of the product of the tension applied on the
medium and the linear mass.
_________________10. Standing waves are formed when two
component waves, the incident wave and reflected wave, of
similar properties travel in the same direction.
Test II. PROBLEM SET. (90 points)
Instructions:
(1)

Use the back portions of the exam paper for your answer sheet. Fold your exam
paper into two halves lengthwise.
(2)
All the answers should be at least five (5) decimal places, with the appropriate
unit, and boxed or underlined.
Problems:
1. In a laboratory experiment, a student mounted a spring on one end and free at the
other. She further determined that the spring has a stretching force proportional to
the displacement where a force of 1.0-N causes a displacement of 0.010 m. she

attaches a 1-kg mass to the free end and pulled the mass a distance of 0.1 m,
released it, and watched it oscillate. As her laboratory partner, you are tasked to
determine the:
A.
B.
C.
D.

force constant of the spring.

angular frequency of the oscillation.
frequency of the oscillation.
period of the oscillation.

- Page 1 of 2 2. Continuing with her experiment, the student wanted the spring-mass set-up to have
an initial velocity so after pulling the mass a distance of 0.1 m, she uses an
apparatus that gives it a defined light push of 0.10m/s. As her laboratory partner, you
are tasked to determine the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

period of the oscillation.

amplitude of the oscillation.
phase angle of the oscillation.
maximum velocity of the oscillation.
equation for displacement as function of time.
equation for velocity as function of time.
equation for acceleration as function of time.

3. On another experiment relating to transverse waves, a classmate who was good in

mathematics tells you and your laboratory partner that the observed traveling wave
on the thin rope is
y(x,t) = 0.001 m cos [(2 rad/m)x + (200 rad/s)t] .
Your laboratory partner, being more practical, measured the rope to have a length of
1.0m and a mass of .100-kg. She then asks you to determine the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

amplitude of the wave.

frequency of the wave.
wavelength of the wave.
wave speed of the wave.
direction being traveled by the wave.
linear mass of the rope.
tension in the rope.

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