Prove motion is SHM from equation

A question is this type if and only if it gives an equation for displacement (e.g., x = A cos(ωt)) and asks to prove the particle is moving with SHM by showing acceleration satisfies the SHM condition.

5 questions · Moderate -0.1

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Edexcel M3 2022 January Q5
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. A particle \(P\) is moving along the \(x\)-axis. At time \(t\) seconds the displacement of \(P\) from the origin \(O\) is \(x\) metres, where \(x = 4 \cos \left( \frac { 1 } { 5 } \pi t \right)\)
    1. Prove that \(P\) is moving with simple harmonic motion.
    2. Find the period of the motion.
    3. State the amplitude of the motion.
    4. Find, in terms of \(\pi\), the maximum speed of \(P\)
    The points \(A\) and \(B\) lie on the \(x\)-axis, on opposite sides of \(O\), with \(O A = 1.5 \mathrm {~m}\) and \(O B = 2.5 \mathrm {~m}\).
  2. Find the time taken by \(P\) to move directly from \(A\) to \(B\).
Edexcel M3 2011 January Q4
11 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. A particle \(P\) moves along the \(x\)-axis. At time \(t\) seconds its displacement, \(x\) metres, from the origin \(O\) is given by \(x = 5 \sin \left( \frac { 1 } { 3 } \pi t \right)\).
    1. Prove that \(P\) is moving with simple harmonic motion.
    2. Find the period and the amplitude of the motion.
    3. Find the maximum speed of \(P\).
    The points \(A\) and \(B\) on the positive \(x\)-axis are such that \(O A = 2 \mathrm {~m}\) and \(O B = 3 \mathrm {~m}\).
  2. Find the time taken by \(P\) to travel directly from \(A\) to \(B\).
OCR MEI M3 2008 January Q3
17 marks Standard +0.3
3 A particle is oscillating in a vertical line. At time \(t\) seconds, its displacement above the centre of the oscillations is \(x\) metres, where \(x = A \sin \omega t + B \cos \omega t\) (and \(A , B\) and \(\omega\) are constants).
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } x } { \mathrm {~d} t ^ { 2 } } = - \omega ^ { 2 } x\). When \(t = 0\), the particle is 2 m above the centre of the oscillations, the velocity is \(1.44 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) downwards, and the acceleration is \(0.18 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) downwards.
  2. Find \(A , B\) and \(\omega\).
  3. Show that the period of oscillation is 20.9 s (correct to 3 significant figures), and find the amplitude.
  4. Find the total distance travelled by the particle between \(t = 12\) and \(t = 24\).
OCR MEI M3 2010 June Q4
18 marks Standard +0.3
4 A particle P is performing simple harmonic motion in a vertical line. At time \(t \mathrm {~s}\), its displacement \(x \mathrm {~m}\) above a fixed point O is given by $$x = A \sin \omega t + B \cos \omega t$$ where \(A , B\) and \(\omega\) are constants.
  1. Show that the acceleration of P , in \(\mathrm { ms } ^ { - 2 }\), is \(- \omega ^ { 2 } x\). When \(t = 0 , \mathrm { P }\) is 16 m below O , moving with velocity \(7.5 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) upwards, and has acceleration \(1 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) upwards.
  2. Find the values of \(A , B\) and \(\omega\).
  3. Find the maximum displacement, the maximum speed, and the maximum acceleration of P .
  4. Find the speed and the direction of motion of P when \(t = 15\).
  5. Find the distance travelled by P between \(t = 0\) and \(t = 15\).
OCR MEI M3 2012 June Q3
18 marks Moderate -0.3
3 A particle Q is performing simple harmonic motion in a vertical line. Its height, \(x\) metres, above a fixed level at time \(t\) seconds is given by $$x = c + A \cos ( \omega t - \phi )$$ where \(c , A , \omega\) and \(\phi\) are constants.
  1. Show that \(\ddot { x } = - \omega ^ { 2 } ( x - c )\). Fig. 3 shows the displacement-time graph of Q for \(0 \leqslant t \leqslant 14\). \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{86dd0c01-970d-4b67-9a6c-5df276a4a2be-4_547_1079_703_495} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 3}
    \end{figure}
  2. Find exact values for \(c , A , \omega\) and \(\phi\).
  3. Find the maximum speed of Q .
  4. Find the height and the velocity of Q when \(t = 0\).
  5. Find the distance travelled by Q between \(t = 0\) and \(t = 14\).