A2 Daily A Level Physics question
On a low-friction air track, a trolley attached to a horizontal spring oscillates with small amplitude. The student then repeats the trial but pulls the trolley twice as far from equilibrium before releasing it. The mass and spring are unchanged. Which statement must be true?
Answer
The correct answer is D.
Correct: D — The maximum speed increases, but the time period stays the same. A is wrong because in SHM the maximum acceleration increases with larger amplitude, not decreases. B is wrong because while frequency depends on mass and spring only, the maximum speed is larger for larger amplitude. C is wrong because, for an ideal mass–spring oscillator, the period does not depend on amplitude, even though the trolley moves faster at larger amplitude. D is correct as an ideal SHM system has amplitude-independent period but a larger amplitude gives a larger peak speed.