A mass on the end of a spring undergoes simple harmonic motion. At the instant when the mass is at its maximum displacement from equilibrium, what is its instantaneous acceleration?

a. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is zero.

b. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is less than its maximum but not zero.

c. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is also at maximum.

d. Instantaneous acceleration cannot be determined without additional information.

Question

Physics

Jeffrey Maddox

3 December, 10:42

A mass on the end of a spring undergoes simple harmonic motion. At the instant when the mass is at its maximum displacement from equilibrium, what is its instantaneous acceleration?

a. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is zero.

b. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is less than its maximum but not zero.

c. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is also at maximum.

d. Instantaneous acceleration cannot be determined without additional information.

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Asia Maxwell · Answer 1

C. At maximum displacement, its instantaneous acceleration is also at maximum.

Explanation:

Lets take

The general equation of the SHM

Displacement

x = A sinω t

velocity

V = Aω cosω t

Acceleration

a = - Aω² sinω t

Form the above we can say that displacement and the acceleration are in the same phase.

Therefore when displacement is maximum then acceleration also will be maximum.

Therefore the answer is C.