Exam-style question
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A graph shows the displacement of a mass on a spring over time, displaying a sinusoidal pattern. What does this graph indicate about the motion of the mass?.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The graph indicates that the mass is undergoing simple harmonic motion (SHM) as it oscillates back and forth around an equilibrium position in a periodic manner.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence of the sinusoidal pattern in the graph shows that the displacement varies with time in a regular, repeating manner. This indicates that the restoring force acting on the mass is proportional to its displacement, a key characteristic of SHM.
Therefore, the implication is that the mass will continue to oscillate indefinitely in the absence of damping forces, leading to the conclusion that this is a classic example of simple harmonic motion.
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