AP Physics 1 : Period and Frequency

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 1

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Period And Frequency

A mass of \displaystyle 10kg is traveling in a circle of \displaystyle 5m. If it is under a centripetal force of \displaystyle 50 N, what is the mass's period?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 4\pi \ \text{seconds}

\displaystyle 5\pi \ \text{seconds}

\displaystyle \pi \ \text{seconds}

\displaystyle 3\pi \ \text{seconds}

\displaystyle 2\pi\ \text{seconds}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 2\pi\ \text{seconds}

Explanation:

Knowing the centripetal force on the mass and the radius of the circle, we can calculate its velocity:

\displaystyle F_c = ma_c = m\frac{v^2}{r}

Rearranging for velocity:

\displaystyle v = \sqrt{\frac{F_cr}{m}} = \sqrt{\frac{(50N)(5m)}{10kg}}=5\frac{m}{s}

We can use this to find the period of the mass:

\displaystyle velocity = \frac{circumference}{period}

Rearranging for period, we get:

\displaystyle P = \frac{C}{v}=\frac{2\pi r}{v}=\frac{2\pi(5m)}{5\frac{m}{s}} = 2\pi s

Example Question #1 : Period And Frequency

A grandfather clock is getting extremely rusty on the inside and falls behind by 1500 seconds every day. What is the period of the minute hand of the clock?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 58.0s

\displaystyle 57.5s

\displaystyle 58.5s

\displaystyle 59.0s

\displaystyle 59.5s

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 59.0s

Explanation:

A normal clock registers 60 seconds for every rotation of the minute hand. We need to determine the new period per rotation.

A normal clock registers the following amount of seconds every day:

\displaystyle 24hr*\frac{60min}{hr}*\frac{60s}{min}= 86400 s

Losing 1500 seconds every day, we now have:

\displaystyle 86400-1500=84900 s

The hand in question completes one rotation every minute, so we'll dive this new time by minutes per day:

\displaystyle (1day)(\frac{24hr}{day})(\frac{60min}{hr})= 1440 min

Now dividing our two values to get seconds per rotation:

\displaystyle P=\frac{84900}{1440}=59.0 s

Example Question #2 : Period And Frequency

Suppose you have a string of length \displaystyle 0.5m with a ball of mass \displaystyle 1kg attached to the end. You are going to spin the ball in a vertical circle. What is the minimum frequency of the ball that will keep the string in tension at all times?

\displaystyle g = 10\frac{m}{s^2}

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 0.71 Hz

\displaystyle 0.29Hz

\displaystyle 1.88Hz

\displaystyle 1.23Hz

\displaystyle 0.54Hz

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 0.71 Hz

Explanation:

To start, we need to determine what exactly we are solving for. What does it mean for the string to be in tension at all points? This means that at some point in the circle, tension will equal zero; thus the force of gravity and the centripetal force will equal each other.

\displaystyle F_c = F_g

Expand these force expressions and simplify:

\displaystyle ma_c = mg

\displaystyle a_c = g

The expression for centripetal acceleration is:

\displaystyle a_c = \frac{v^2}{r} = g

We know \displaystyle r (the length of the string) and \displaystyle g, but we need to develop an expression for velocity:

\displaystyle velocity = \frac{circumference}{period} = (circumference)(frequency)

\displaystyle C = 2\pi r

\displaystyle v = Cf = (2\pi r)f

Substituting this back into the equation for centripetal acceleration, we get:

\displaystyle a_c = \frac{(2\pi r f)^2}{r} = 4\pi^2 rf^2 = g

Rearrange for frequency:
\displaystyle f = \sqrt{\frac{g}{4\pi^2 r}}

We know all of these values, allowing us to solve:
\displaystyle f = \sqrt{\frac{10\frac{m}{s^2}}{4\pi^2(0.5m)}} = 0.71 Hz

Example Question #2 : Period And Frequency

An astronaut in space has a ball of mass \displaystyle 5kg attached to the end of a string of length \displaystyle 1m. The ball is spun in a horizontal circle. If the string breaks under a force of \displaystyle 125 N, what is the minimum period at which the ball can be spun?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2.1s

\displaystyle 0.7s

\displaystyle 0.2s

\displaystyle 3.4s

\displaystyle 1.3s

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 1.3s

Explanation:

Since the man is in space, the only force we have to worry about in this problem is the centripetal force, which results from the tension in the spring. Therefore, we are being asked what period gives us a centripetal force of \displaystyle 125N.

\displaystyle F_c = ma_c = m\frac{v^2}{r}

We need an expression for velocity:

\displaystyle velocity = \frac{circumference}{period}

\displaystyle v = \frac{C}{P} = \frac{2\pi r}{P}

Substitute this back into the original expression:

\displaystyle F_c = m\frac{(\frac{2\pi r}{P})^2}{r} = \frac{4m\pi^2r}{P^2}

Rearranging for period we get:

\displaystyle P = \sqrt{\frac{4m\pi^2r}{F_c}}

We know all of these values, allowing us to solve:
\displaystyle P = \sqrt{\frac{4(5kg)(\pi^2)(1m)}{125N}} = 1.3s

Example Question #1 : Period And Frequency

What is the ordinary frequency of the second hand on a clock?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{1}{30}Hz

\displaystyle 2\pi Hz

\displaystyle 0.01\bar{6}Hz

\displaystyle 0.152Hz

\displaystyle 60Hz

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 0.01\bar{6}Hz

Explanation:

The ordinary frequency is the number of cycles per second. Since a second hand makes one revolution, or cycle, every 60s, the correct answer is \displaystyle \frac{1}{60s}=0.01\bar{6}Hz. You can also think of the ordinary frequency as the angular velocity divided by \displaystyle 2\pi.

Example Question #1072 : Newtonian Mechanics

A solid cylinder of mass \displaystyle 12kg and radius \displaystyle r = 0.5m is at rest at the top of a slope with an angle of \displaystyle \measuredangle a = 40^{\circ}. The sphere is then released. How far down the slope has the sphere traveled when it has a period of \displaystyle P = 0.2s. Neglect air resistance and any frictional forces.

\displaystyle g = 10\frac{m}{s^2}

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 54.1m

\displaystyle 76.7m

\displaystyle 4.3m

\displaystyle 12.1m

\displaystyle 28.8m

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 28.8m

Explanation:

We can begin with the conservation of energy to solve this problem:

\displaystyle E = U_i + K_i = U_f +K_f

The problem statement tells us that the cylinder is initially at rest, so we can eliminate initial kinetic energy. If we assume that the height of the cylinder when it reaches a period of 0.2s has a height of 0, we can eliminate final potential energy. Therefore, we get:

\displaystyle U_i = K_f

Expanding these terms and making sure we have both a linear and rotational component to kinetic energy, we get equation (1):

\displaystyle mgh_i = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2+\frac{1}{2}Iw_f^2

Before we move on, we know that we are going to have to calculate something that we can use to determine the period of the cylinder. We know that the period is how long it takes the cylinder to complete one full rotation. Thinking practically, we can use the circumference of the cylinder and linear velocity to determine period:

\displaystyle P = \frac{circumference}{velocity}

Using variables, we get equation:

\displaystyle P = \frac{2\pi r}{v_f}

Rearranging for final velocity, we get equation (2):

\displaystyle v_f = \frac{2\pi r}{P}

Now we know that the period is dependent on final linear velocity. We will come back to this equation. Now we can go back to equation (1) and begin substituting in expressions for unknown variables moving from left to right. The first variable we don't know is initial height. However, we can use the distance the cylinder traveled and the angle of the slope:

\displaystyle sin(a)=\frac{h_i}{l}

Rearranging for initial height, we get equation (3):

\displaystyle h_i = lsin(a)

Moving on, the next unknown term is final velocity. We can substitute equation (2) that we already derived:

\displaystyle v_f = \frac{2\pi r}{P}

Moving on, the next unknown term is the moment of inertia. Using the expression for a cylinder to get equation (4):

\displaystyle I = \frac{1}{2}mr^2

Moving on, the final unknown term is final rotational velocity. We can use the relationship between this and linear velocity:

\displaystyle w_f = \frac{v_f}{r}

Now substituting equation (2), we get equation (5):

\displaystyle w_f = \frac{\left ( \frac{2\pi r}{P}\right )}{r} = \frac{2\pi}{P}

We can now substitute equations 2, 3, 4, and 5 into equation (1):

\displaystyle mglsin(a) = \frac{1}{2}m\left ( \frac{2\pi r}{P}\right )^2+\frac{1}{2}\left ( \frac{1}{2}mr^2\right )\left ( \frac{2\pi}{P}\right )^2

Eliminating mass from both sides of the equation and expanding each term:

\displaystyle glsin(a) = \frac{2\pi ^2r^2}{P^2}+\frac{\pi ^2r^2}{P^2}

Combining the terms on the right:

\displaystyle glsin(a) = \frac{3\pi ^2r^2}{P^2}

Rearranging for length:

\displaystyle l = \frac{3\pi ^2r^2}{P^2gsin(a)}

Check your units and make sure you end up with seconds before moving on!

We know values for each variable, so time to plug and chug:

\displaystyle l = \frac{3\pi ^2(0.5m)^2}{(0.2s)^2\left ( 10\frac{m}{s^2}\right )sin(40^{\circ})}

\displaystyle l = 28.8m

Example Question #1 : Period And Frequency

Two cars are racing side by side on a perfectly circular race track. The inner car is \displaystyle 450m from the center of the track. The outer car is \displaystyle 452m from center of the track. Both cars are traveling at \displaystyle 150\frac{km}{hr}.

How long does it take the inner car to complete a lap?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 122s

\displaystyle 67.8s

\displaystyle 107.8s

\displaystyle 90.4s

\displaystyle 31.8s

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 67.8s

Explanation:

Finding distance of lap of inner car:

\displaystyle 2\pi*450m=2826 m

Convert \displaystyle \frac{km}{hr} to \displaystyle \frac{m}{s}:

\displaystyle 150\frac{km}{hr}*\frac{1000m}{1 km}*\frac{1hr}{3600s}=41.7\frac{m}{s}

Use the distance formula:

\displaystyle v=\frac{d}{t}

\displaystyle 41.7=\frac{2826}{t}

\displaystyle t=67.8s

Example Question #3 : Period And Frequency

Two cars are racing side by side on a perfectly circular race track. The inner car is \displaystyle 450m from the center of the track. The outer car is \displaystyle 452m from center of the track. Both cars are traveling at \displaystyle 150\frac{km}{hr}

How much longer does it take the outer car to complete one lap?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 2s

\displaystyle .2s

\displaystyle .3s

\displaystyle 5s

\displaystyle 3s

Correct answer:

\displaystyle .3s

Explanation:

Inner car time:

Finding distance of lap of inner car:

\displaystyle 2\pi*450m=2826 m

Convert \displaystyle \frac{km}{hr} to \displaystyle \frac{m}{s}:

\displaystyle 150\frac{km}{hr}*\frac{1000m}{1 km}*\frac{1hr}{3600s}=41.7\frac{m}{s}

Use the distance formula:

\displaystyle v=\frac{d}{t}

\displaystyle 41.7=\frac{2826}{t}

\displaystyle t_1=67.8s

Finding distance of lap of outer car:

\displaystyle 2\pi*452m=2839 m

Convert \displaystyle \frac{km}{hr} to \displaystyle \frac{m}{s}:

\displaystyle 150\frac{km}{hr}*\frac{1000m}{1 km}*\frac{1hr}{3600s}=41.7\frac{m}{s}

Use the distance formula:

\displaystyle v=\frac{d}{t}

\displaystyle 41.7=\frac{2839}{t}

\displaystyle t_2=68.1s

\displaystyle t_2-t_1=68.1-67.8=.3s

Example Question #1 : Period And Frequency

A car with wheels of mass \displaystyle 25kg and wheels of radius \displaystyle .25m is traveling at \displaystyle 50\frac{m}{s}. Treating the wheels as disks of uniform mass density, calculate the angular frequency of one wheel.

Possible Answers:

None of these

\displaystyle 200\frac{radians}{second}

\displaystyle 50\frac{radians}{second}

\displaystyle 400\frac{radians}{second}

\displaystyle 100\frac{radians}{second}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 200\frac{radians}{second}

Explanation:

\displaystyle 50\frac{m}{s}*\frac{1 rotation}{2*\pi*.25m}*\frac{2\pi radians}{rotation}=200\frac{radians}{second}

Example Question #1 : Period And Frequency

A car with wheels of mass \displaystyle 25kg and wheels of radius \displaystyle .25m is traveling at \displaystyle 50\frac{m}{s}. Treating the wheels as disks of uniform mass density, calculate the angular period of one wheel.

Possible Answers:

None of these

\displaystyle 10\frac{seconds}{radian}

\displaystyle 5\frac{seconds}{radian}

\displaystyle .005\frac{seconds}{radian}

\displaystyle .5\frac{seconds}{radian}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle .005\frac{seconds}{radian}

Explanation:

First, find the angular frequency:

\displaystyle 50\frac{m}{s}*\frac{1 rotation}{2*\pi*.25m}*\frac{2\pi radians}{rotation}=200\frac{radians}{second}

Angular period is the inverse of angular frequency:

\displaystyle \frac{1}{200\frac{radians}{second}}=.005\frac{seconds}{radian}

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors