A Cyberphysics Page

Simple Harmonic Motion - Multiple Choice Questions

Q3. Which one of the following statements is true when an object performs simple harmonic motion about a central point O?

A	The acceleration is always away from O. Acceleration is sometimes away from and somtimes towards O, but if it is towards then displacement is away from - and vice versa!
B	The acceleration and velocity are always in opposite directions. Look at the graph - this is not the case.
C	The acceleration and the displacement from O are always in the same direction. No - they are in opposite directions.
D	The graph of acceleration against displacement is a straight line. True - acceleration is directly proportional to the displacement (with a negative constant of proportionality)