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Vibrations: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 3.2 Vibrations, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions1,173
Calculations

1,173 questions

  1. Q6(a)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 6(a): Explain what causes the motion of the disc to be damped. [2]

  2. Q6(b)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 6(b)(i): Complete the table. Hint: Consider the maximum and / or minimum possible values of ln (A). Space for calculation. [2]

  3. Q6(b)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 6(b)(ii): Ephraim plots a graph of the results. Plot the missing point and its error bar. [2] ln(A/cm) 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Number o

  4. Q6(b)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 3

    5 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 3, question 6(b)(iii): Ephraim expects the amplitude, A, of oscillation to decrease exponentially according to the equation: A = A0e–kt where A0 is the initial amplitude, t is the tim

  5. Q4(a)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(a): Draw on the grid above the curve of best fit. [2]

  6. Q4(b)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(b): Explain what is meant by the ‘period of the oscillation’. Use the graph to support your answer. [2]

  7. Q4(c)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(c): [2] 2 y t 1.5 cos cm

  8. Q4(d)(i)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(d)(i): By drawing a tangent to the displacement-time curve, show that the maximum velocity of the oscillating mass is approximately 10 cm s−1. [3]

  9. Q4(d)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(d)(ii): Sketch the velocity-time graph for the oscillating mass on the grid below. [3] Velocity / cm s−1 15 10 5 0 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 Time / s –5 –10 –1

  10. Q4(e)(i)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(e)(i): State what is meant by ‘simple harmonic motion’. [2]

  11. Q4(e)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(e)(ii): Calculate the value of the spring constant. [3]

  12. Q4(f)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    6 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 4(f): Catrin also claims that the maximum elastic potential energy stored by the spring is far greater than the maximum kinetic energy of the mass. Evaluate whether o

  13. Q5(a)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 5(a): Suggest what causes the decrease in amplitude. [1]

  14. Q5(b)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    5 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 5(b): This reduction in amplitude may be represented by: A = A0 e−λt where A is the amplitude at time t, A0 is the initial amplitude, and λ is a characteristic consta

  15. Q5(c)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 3, question 5(c): Give one example of damped motion that occurs in everyday life. [1]

  16. Q6(a)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    1 mark3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 6(a): Describe what is meant by a simple pendulum. [1]

  17. Q6(b)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 6(b): State what is meant by simple harmonic motion. [2]

  18. Q6(c)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    2 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 6(c): The student sets up two experimental systems to investigate simple harmonic motion. System A is a pendulum of length 0.10 m oscillating with an amplitude of 0.0

  19. Q6(d)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    3 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 6(d)(i): Complete the table by determining l , the mean time for 20 oscillations, T20 and the uncertainty in T20. Values have been inserted for the first two lengths. [3

  20. Q6(d)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 3

    4 marks3.2 Vibrations
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 3, question 6(d)(ii): only. Draw a line of maximum gradient and a line of minimum gradient. [4] Mean T20/s 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1 l / m 2
All 59 questions on Vibrations, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q6(a) (2 marks): Explain what causes the motion of the disc to be damped. [2]
  2. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table. Hint: Consider the maximum and / or minimum possible values of ln (A). Space for calculation. [2]
  3. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Ephraim plots a graph of the results. Plot the missing point and its error bar. [2] ln(A/cm) 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Number o
  4. Summer 2025, Unit 3, Q6(b)(iii) (5 marks): Ephraim expects the amplitude, A, of oscillation to decrease exponentially according to the equation: A = A0e–kt where A0 is the initial amplitude, t is the tim
  5. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): Draw on the grid above the curve of best fit. [2]
  6. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(b) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by the ‘period of the oscillation’. Use the graph to support your answer. [2]
  7. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(c) (2 marks): [2] 2 y t 1.5 cos cm
  8. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(d)(i) (3 marks): By drawing a tangent to the displacement-time curve, show that the maximum velocity of the oscillating mass is approximately 10 cm s−1. [3]
  9. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(d)(ii) (3 marks): Sketch the velocity-time graph for the oscillating mass on the grid below. [3] Velocity / cm s−1 15 10 5 0 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 Time / s –5 –10 –1
  10. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(e)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by ‘simple harmonic motion’. [2]
  11. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(e)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the value of the spring constant. [3]
  12. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q4(f) (6 marks): Catrin also claims that the maximum elastic potential energy stored by the spring is far greater than the maximum kinetic energy of the mass. Evaluate whether o
  13. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q5(a) (1 mark): Suggest what causes the decrease in amplitude. [1]
  14. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q5(b) (5 marks): This reduction in amplitude may be represented by: A = A0 e−λt where A is the amplitude at time t, A0 is the initial amplitude, and λ is a characteristic consta
  15. Summer 2024, Unit 3, Q5(c) (1 mark): Give one example of damped motion that occurs in everyday life. [1]
  16. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(a) (1 mark): Describe what is meant by a simple pendulum. [1]
  17. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(b) (2 marks): State what is meant by simple harmonic motion. [2]
  18. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(c) (2 marks): The student sets up two experimental systems to investigate simple harmonic motion. System A is a pendulum of length 0.10 m oscillating with an amplitude of 0.0
  19. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(d)(i) (3 marks): Complete the table by determining l , the mean time for 20 oscillations, T20 and the uncertainty in T20. Values have been inserted for the first two lengths. [3
  20. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(d)(ii) (4 marks): only. Draw a line of maximum gradient and a line of minimum gradient. [4] Mean T20/s 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1 l / m 2
  21. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(d)(iii) (2 marks): Justify why error bars for l are not plotted on the graph. [2]
  22. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(d)(iv) (5 marks): Use the maximum and minimum gradients to determine a mean value for the acceleration due to gravity, g, and its percentage uncertainty. [5]
  23. Summer 2023, Unit 3, Q6(e) (3 marks): Another student says that the gradient of the graph would be approximately twice as large if the experiment was carried out on the Moon, where the acceleration
  24. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Identify the two characteristics of the graph that show that the object is oscillating with simple harmonic motion. [2]
  25. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): approximately 7.7 rad s–1. [3]
  26. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q3(a)(iii) (5 marks): Calculate: I. the period of oscillation; [1] II. the spring constant; [2] III. the velocity of the object as it passes through the centre of oscillation. [2]
  27. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q3(a)(iv) (3 marks): The object was released at the displacement of –0.05 m at time t = 0 Sketch on the axes below: I. the potential energy of the system (label the sketch PE), II.
  28. Summer 2022, Unit 3, Q3(b) (6 marks): Explain what is meant by the terms damping and resonance and discuss their importance in real systems giving an example for each. [6 QER]
  29. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q3(a) (1 mark): State what quantities are represented by: [1] a ω x
  30. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): determine the maximum acceleration; [3]
  31. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q3(b)(ii) (3 marks): sketch a graph showing the variation of a with x. Insert values on the a-axis. Values are given on the x-axis. [3] a / m s–2 _ 0.012 0.012 x / m
  32. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q3(c) (3 marks): The oscillating object in part (b) is at its centre position when t = 0 and moving in the positive x direction. Insert the missing values in the expression for
  33. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q3(d)(i) (2 marks): an application of forced oscillations that is useful; [2]
  34. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q3(d)(ii) (3 marks): an example of forced oscillations that should be avoided. [3]
  35. Summer 2019, Unit 3, Q4 (6 marks): Describe an experiment that uses a pendulum to determine the acceleration due to gravity with graphical analysis. [6 QER]
  36. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Myfanwy correctly calculates that the force on a 25 tonne spaceship would be negligible at point P and that the force would increase by approximately 0.5 N for
  37. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): the period of oscillation. [2]
  38. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(b) (2 marks): The student notices the amplitude of oscillation decreasing and records the following amplitudes. Oscillation number (n) Amplitude (A) /m 0 0.095 10 0.062 20 0.
  39. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(c)(i) (1 mark): Justify that A0 is the amplitude when n = 0 [1]
  40. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): By considering the amplitude when n = 30 use the equation to determine a value for N. [2]
  41. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(d)(i) (1 mark): Complete the third column in the table. The first four rows have already been completed. [1] ⎛ A0 ⎞ Oscillation number (n) Amplitude (A) / m ln ⎝⎜ ⎠⎟ A 0 0.095
  42. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(d)(ii) (3 marks): Plot ln (y-axis) as a function of the oscillation number (x-axis) and draw a line ⎝⎜ ⎠⎟ A of best fit. [3]
  43. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(d)(iii) (2 marks): Explain whether or not your graph is in agreement with the equation . A= A0e N [2]
  44. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(d)(iv) (3 marks): Use the graph to determine a value for N. [3]
  45. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q6(d)(v) (1 mark): Explain which of the two values obtained for N is expected to be the more accurate, the value in part (c)(ii) or (d)(iv). [1]
  46. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): [2]
  47. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the maximum speed of the mass. [2]
  48. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Show that the kinetic energy (Ek) of the mass, in joules, may be written as: [2] Ek = 3.8 × 10–3 sin2 1.57t
  49. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(iv) (4 marks): The displacement-time curve for the pendulum is shown for a time interval of one period i.e. 4.0 s. Draw curves for velocity, v, and Ek on the axes below for th
  50. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(a)(v) (2 marks): Determine the maximum height reached by the pendulum mass above the level of its lowest point. [2]
  51. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Sketch the amplitude of a lightly damped system as the frequency of the driver is increased. The natural frequency f0 of the system is indicated. Label the curv
  52. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the effect seen near the frequency, f0. [1]
  53. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q7(b)(iii) (2 marks): Sketch a second curve on the axes above for an identical oscillating system that is damped to a greater extent. Label the curve as Y. [2] Paragraph This angle i
  54. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the two forces acting on the mass. [1]
  55. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): By considering these forces show that: resultant force component on the mass along the arc = – mg sinθ You may add to the diagram if you wish. [3]
  56. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): If the oscillation is small so that sin θg θ show in clear steps that the acceleration along the arc may be written as: [2] gs acceleration = – l
  57. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q6(a)(iv) (2 marks): Discuss whether the equation in part (a)(iii) satisfies the definition of simple harmonic motion. [2]
  58. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Determine its: I. period; [2] II. frequency. [1]
  59. Summer 2017, Unit 3, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): If the maximum displacement angle of the mass is 0.067 rad, justify the use of simple harmonic motion in part (b)(i). [2] Paragraph Although a resonant cavity s

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