Physics quiz question: mass-spring elastic potential energy

Physics 205A Quiz 6, fall semester 2011
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Cf. Giambattista/Richardson/Richardson, Physics, 2/e, Multiple-Choice Question 10.13

A 0.75 kg mass attached to a horizontal spring has a 4.0 s period of oscillation. Neglect friction and drag. The velocity versus time graph for this mass-spring system is shown at right. The earliest time that the system will have its maximum elastic potential energy is:
(A) 0 s.
(B) 1 s.
(C) 2 s.
(D) 3 s.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

The elastic potential energy of the mass-spring system will be at a maximum when the translational kinetic energy is zero, which occurs at t = 1 s and t = 3 s, when the velocity v is momentarily zero.

Sections 70854, 70855
Exam code: quiz06w4VE
(A) : 16 students
(B) : 25 students
(C) : 11 students
(D) : 1 student

Success level: 47%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.68