Question Detail
Question
A 1 kg mass attached to a spring with a spring constant of 36 N/m is stretched a distance of 0.01 m and released from rest. What is the maximum acceleration of the mass?
Correct Answer
Option C is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
From Worked Example 9 on page 30: (i) Amplitude A = 0.01 m. (ii) Angular frequency ω = √(k/m) = √(36 N/m / 1 kg) = 6 s⁻¹. (iii) Maximum acceleration a_max = ω²A = (6 s⁻¹)² × 0.01 m = 36 × 0.01 m/s² = 0.36 m/s².
Hint
Recall the relationship between maximum acceleration, angular frequency, and amplitude in SHM (a_max = ω²A).