| Date | November 2014 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 14N.1.SL.TZ0.15 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Question number | 15 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
A particle undergoes simple harmonic motion (SHM) of maximum kinetic energy Emax and amplitude x0. The particle is released from rest at its maximum displacement amplitude.
What is the change in the kinetic energy when the particle has travelled a distance of \(\frac{{{x_0}}}{3}\)?
A. \(\frac{{{E_{\max }}}}{9}\)
B. \(\frac{{{4E_{\max }}}}{9}\)
C. \(\frac{{{5E_{\max }}}}{9}\)
D. \(\frac{{{8E_{\max }}}}{9}\)
Markscheme
C
Examiners report
The candidates found this question to be the most difficult of the paper, with the correct answer being the least often selected! The key to spotting the correct solution is a simple diagram showing that after the particle has travelled a distance of x0/3 then its distance to the equilibrium position is 2x0/3. Substituting this value into the relevant equation in the Data Booklet gives response C directly.
