A Level Physics 9702, topic 17
Oscillations: past paper questions
15 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Oscillations (17) from 15 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 15
- Papers
- 15
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 153
- Average per question
- 10.2 marks
- Largest question
- 15 marks
By type: Structured 15
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply9
- Analyse6
- Not banded0
Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.
Command words
- sketchApply12 questions
make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features
- stateRecall12 questions
express in clear terms
- determineApply11 questions
establish an answer using the information available
- calculateApply10 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- explainAnalyse6 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- show thatApply4 questions
- useApply4 questions
- describeApply3 questions
state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- drawApply3 questions
- deduceAnalyse1 question
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20261
- 20254
- 20246
- 20234
By session
- May/June6
- Oct/Nov9
By paper
- Paper 415
Questions on this topic
Showing 10 of 15, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 5May/June 2026, paper 42Structured8 marksHas a diagram
A block of mass is suspended from a spring so that it rests in equilibrium, as shown in Figure 5.1. The block is displaced downwards through a small distance. The block is released and then oscillates vertically with simple harmonic motion.
- Try this questionQuestion 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured15 marksHas a diagram
In terms of velocity and acceleration, describe uniform circular motion of an object.
- Try this questionQuestion 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured11 marksHas a diagram
State what is meant by simple harmonic motion.
- Try this questionQuestion 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram
A heavy metal sphere of mass is suspended from a string. The sphere is undergoing small oscillations from side to side, as shown in Fig. 4.1.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram
A steel ball on the end of a thin string oscillates with small oscillations, as shown in Fig. 5.1. The displacement of the centre of the ball from its equilibrium position is . Fig. 5.2 shows the variation with of the acceleration of the ball.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram
Fig. 5.1 shows a pendulum consisting of a metal sphere suspended by a thin string. The sphere undergoes small oscillations about its equilibrium position. The oscillations may be considered to be simple harmonic.
- Try this questionQuestion 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured11 marksHas a diagram
An electron in a metal rod moves randomly about a mean position. When an alternating voltage is applied to the ends of the rod, the mean position can be considered to oscillate with simple harmonic motion along the axis of the rod.
- Try this questionQuestion 4May/June 2024, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram
State what is meant by resonance.
- Try this questionQuestion 4May/June 2023, paper 42Structured11 marksHas a diagram
A small steel sphere is oscillating vertically on the end of a spring, as shown in Fig. 4.1.
- Try this questionQuestion 4May/June 2024, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram
A block of mass oscillates vertically on a spring, as shown in Fig. 4.1. The acceleration of the block varies with displacement from its equilibrium position, as shown in Fig. 4.2. The amplitude of the oscillations is and the maximum acceleration is .