IB Diploma Physics · C · data analysis
Interpret a driven oscillator's response · set 9
Wave behaviour · Original GioPhysics question with a detailed, mark-by-mark answer guide.
- Demand
- demanding
- Marks
- 8
- Topics
- 1
- Answer
- Complete
Question8 marks
A mechanical oscillator is driven with the same force amplitude at several frequencies. Its steady-state (driving frequency in Hz, displacement amplitude in mm) data are (2.5, 3.8), (2.7, 7.6), (2.9, 15.2), (3.1, 9.5), (3.3, 5.7). (a) Identify the sampled frequency with largest response and estimate the corresponding period. (b) Explain what resonance means in terms of energy transfer. (c) Predict qualitatively how additional damping changes the response curve. (d) Describe how to locate the peak more accurately without changing the driving force amplitude.
Task interpretation
What a complete response should do
Identify the useful evidence, process it with units, and make only the conclusion the data supports.
Split the problem into linked stages and state why each relationship applies.
- Response type
- data analysis
- Allocation
- 8 marks
- Demand
- demanding
Steady-state driven-oscillator observations
The plotted coordinates are supplied observations, also listed in the question; no fitted result is shown.
Read the exact data as a table
| Driving frequency / Hz | Displacement amplitude / mm |
|---|---|
| 2.5 | 3.8 |
| 2.7 | 7.6 |
| 2.9 | 15.2 |
| 3.1 | 9.5 |
| 3.3 | 5.7 |
These are the supplied readings, not a worked answer. No fitted trend is drawn.
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