Core finding

144 be able to use the equations …, …, …, …, and … and … as applied… is the most frequently assessed subtopic in Oscillations, with 38 topic questions and 97 marks across 20 papers. 145 be able to use equations for a simple harmonic… follows with 31 topic questions and 87 marks. The topic contains 11 subtopics, 145 topic questions and 306 marks in total. Rows count only the parts tagged to that subtopic, keep the same colour in both charts and repeat paper count, tagged marks and year range in the native table.

Topic question count and mark distribution

Subtopics are on the vertical axis and sorted from highest to lowest. Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches a subtopic are counted for it, and percentages are each row's share of the tagged total in that chart. A part tagged to several subtopics is counted in each bar, so the bars are not a partition of the topic total.

Questions by subtopic

question items

144 be able to use the equations

a = - ω^{2} x

,

x = A cos ω t

,

v = - A ω sin ω t

,

a = - A ω^{2} cos ω t

, and

T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{2 π}{ω}

and

ω = 2 π f

as applied to a simple harmonic oscillator 20 papers

3819.3%

145 be able to use equations for a simple harmonic oscillator

T = 2 π \frac{m}{k}

and a simple pendulum

T = 2 π \frac{l}{g}

20 papers

3115.7%

143 understand that the condition for simple harmonic motion is

F = - k x

, and hence understand how to identify situations in which simple harmonic motion will occur 18 papers

2914.7%

148 understand what is meant by resonance 15 papers

178.6%

150 understand how to apply conservation of energy to damped and undamped oscillating systems 10 papers

178.6%

153 understand how damping and the plastic deformation of ductile materials reduce the amplitude of oscillation. 15 papers

178.6%

152 understand how the amplitude of a forced oscillation changes at and around the natural frequency of a system and know, qualitatively, how damping affects resonance 11 papers

147.1%

146 be able to draw and interpret a displacement-time graph for an object oscillating and know that the gradient at a point gives the velocity at that point 11 papers

126.1%

147 be able to draw and interpret a velocity-time graph for an oscillating object and know that the gradient at a point gives the acceleration at that point 11 papers

126.1%

151 understand the distinction between free and forced oscillations 8 papers

94.6%

149 CORE PRACTICAL 16: Determine the value of an unknown mass using the resonant frequencies of the oscillation of known masses 1 papers

10.5%

Marks by subtopic

marks

144 be able to use the equations

a = - ω^{2} x

,

x = A cos ω t

,

v = - A ω sin ω t

,

a = - A ω^{2} cos ω t

, and

T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{2 π}{ω}

and

ω = 2 π f

as applied to a simple harmonic oscillator 20 papers

9720.7%

145 be able to use equations for a simple harmonic oscillator

T = 2 π \frac{m}{k}

and a simple pendulum

T = 2 π \frac{l}{g}

20 papers

8718.6%

143 understand that the condition for simple harmonic motion is

F = - k x

, and hence understand how to identify situations in which simple harmonic motion will occur 18 papers

5511.7%

148 understand what is meant by resonance 15 papers

439.2%

150 understand how to apply conservation of energy to damped and undamped oscillating systems 10 papers

439.2%

153 understand how damping and the plastic deformation of ductile materials reduce the amplitude of oscillation. 15 papers

377.9%

152 understand how the amplitude of a forced oscillation changes at and around the natural frequency of a system and know, qualitatively, how damping affects resonance 11 papers

367.7%

151 understand the distinction between free and forced oscillations 8 papers

234.9%

146 be able to draw and interpret a displacement-time graph for an object oscillating and know that the gradient at a point gives the velocity at that point 11 papers

224.7%

147 be able to draw and interpret a velocity-time graph for an oscillating object and know that the gradient at a point gives the acceleration at that point 11 papers

204.3%

149 CORE PRACTICAL 16: Determine the value of an unknown mass using the resonant frequencies of the oscillation of known masses 1 papers

61.3%

Subtopic comparison matrix

Curriculum order is by syllabus number, then alphabetically. Every row links to the matching past-paper question list.

Subtopic	Topic questions	Papers	Marks	Years
143 understand that the condition for simple harmonic motion is $F = - k x$ , and hence understand how to identify situations in which simple harmonic motion will occur	29	18	55	2020–2026	Open topic questions
144 be able to use the equations $a = - ω^{2} x$ , $x = A cos ω t$ , $v = - A ω sin ω t$ , $a = - A ω^{2} cos ω t$ , and $T = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{2 π}{ω}$ and $ω = 2 π f$ as applied to a simple harmonic oscillator	38	20	97	2020–2026	Open topic questions
145 be able to use equations for a simple harmonic oscillator $T = 2 π \frac{m}{k}$ and a simple pendulum $T = 2 π \frac{l}{g}$	31	20	87	2020–2026	Open topic questions
146 be able to draw and interpret a displacement-time graph for an object oscillating and know that the gradient at a point gives the velocity at that point	12	11	22	2020–2026	Open topic questions
147 be able to draw and interpret a velocity-time graph for an oscillating object and know that the gradient at a point gives the acceleration at that point	12	11	20	2021–2026	Open topic questions
148 understand what is meant by resonance	17	15	43	2020–2026	Open topic questions
149 CORE PRACTICAL 16: Determine the value of an unknown mass using the resonant frequencies of the oscillation of known masses	1	1	6	2021	Open topic questions
150 understand how to apply conservation of energy to damped and undamped oscillating systems	17	10	43	2020–2025	Open topic questions
151 understand the distinction between free and forced oscillations	9	8	23	2021–2025	Open topic questions
152 understand how the amplitude of a forced oscillation changes at and around the natural frequency of a system and know, qualitatively, how damping affects resonance	14	11	36	2020–2026	Open topic questions
153 understand how damping and the plastic deformation of ductile materials reduce the amplitude of oscillation.	17	15	37	2020–2026	Open topic questions

Browse every topic question

Topic question rules and edge cases

How many subtopics does Oscillations contain?: This page lists 11 subtopics tagged to the current syllabus. They are ordered by syllabus number, then alphabetically, and each row opens a page of matching past-paper questions.
How are the subtopic question and mark totals calculated?: A multiple-choice question contributes one item and its marks to every subtopic it is tagged with. A structured question contributes one item per tagged part, and that part’s marks; untagged parts of the same question are not counted here. A part tagged to several subtopics therefore appears under each of them.
Why do some subtopics have no numbered prefix?: Practical-skills statements and some syllabus bullets are unnumbered. Numbered statements come first; unnumbered statements and ties are sorted alphabetically.
Is the LaTeX rendered without JavaScript?: Yes. Subtopics that contain formulas are converted to static KaTeX HTML during the build, and the KaTeX stylesheet is served from the same site.

WPH15 Oscillations Topic Questions

Topic question count and mark distribution

Questions by subtopic

Marks by subtopic

Subtopic comparison matrix

Browse every topic question

Other topics in WPH15

Topic question rules and edge cases