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Simple harmonic oscillations past paper questions

A2 Physics 9702 · Oscillations. 1 understand and use the terms displacement, amplitude, period, frequency, angular frequency and phase difference in the context of oscillations, and express the period in terms of both frequency and angular frequency 2 understand that simple harmonic motion occurs when acceleration is proportional to displacement from a fixed point and in the opposite direction 3 use a = –ω2x and recall and use, as a solution to this equation, x = x0 sin ωt 4 use the equations v = v0 cos ωt and v = ± ω ( ) x x 0 2 2 − 5 analyse and interpret graphical representations of the variations of displacement, velocity and acceleration for simple harmonic motion

In Cambridge A Level A2 Physics 9702, Simple harmonic oscillations came up in 39 of the 42 papers on Paperstreak, for about 6 marks a paper when it does. It last came up in October/November 2025.

Often set with Energy in simple harmonic motion, Damped and forced oscillations, resonance, Centripetal acceleration, Kinematics of uniform circular motion.

39 questions, newest first

1. 9702/41/O/N/25 Question 1 parts (c(i)) (c(iii)) (c(iv)) (d(i)) (d(iii)) (e) · 7 marks
2. 9702/42/O/N/25 Question 5 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) · 5 marks
3. 9702/43/O/N/25 Question 1 parts (c(i)) (c(iii)) (c(iv)) (d(i)) (d(ii)) (d(iii)) (e) · 9 marks
4. 9702/41/M/J/25 Question 5 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b) · 5 marks
5. 9702/42/M/J/25 Question 5 · 9 marks
6. 9702/43/M/J/25 Question 5 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (b) · 5 marks
7. 9702/42/F/M/25 Question 4 parts (a) (b) · 4 marks
8. 9702/41/O/N/24 Question 4 · 11 marks
9. 9702/42/O/N/24 Question 5 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 4 marks
10. 9702/43/O/N/24 Question 4 · 11 marks
11. 9702/41/M/J/24 Question 4 part (b(iii)) · 1 mark
12. 9702/42/M/J/24 Question 4 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (c) · 7 marks
13. 9702/43/M/J/24 Question 4 part (b(iii)) · 1 mark
14. 9702/42/F/M/24 Question 3 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 4 marks
15. 9702/41/O/N/23 Question 4 parts (a) (b(i)) · 4 marks
16. 9702/42/O/N/23 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) · 4 marks
17. 9702/43/O/N/23 Question 4 parts (a) (b(i)) · 4 marks
18. 9702/42/M/J/23 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) (b) · 8 marks
19. 9702/41/O/N/22 Question 3 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (c(ii)) · 7 marks
20. 9702/42/O/N/22 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) · 3 marks
21. 9702/43/O/N/22 Question 3 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) (c(ii)) · 7 marks
22. 9702/41/M/J/22 Question 4 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 6 marks
23. 9702/42/M/J/22 Question 4 parts (b(i)) (b(ii)) (b(iii)) · 6 marks
24. 9702/43/M/J/22 Question 4 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 6 marks
25. 9702/42/F/M/22 Question 3 parts (a) (b) (c(i)) (c(ii)) · 6 marks
26. 9702/41/O/N/21 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) (c) · 8 marks
27. 9702/42/O/N/21 Question 4 parts (a) (b) · 5 marks
28. 9702/43/O/N/21 Question 4 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) (a(iii)) (c) · 8 marks
29. 9702/41/M/J/21 Question 3 parts (a) (b) · 5 marks
30. 9702/42/M/J/21 Question 3 parts (a) (b) · 6 marks
31. 9702/43/M/J/21 Question 3 parts (a) (b) · 5 marks
32. 9702/42/F/M/21 Question 4 · 9 marks
33. 9702/41/O/N/20 Question 3 · 9 marks
34. 9702/42/O/N/20 Question 3 parts (a) (c) · 5 marks
35. 9702/43/O/N/20 Question 3 · 9 marks
36. 9702/41/M/J/20 Question 3 · 9 marks
37. 9702/42/M/J/20 Question 4 parts (a) (b(i)) (b(ii)) · 5 marks
38. 9702/43/M/J/20 Question 3 · 9 marks
39. 9702/42/F/M/20 Question 3 parts (a(i)) (a(ii)) · 4 marks

More in Oscillations: Energy in simple harmonic motion, Damped and forced oscillations, resonance.

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