A loudspeaker cone is driven by a signal generator (oscillator) - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 6 - 2019 - Paper 1

To calculate the maximum acceleration, we start with the sine function that describes simple harmonic motion. The formula for maximum acceleration is given by:

a_{max} = A imes rac{(2\pi}{T})^2

Where:

• A is the amplitude (4 mm from the graph),
• T is the period (2 ms from the graph).

Substituting in the known values, we find:

• Convert A to meters: A = 4 \times 10^{-3} m,
• Use T = 2 \times 10^{-3} s.

Then,

$a_{max} = 4 \times 10^{-3} \times \left(\frac{2\pi}{2 \times 10^{-3}}\right)^2$

Calculating it, we find:

$a_{max} \approx 1.58 \times 10^{4} m/s^2$

The loudspeaker produces a longitudinal wave. In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium oscillate parallel to the direction of energy transfer. Thus, as the loudspeaker cone moves, it creates regions of compression and rarefaction in the air, causing the air particles to oscillate back and forth along the same line as the wave travels.