Oscillations

Question 7.1 Name two characteristics of simple harmonic notion (SHM)?

Answers 7.1 Characteristics of simple harmonic motion are as follow

1. Simple harmonic motion is a vibrating motion.

2. Acceleration is directly proportional to displacement.
3. Acceleration is always directed towards mean position.

Question 7.2 Does frequency depends on amplitude for harmonic

oscillators?
Answer 7.2 No, frequency is independent of amplitude it depends on Time period
Time Period = T = 1/f.

Question 7.3 Can we realize an ideal simple pendulum?

Answer 7.3 No, because a friction less system cannot be made. We need mass less
bob, in-extensible string and suspend it from a friction less support.

Question 7.4 What is the total distance traveled by an object moving with
SHM in a time equal to its period, if its amplitude is A?
Answer 7.4 As T is the time period for one complete vibration. Its maximum
displacement,
xo = r = A. so total distance traveled will be 4A.

Question 7.5 What happens to the period of a simple pendulum if its length
is doubled? What happens if the suspended mass is doubled?
Answer 7.5 For simple pendulum,
T = 2π√( l / g)
As the length is doubled so l = 2l
T = 2π√ (2 l / g) = √2 x 2π√ l / g = √2 T
So the time period increases by √2 (=1.414) times, as length is
doubled. There will be no change, when suspended mass is doubled. As time
period, T Time Period is independent of mass m.

Question 7.6 Does the acceleration of a simple harmonic oscillator remain

constant during its motion? Is the acceleration ever zero? Explain.
Answer 7.6 No acceleration depends upon displacement x. As the relation between
acceleration and displacement is a = -w(2)x.
The acceleration is zero at mean position i.e. (x=0), and maximum at
extreme position (x=xo) .So,
acceleration does not remain constant during motion.
Question 7.7 What is meant by phase angle? Does it define angle between
maximum displacement and the driving force?
Answer 7.7 Phase angle (or phase): “The angle θ = wt which specifies the displacement
as well as the direction of motion of the point executing SHM”.
It indicates the:

1. State of motion of a vibrating particle

2. Direction of motion of a vibrating particle.

No. It does not define angle between maximum displacement and the
driving force.

Question 7.8 Under what conditions the addition of two simple harmonic
motions does produces a resultant. Which is also simple harmonic?
Answer 7.8 When there is a constant phase difference in amplitude and frequency are
same. Exp are interference and beats.

Question 7.9 Show that in SHM the acceleration is zero when the velocity is
greatest and the velocity is zero when the acceleration is greatest?
Answer 7.9 For SHM. v = ω √ ( xo2 – x2) & a = - ω2 x .

1. At mean position, from the above equations, x = 0 then a = 0 & v = ω xo i.e.

acceleration is zero and velocity is maximum.
2. At extreme positions x = xo then v = 0 & a = -ω xo. i. e. velocity is zero when
acceleration is maximum.

Question 7.10 In relation to SHM, explain the equations:

1. y = A sin (ω t + ϕ )
2. a = - ω2 x

Answers 7.10

1. y = A sin (ω t + ϕ). ϕ initial phase, y Instantaneous displacement, A Amplitude

time t, (ω t + ϕ) State of motion. This equation shows that displacement
of SHM as a function of amplitude and phase angle depending upon
time.
2. a = - ω2 x where a = acceleration of a particle executing SHM ω = constant
angular frequency x=instantaneous displacement from the mean position. This
equation shows that acceleration is directly proportional to
displacement and is directed towards mean position.
Question 7.11 Explain the relation between total energy, potential energy
and kinetic energy for a body oscillating with SHM.
Answer 7.11 For a body executing SHM. Etotal=P.E+K.E. Since Total energy of
SHM remains constant in the absence of frictional forces, the K.E and P.E interchange
continuously from one form to another. At mean position, the energy is totally
K.E. P.E = 0. In between it is partially P.E and K.E.

Question 7.12 Describe some common phenomena in which resonance plays

an important role.
Answer 7.12 Important role of resonance:

1. Microwave oven Microwaves (of frequency 2450 MHz) with λ = 12 cm, are
absorbed due to resonance by water and fat molecules in the food, heating them
up and so cooking the food.
2. Children’s swing In order to raise the swing to a great height, we must give it a
push at the right moment and in the right direction.
3. Musical instruments in some instruments (e.g. drums) air columns resonate in
the wooden box. In string instruments (e.g. sitar) strings resonate with their
frequencies and loud music is heard.
4. Tuning radio/TV we change the frequency with knob. When it becomes equal
to a particular transmitted station, resonance occurs. Then we receive amplified
audio/video signals.

Question 7.13 If a mass spring system is hung vertically and set into
oscillations, why does the motion eventually stop?
Answer 7.13 Mass spring system is hung vertically and set into oscillations, the motion
eventually stop due to energy dissipation, friction and damping.

Numerical Problem 7.1: A 100g body hung on a spring, which elongates the spring
by 4cm. When a certain object is hung on the spring and set vibrating, its period is
0.568s. What is the mass of the object pulling the spring?
Numerical Problem 7.2: A load of 15g elongates a spring by 2cm. If body of mass
294g is attached to the spring and is set into vibration with an amplitude of 10cm, what
will be its (i) period (ii) spring constant (iii) maximum speed of its vibration.

Numerical Problem 7.3: An 8 kg body executes SHM with amplitude 30cm. The
restoring force is 60 N when the displacement is 30 cm. Find.
(i) Period.
(ii) Acceleration, speed, kinetic energy and potential energy when the displacement is
12cm.

Numerical Problem 7.4: A block of mass 4kg is dropped from a height of 0.8m on to
a spring of spring constant k = 1960 N/m, Find the maximum distance through which
the spring will be compressed.
Numerical Problem 7.5: A simple pendulum is 50cm long. What will be its frequency
of vibration at a place where g = 9.8 m/s(2).

Numerical Problem 7.6: A block of mass 1.6kg is attached to a spring with spring
constant 1000n/m, as shown is figure on book 7.14. The spring is compressed through a
distance of 2cm and the block is released from rest. Calculate the velocity of the block as
it passes through the equilibrium position, x = 0, if the surface is frictionless.

Numerical Problem 7.7: A car of mass 1300kg is constructed using a frame

supported by four springs. Each spring has a spring constant 20000N/m. If two people
riding in the car have a combined mass of 160kg, find the frequency of vibration of the
car, when it is driven over a pot hole in the road. Assume the weight is evenly
distributed.
Numerical Problem 7.8: Find the amplitude, frequency and period of an object
vibrating at the end of a spring, if the equation for its position, as a function of time, is:
x= 0.25 cos((pie/8)t) What is the displacement of the object after 2s?

Question 8.1 What features do longitudinal waves have in common with

transverse waves?
Answer 8.1 Common features between longitudinal and transverse waves.

1. They produce disturbance in the medium in which they are traveling.

2. Transport energy from one place to another.
3. The equation v = f λ is valid for both waves.

Question 8.2 The five possible waveform obtained, when the output from a
microphone is fed into the Y-input of the cathode ray oscilloscope, with the
time base on, are shown in fig8.23 (on book). These waveform are obtained
under the same adjustment of the cathode ray oscilloscope controls.
Indicate the waveform.
a. which trace represents the loudest note?
b. which trace represents the highest frequency?
Answer 8.2 Loudness of sound depends on the intensity of sound which is directly
related with the square of amplitude of the waves. Hence fig b represents the loudest
note. Trace b has the highest frequency as the wavelength is small than other waves.
Question 8.3 Is it possible for two identical waves traveling in the same
direction along a string to give rise to a stationary wave?
Answer 8.3 No, there is no possibility for two waves traveling in the same direction
along a string to give rise to a stationary wave. As stationary wave is produced by the
superposition of two identical waves traveling in opposite direction.

Question 8.4 A wave is produced along a stretched string but some of its
particles permanently show zero displacement. What type of wave is it?
Answer 8.4 The wave in which some of its particles permanently show zero
displacement is known as stationary wave and these zero displacement maximum
tension points are known as nodes.

Question 8.5 Explain the terms crest, trough, node and anti nodes.
Answer 8.5 Crest: The portion of wave above mean position in a traverse wave is
called crest.
Trough: The portion of wave below mean position in a traverse wave is called trough.
Node: Points having zero amplitude in a stationary wave is called node.
Anti nodes: Points having maximum amplitude in a stationary wave is called anti
nodes.

Question 8.6 Why does a sound travel faster in solids than in gases?
Answer 8.6 In the relation v = √ (E / ρ) ‘E’ Elasticity of the medium is directly
proportional to velocity of sound its value is greater for solids than in gases. The effect
of density, ρ is very less as compared to E. The ratio of (E / ρ) is greater for solid than
gases, so sound travel faster in solids then in gases.

Question 8.7 How are the beats useful in tuning musical instruments?
Answer 8.7 A new instrument is tuned as it is played with the standard musical
instruments. They are sounded together thus beats are produced. The frequency of the
new instrument is changed until the resonance occurs.

Question 8.8 When two notes of frequency f1 and f2 are sounded together,
beats are formed if f1>f2. What will be the frequency of beats?

1. f1+f2
2. 1/2(f1+f2)
3. f1-f2
4. ½(f1-f2)
Answer 8.8 Since we know that no of beats per second is equal to the difference
between the frequencies of the tuning forks. Hence option iii) f1-f2 is correct.

Question 8.9 As a result of distant explosion, an observer senses a ground

tremor and then hears the explosion. Explain the time difference.
Answer 8.9 Sound waves travel faster in solids than in air. The sound waves produced
by the explosion travel from two paths. One through ground reaches faster than
traveling through air. This is the reason for time difference.

Question 8.10 Explain why sound travels faster in warm air than in cold air.
Answer 8.10 v ∝ √T and v = √ (γ P / ρ)
The speed of sound varies directly as the square root of absolute temperature and
inversely to the square root of density of medium. As the temperature of air increases,
the pressure increases and density decreases. So, speed of sound increases in warm air.

Question 8.11 How should a sound source move with respect to an observer
so that the frequency of its sound does not change?
Answer 8.11 Both the source and the observer should not move so their relative speed
be zero. From Doppler Effect, Then there will be no change in the frequency of its
sound.
Numerical Problem 8.1: The wavelength of the signals from a radio transmitter is 1500m
and the frequency is 200Khz. What is the wavelength for a transmitter operating at 1000Khz
and with what speed the radio waves travel.

Numerical Problem 8.2: Two speakers are arranged as shown in figure. The distance
between them is 3m and they emit a constant tome of 344Hz. A microphone P is moved along a
line parallel to and 4m from the line connecting the two speakers. It is found that tone of
maximum loudness is heard and displayed on the CRO when microphone is on the center of the
line and directly opposite each speakers. Calculate the speed of sound.
Numerical Problem 8.3: A stationary wave is established in a string, which is 120cm long
and fixed at both ends. The string vibrates in four segments, at a frequency of 120Hz. Determine
its wavelength and the fundamental frequency.

Numerical Problem 8.4: The frequency of the note emitted by a stretched string is 300Hz.
What is the frequency of this note when: (a) Length of the wave is reduced by one third without
changing tension, (b) The tension is increased by one-third without changing the length of the
wire.

Numerical Problem 8.5: An organ pipe has a length of 50cm. Find the frequency of its
fundamental note and the next harmonic when it is: (a) Open at both ends. (b) Closed at one end
(speed of sound = 350m/s).
Numerical Problem 8.6: A church organ consists of pipes, each open at one end, of different
lengths. The minimum length is 30mm and the longest is 4m. Calculate the frequency range of
fundamental notes. (speed of sound = 340m/s).

Numerical Problem 8.7: Two tuning forks exhibit beats at a beat frequency of 3Hz. The
frequency of one fork is 256Hz. Its frequency is then lowered slightly by adding a bit of wax to
one of its prong. The two forks then exhibit a beat frequency of 1Hz. Determine the frequency of
second tuning fork.
Numerical Problem 8.8: Two cars P and Q are traveling along a motorway in the same
direction. The leading car P travels at a steady speed of 12m/s, the other car Q, traveling at a
steady speed of 20m/s, sound its horn to emit a steady note which P's driver estimates has a
frequency of 830 Hz. What frequency does Q's own driver hear? (Speed of sound = 340 m/s)

Numerical Problem 8.9: A train sounds its horn before it sets off from the station and an
observer waiting on the platform estimates its frequency at 1200 Hz. The trains then moves off
and accelerates steadily. Fifty seconds after departure, the driver sounds the horn again and the
platform observer estimates the frequency of 1140 Hz. Calculate the train speed 50 s after
departure. How far from the station is the train after 50 s? (Speed of sound = 340 m/s).

Numerical Problem 8.10: The absorption spectrum of light galaxy is measured and the
wavelength of one of the lines identified as the calcium line is found to be 478 nm. The same line
has a wavelength of 397 nm when measured in a laboratory. (a) Is the galaxy moving towards or
away from the earth? (b) Calculate the speed of the galaxy relative to Earth (Speed of light 3 x
10(8)m/s).
Question 9.1 Under what conditions two or more sources of light behave as
coherent sources?
Answer 9.1 Two or more sources of light behaves as coherent sources if they have no
phase difference or have a constant phase difference between the waves emitted by them.
A common method for producing two coherent light sources is to use single source to
illuminate a screen containing two narrow slits. Hence two or more sources derived from
a single source of light behaves as coherent source because they are in the same phase.

Question 9.2 How is the distance between interference fringes affected by the
separation between the slits of Young’s experiment? Can fringes disappear?
Answer 9.2 The fringe spacing or distance between two consecutive bright or dark
fringes in the young's experiment is given by:
Fringe spacing = Δy = λL / d
Where λ is the wavelength of light used, L is the distance between screen and source and
d is the separation of the slits. This relation shows that the fringe spacing is inversely
proportional to the separation of slits. It means that greater the separation between the
slits, the smaller will be fringe spacing. If by increasing the separation, the fringe spacing
decreases and the bright fringes becomes so close that uniform intensity of light is seen
and fringes disappear.

Question 9.3 Can visible light produce interference fringes? Explain.

Answer 9.3 Yes, the white light or visible light can produce the interference fringes.
Since the white light is the mixture of seven colors so each color will produce interference
fringes corresponding to its own wavelength. Hence the fringe pattern will be colored but
the fringes will be so closed that it would be difficult to observe the interference fringes of
visible or white light.

Question 9.4 In the Young’s experiment, one of the slits is covered with blue
filter and other with red filter. What would be the pattern of light intensity
on the screen?
Answer 9.4 Since red and blue light have different wavelength and will not be in phase
coherence. Therefore there will be no dark and bright bands on the screen. So the
interference of light cannot be observed properly. For better interference pattern, the
monochromatic light should be used.

Question 9.5 Explain whether the Young’s experiment is an experiment for

studying interference or diffraction effects of light.
Answer 9.5 Young's double slit experiment is basically used to study the interference of
light. However spreading of light around corners of the slits also produce diffraction of
light. However interference on the screen takes place only when the light coming out of
the narrow slits suffers from diffraction first.
Question 9.6 An oil film spreading over a wet footpath shows colors. Explain
how does it happen?
Answer 9.6 The colors are seen on the oil film spreading on the wet foot path due to
interference of light waves. When a light beam is incident, a part of it is reflected from the
upper surface of the oil film and a part of it is reflected from the lower surface of the thin
film. The two reflected beams are coherent. When oil film is very thin, these coherent
beams overlap. Hence constructive and destructive interference exhibit colors.

Question 9.7 Could you obtain Newton’s rings with transmitted light? If yeas,
would the pattern be different from that obtained with reflected light?
Answer 9.7 Yes, Newton rings can be obtained with transmitted light. However no
phase is changed in transmitted light, so bright fringes can be replaced by dark fringes
and so on. In case of transmitted light, the central point is bright.

Question 9.8 In the white light spectrum obtained with a diffraction grating,
the third order image of a wavelength coincides with the fourth order image
of a second wavelength.
Answer 9.8 For diffraction grating, the equation is:
d sinθ = nλ
where d sinθ is the phase difference, and n is the number of order and λ is the wavelength
of the light used.
For first wavelength λ, and 3rd order
d sinθ = 3λ1 .....(i)
and for second wavelength λ2 and fourth order
d sinθ = 4λ2 ......(ii)
equating the eq (i) and (ii)
3λ1 = 4λ2
λ1\λ2 = 4\3
λ1:λ2 = 4:3

Question 9.9 How would you manage to get more orders of spectra using a
diffraction grating?
Answer 9.9 For diffraction grating, the equation is given by:
d sinθ = nλ
where d is the grating element λ is the wavelength. In order to get more orders of spectra
from θ = 0 to θ = 90 for a given wavelength, the grating element d must be increased i.e.
Less number of lines per unit length be ruled on diffraction grating.

Question 9.10 Why the Polaroid sunglasses are better than ordinary
sunglasses?
Answer 9.10 The sunlight reflected from smooth surfaces such as water, wet roads,
lakes and glass is horizontally polarized and produce glare. This glare can be reduced by
using Polaroid sunglasses because they can decrease the intensity of light passing through
them. Hence the Polaroid sunglasses are better than ordinary sunglasses. Since Polaroid
sun-glass reduce the glare of light entering into the eye.

Question 9.11 How would you distinguish between UN-polarized and plan-
polarized lights?
Answer 9.11 UN-polarized and plane polarized light can be distinguished from each
other by using polariser. When light is viewed through polariser and it can be seen
continuously even if the polariser is rotated, the light seen is unpolarized. However if on
rotating the polarizer, the light becomes dim and cuts off by rotating the polariser through
90, then the light observed is plane polarized light.

Question 9.12 Fill the blanks.

1. According to _________ principle, each point on a wave front acts as a source of

secondary _______.
2. In Young’s experiment, the distance between two adjacent bright fringes for violet
light is _______ than that fore green light.
3. The distance between bright fringes in the interference pattern______ as the
wavelength of light used increases.
4. A diffraction grating is used to make a diffraction pattern for yellow light and then
for red light. The distances between the red spots will be_____ than that for yellow
light.
5. The phenomenon of polarization of light reveals that light waves are______
waves.
6. A Polaroid glass_______ glare of light produced at a road surface.

Answer 9.12

1. Huygen's , wavelets.
2. less.
3. increases.
4. more.
5. transverse.
6. polarizer.
7. reduce.

Numerical Problem 9.1: Light of wavelength 546nm is allowed to illuminate the slits of
Young's experiment. The separation between the slits is 0.10 mm and the distance of the screen
form the slits where interference effects are observed is 20 cm. At what angle the first minimum
will fall? What will be the linear distance on the screen between adjacent maxima?
Numerical Problem 9.2: Calculate the wavelength of light illuminates two, slits 0.5mm apart
and produces an interference pattern on a screen placed 200 cm away from the slits. The first
bright fringe is observed at distance of 2.4 mm from the central bright image.

Numerical Problem 9.3: In a double slit experiment the second order maximum occurs at an
angle of 0.25 degree. The wavelength is 650 nm. Determine the slit separation.

Numerical Problem 9.4: A monochromatic light of wavelength 588nm is allowed to fall on the
half silvered plate G1, in the Michelson interferometer. If mirror M1 is moved through 0.233mm,
how many fringes will be observed to shift?
Numerical Problem 9.5: A second order spectrum is formed at an angle of 38 degree when
light falls normally on a diffraction grating having 5400 lines per centimeter.Determine
wavelength of the light used.

Numerical Problem 9.6: A light is incident normally on a grating, which has 2500 lines per
centimeter. Compute the enslavement of a spectral line for which the deviation in second order is
15 degree.

Numerical Problem 9.7: Sodium light of wavelength 589 nm is incident normally on a grating
having 3000 lines per centimeter. What is the highest order of the spectrum obtained with this
grating?
Numerical Problem 9.8: Blue light of wavelength 480 nm illuminates a diffraction grating.
The second order image is formed at an angle of 30 degree from the central image. How many
lines in a centimeter of the grating have been ruled?

Numerical Problem 9.9: X-rays of wavelength 0.15nm are observed to undergo a first order
reflection at a Bragg angle of 13.3 degree from a quartz (SiO2) crystal. What is the interplanar
spacing of the reflecting planes in the crystal?

Numerical Problem 9.10: X-ray beam of wavelength undergoes a first order reflection from a
crystal when its angle of incident to a crystal face is 26.5 degree, and an X-ray beam of wavelength
0.197nm undergoes a third order reflection when its angle of incidence to that face is 60 degree.
Assuming that the two beams reflect from the same family of planes, calculate (a) the interplanar
spacing of the planes and (b) wavelength.