UNIT 1.

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Example 1: If, in a spring-mass system as shown in Fig. 4,
the spring constant is 50 Nm –1 and the block of mass 1 kg is
displaced by 0.01 m to the right before being released,
calculate the
(a) restoring force at t = 0,
(b) restoring force when the block travels to the other
extreme, and
(c) The restoring force in the static equilibrium position.
Example 2: A mass on a spring oscillates along a vertical
line, taking 12 s to complete 10 oscillations. Calculate the
(a) time period, and
(b) the angular frequency.
Example 3: The motion of a vibrating blade is frozen (when
the frequency of the vibrating blade becomes equal to the
stroboscope frequency) by illuminating it with a stroboscope
(a flashing light). The least stroboscope frequency at which
this occurs is 40 Hz. Calculate the
(a) time period, and
(b) the angular frequency of the vibrations.
Example 4: A 50 g mass vibrates in SHM at the end of a
spring. The amplitude of the motion is 12 cm and the period
is 0.1 minutes. Find the maximum speed of the mass. What
will be the speed at x = A/2?
Example 5: A particle of mass 0.2 kg undergoes SHM
 
according to the equation: x ( t ) = 3cos   t +  . [t is in s and
 4
x in m]
(a) What is the amplitude of oscillation?
(b) What is the time period of oscillation?
(c) What is the initial value of x
(d) What is the initial velocity when the SHM starts?
(e) At what instants is the particle’s energy purely kinetic?
Example 6: A copper spring suspended from a fixed point
supports a scale pan of mass 0.05 kg at equilibrium. The scale
pan descends 40 mm to a new equilibrium position when a 1
N weight is placed on it. Calculate the
(a) spring constant,
(b) the total mass of the scale pan and the 1 N weight. [ g
can be taken as 10 N S–2]
(c) The scale pan, with 1 N weight on it, is pulled a distance
of 15 mm downwards from equilibrium and then released.
Calculate the time period of the oscillations, and
(d) the maximum speed of the scale pan.
Example 8: The spring constants (k1 and k2) of both the
springs is 50 Nm–1 and the block of mass 1 kg is displaced
by 0.01 m to the right from its mean position before being
released. In the equilibrium position of the system, the springs
are stretched by 0.02 m each. Calculate the
(a) restoring force at t = 0,
(b) restoring force when the block travels to the other
extreme, and
(c) the restoring force in the static equilibrium position.
Example 9: A weightless spring whose
spring constant is 100 Nm –1 is cut into two
halves.
(a) What is the spring constant of each
half?
(b) The two halves suspended separately
support a block of mass m. If the system
vibrates at a frequency of (10/n) Hz, find the value of mass
m.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 1: In practice, the
oscillations in a simple harmonic motion or a spring-mass
system die away gradually and the mass m stops moving.
What do you think is the reason for that?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 2: What are the two
properties that are responsible for the oscillations?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 3: Do you think that the
minute hand of the clock moves periodically? If so, can we
also infer that its motion is oscillatory? Explain.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 4: Choose the correct
option:
The motion of Halley’s Comet around the sun is
(a) Periodic (b) Oscillatory (c) Simple harmonic (d)
Translatory.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 5: If the displacement x in
the above example is halved, how will be the restoring force
change in all the three cases.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 6: What will happen if
instead the initial displacement is doubled?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 7: Will the answer change
if the mass of the block in the above example is changed to 5
kg?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 9: An object executes
simple harmonic motion with an angular frequency of 1.26rad
s–1. Calculate its time period.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 10: If the angular
frequency m is one revolution per minute. Calculate its time
period.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 11: In the above
question, calculate the speed at x = 1cm.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 12: In the above question,
at what location will the speed of the vibrating mass be 5
cm/s?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 13: How are the
following characteristics of SHM affected by doubling the
amplitude? Explain.
(a) Time period, and (b) maximum velocity.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 14: Choose the correct
option:
Which of the following functions represent SHM?
(a) sin(2mt) (b) sin–1 mt (c) sin(mt) + 2 cos(mt) (d) sin(mt) +
cos(2mt)
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 15: A steel spring,
suspended from a fixed point, supports a 0,2 kg stone hung
from its lower end. The stone is displaced downwards from
its equilibrium position by a distance of 25 mm and then
released. The time for 20 oscillations is measured as 22.
Calculate
(a) its time period,
(b) its angular frequency,
(c) its maximum speed,
(d) the maximum tension in the spring
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 17: Calculate the time
period of composite spring-mass system when the springs are
joined in series?
1. A horizontal spring-mass system of spring constant k
and mass M executes SHM with frequency f. When the block
is passing through its equilibrium position, an object of mass
m is put on it and the two move together. Find the new
frequency of vibration.
2. A particle executes SHM with amplitude of 0.5 cm and
frequency of 100 Hz. What is the maximum speed of the
particle?
3. A weight suspended from a spring oscillates up and
down. The restoring force in the weight is zero at
A. highest point. B. lowest point.
C. middle point. D. none of these.
4. A person goes to bed at sharp 10:00 pm every day. Is it
an example of periodic motion? If yes, what is the time
period? If no, why?
5. In the above question, is it an example of SHM? If yes,
why?
6. A particle moves on the x-axis according to the equation
x = A + B sin mt. Is the motion SHM? If yes, what is the
amplitude?
7. The displacement of a particle in SHM in one time
period is
A. A B. 2A
C. 4A D. zero.
8. The distance moved by a particle in SHM in one time
period is
A. A B. 2A
C. 4A D. zero.
9. The distance moved by a particle in SHM in half time
period is
A. A B. 2A
C. 4A D. zero.
10. Mention the differences among periodic motion,
oscillatory motion and SHM.
Select the correct statement(s). More than one choice may be
correct.
A. A simple harmonic motion is necessarily periodic.
B. A simple harmonic motion is necessarily oscillatory.
C. An oscillatory motion is necessarily periodic.
D. A periodic motion is necessarily oscillatory.
 UNIT 2. ENERGY IN SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Example 1: Show that the sine and the cosine functions

describing the displacement of the oscillating body executing
SHM are equivalent.
Example 2: A particle starts at t = 0 from the mean position
with a velocity v = 3 m / s in the positive direction. If the time
period of the oscillation is 2 sec. write the expression for the
displacement of the particle.
(a) What minimum time does the particle take to go from mean
position to a point P, which lies midway between the mean
position and the right extreme position?
(b) What minimum time does the particle take to reach the
right extreme position from the mean position?
Example 3: A horizontal platform executes SHM in a vertical
line with time period of n s and an amplitude of 0.5 m. A book of
mass 2 kg is placed on the platform and oscillates with it.
Calculate the greatest and least values of the force exerted by the
book on the platform.
Example 4: A block, whose mass is 680 g, is fastened to a spring
whose spring constant k is 65 N/m. The block is pulled a distance
x = 11 cm from its equilibrium position at x = 0 on a frictionless
horizontal surface and released from rest at t = 0.
(a) What force does the spring exert on the block just before
the block is released?
(b) What are the angular frequency, the frequency, and the
period of the resulting oscillation?
(c) What is the amplitude of the oscillation?
(d) What is the maximum speed of the oscillating block?
(e) What is the magnitude of the maximum acceleration of the
block?
(f) What is the phase angle for the motion?
(g) What is the total mechanical energy of the oscillator?
(h) What is the potential energy of this oscillator when the
block is halfway to its end-point?
(i) What is the kinetic energy of the oscillator when the block
is halfway to its end-point?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 1: If a particle executing
SHM starts at t = 0 from the right extreme, what is its equation?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 2: If a particle executing
SHM starts at t = 0 from the left extreme, what is its equation?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 3: If a particle executing
SHM starts at t = 0 from the mean position and the initial
velocity is positive, what is its equation?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 4: If a particle executing
SHM starts at t = 0 from the mean position and the initial
velocity is negative, what is its equation?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 5: In the above example, what
do you think is the condition for the book to maintain contact
with the platform?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 6: Two simple harmonic
motions are represented by the equations x1 = 10sin ( 3t +  / 4 )

and x2 = 5cos ( 9t +  / 3) . Their amplitudes are of the ratio .

Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 7: Choose the correct option:

A body is in SHM. The motion is represented graphically. The
valid representation of the position will be
(a) A square wave
(b) A straight line
(c) A sinusoidal curve
(d) A (y = x2 ) curve
(e) A curve of the form y = 5|sinx|
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 8: In the previous question,
what will be the valid representation of the velocity?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 9: In the previous question,
what will be the valid representation of the acceleration?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 10: Choose the correct option:
For a particle executing SHM, which of the following statements
does not hold good?
(b) The total energy of the particle always remains the same.
(c) The restoring force is always directed towards a fixed point
(d) The restoring force is maximum at the extreme positions.
(e) The acceleration of the particle is minimum at the mean
position.
(f) The velocity of the particle is minimum at the mean
position.
1. For a particle executing SHM along x-axis, the restoring
force is given by
(a) – Akx (b) Acos kx (c) A exp(−kx) (d) Akx

2. The potential energy of a particle executing SHM is given

by
(a) U = k/2(x − a)2 (b) U = kx + kx2 + kx3 (c) U = A
exp(−bx) (d) U = constant
3. A particle executes simple harmonic motion of amplitude A
along the x-axis. At t = 0, the position of the particle is x = A/2
and it moves along the positive x-direction. Find the phase
constant if the equation is written as x(t ) = Acos(t +  ).
4. A body of mass 2 kg, suspended through a vertical spring,
executes SHM of period 4 s. If the oscillations are stopped and
the body hangs in equilibrium, find the potential energy stored in
the spring. [g = 10 ms–2]
5. In the previous question, if the system, instead of being on
the earth’s surface, is transported to the moon, how will your
answer change? The acceleration due to gravity on the moon’s
surface is 1/6th of that on the earth.
6. If the system described in question 4
above is kept in an elevator which is moving
downward with an acceleration of 5ms–2, how
will your answer change? How about the
condition when the elevator is accelerating
upwards with the same acceleration? And,
what will happen if the elevator is
experiencing a free fall?
7. A spring stores 5 J of energy when stretched by 25 cm. It is
kept vertical with the lower end fixed. A block fastened to its
other end is made to undergo small oscillations. If the block
makes 5 oscillations each second, what is the mass of the block?
8. A mass M, attached to a spring, oscillates with a period of 2
s. If the mass is increased by 2 kg, the period increases by 1 s.
Assuming Hooke’s law is obeyed, the initial mass M was .
9. The work done by the spring-mass system during one
complete oscillation is equal to
(a) The total energy of the system
(b) Kinetic energy of the system
(c) Potential energy of the system
(d) Zero
10. A particle of mass m is hanging vertically by an ideal
spring of force constant k. If the mass is made to oscillate
vertically, its total energy is
(a) maximum at the extreme position
(b) maximum at the mean position
(c) minimum at the mean position
(d) none of the above

UNIT 3 PHYSICAL SYSTEMS EXECUTING SHM

Example 1: A simple pendulum provides an easy method to
measure the value of ‘g’ in a laboratory. An experiment with
simple pendulum was carried out on the surface of moon,
where it was found that it took 38 s to complete 10 oscillations
when the effective length of the pendulum was kept at 60 cm.
Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the moon’s
surface. How does it compare with the earth’s gravity? [For
earth’s surface g = 9.8 ms–2 ]
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 1: Calculate the time
period of a simple pendulum of length one meter. The
acceleration due to gravity at that place is g=  2 ms–2 .
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 2: What will happen to the
motion of a simple pendulum if the amplitude is large? Is it still
SHM? Explain.
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 3: An astronaut on the
surface of the moon finds that the period of a simple pendulum
there is much larger than that on the earth and that the pendulum
continues to oscillate for much longer time than on the earth.
What information regarding the moon could be obtained from
these observations?
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 4: Choose the correct
answer -
When a mass undergoes angular simple harmonic motion, there
is always a constant ratio between its angular displacement and
(a) time period, (b) angular acceleration, (c) angular velocity,
(d) mass
Self Assessment Question (SAQ) 5: Choose the correct
answer -
For a particle executing SHM, the kinetic energy is given by
K = K 0 cos 2 (t ) . The maximum value of potential energy is

(a) KO, (b) zero, (c) KO/2, (d) not obtainable

1. A simple pendulum of length 40 cm oscillates with an
angular amplitude of 0.04 rad. Determine [Take g = 10 ms–2]
(a) the time period,
(b) the linear amplitude of the bob,
(c) the speed of the bob when the string makes angle 0.02 rad
with the vertical, and
(d) the angular acceleration when the bob is in momentary
rest.
2. What is the period of a pendulum formed by pivoting a
meter stick so that it is free to rotate about a horizontal axis
passing through the 75 cm mark?
3. The pendulum of a clock is replaced by a spring-mass
system with the spring having spring constant 0.1 N/m. What
mass should be attached to the spring?
4. What will be the period of a simple pendulum hanging by
the ceiling of an elevator if the elevator is in a free fall?
5. Choose the correct option.
The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum at a place
inside the mine is
(a) more than it is on the surface of the earth.
(b) less than it is on the surface of the earth.
(c) the same as it is on the surface of the earth.
(d) the same as it is on the surface of the moon.
6. A simple pendulum is suspended from the ceiling of a
truck. When the truck is at rest, the time period T of the
pendulum is measured. Thereafter, the truck starts accelerating
uniformly on the horizontal road. If the acceleration of the truck
is ‘a’, what will be the new time period with respect to T?
7. Choose the correct option.
Suppose that it takes 1.2 seconds for a simple pendulum to
swing from its extream left position to its extream right
position. What is the period of the pendulum?
(a) 0.6 s (b) 1.2 s (c) 2.4 s (d) 3.6 s
8. Choose the correct option.
A pendulum with a string of length 2 m has a period of 2.8 s.
What would be the period of the pendulum if the length of the
string were increased to 8 m?
(a) 1.4 s (b) 2.8 s (c) 5.6 s (d) 11.2 s
UNIT 7 FORCED HARMONIC OSCILLATIONS AND RESONANCE

Fig.1: The variation of amplitude of oscillation of a forced oscillator with the frequency of the externally
applied periodic force

1. Which among the following is an example of forced

harmonic oscillator:
a) sound produced by a flute.
b) sound produced by an organ pipe.
c) vibrations produced in violin string.
d) vibrations produced in telephone transmitter during
conversation.
2. As the amplitude of resonant vibrations decreases, degree of
damping
a) increases
b) decreases
c) remains same
d) varies
3. In the case of forced simple harmonic vibrations, the body
generally vibrates with
a) its natural frequency of vibration and its amplitude is small
b) its natural frequency of vibration but its amplitude is large
c) the frequency of external force with a small amplitude
d) the frequency of external force with a large amplitude
4. Consider the following statement:
A body vibrating due to forced oscillations is acted upon by
1) A restoring force which is directly proportional to its
displacement
2) A retarding force which is directly proportional to its
velocity
3) An external periodic force of constant amplitude and
frequency Choose correct statement
a) 1 and 2 are correct
b) 2 and 3 are correct
c) 1 and 3 are correct
d) 1,2 and 3 are correct
5. For a resonating system, it should oscillate
a) bound
b) only for some time
c) freely
d) for infinite time
6. The power absorbed by a forced oscillator is proportional to
a) square of the amplitude
b) b) cube of amplitude
c) c) amplitude
d) d) inverse of amplitude
7. The amount of power supplied to a system is equal to the
rate of dissipation of energy in
a) forced vibration
b) damped vibration
c) simple harmonic motion
d) oscillatory motion
A particle is executing SHM. Its velocity has values of 3 m/s and
2 m/s when its distance from the mean position is 1 m and 2 m,
respectively. calculate the length of its path and period of its
motion
1. A body of mass 5.0 kg is suspended by a spring which
stretches 10 cm when the mass is attached. It is then
displaced downward an additional 5.0 cm and released. Take
g = 10 m / s 2 . Its position as a function of time is
approximately
a. x = 10sin 10t
b. x = 10cos 10t
c. x = 5cos (10t - π)
d. x = 10sin (10t + 5)
e. x = 5cos 10t
2. The motion of a particle connected to a spring is
described by x = 10cos(лt). At what time (in s) is the
potential energy equal to the kinetic energy?
a. 0
b. 0.25
c. 0.50
d. 0.79
e. 1.0
3. A mass m = 2.0 kg is attached to a spring having a force
constant k = 290 N/m as in the figure. The mass is displaced
from its equilibrium position and released. Its frequency of
oscillation (in Hz) is approximately
a. 12
b. 0.50
c. 0.01
d. 1.9
e. 0.08
4. Two circus clowns (each having a mass of 50 kg) swing on
two flying trapezes (negligible mass, length 25 m) shown in the
figure. At the peak of the swing, one grabs the other, and the
two swing back to one platform. The time for the forward and
return motion is
a. 10 s
b. 50 s
c. 15 s
d. 20 s
25 s
5. A weight of mass m is at rest at O when suspended from a
spring, as shown. When it is pulled
down and released, it oscillates
between positions A and B. Which
statement about the system consisting
of the spring and the mass is correct?
a. The gravitational potential energy of the system is greatest at
A.
b. The elastic potential energy of the system is greatest at O.
c. The rate of change of momentum has its greatest magnitude at
A and B.
d. The rate of change of gravitational potential energy is smallest
at O.
e. The rate of change of gravitational potential energy has its
greatest magnitude at A and B.
6. A graph of position versus time for an object oscillating at the
free end of a horizontal spring is shown below.
A point or points at which the object has positive velocity and
zero
acceleration
is(are)
a. B
b. C
c. D
d. B or D
e. A or E
7. A graph of position versus time for an object oscillating at the
free end of a horizontal spring is shown below.
The point at which the object has zero velocity and positive
acceleration is
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
8. Suppose it were possible to drill a frictionless cylindrical
channel along a diameter of the Earth from one side of the
Earth to another. A body dropped into such a channel will only
feel the gravitational pull of mass within a sphere of radius
equal to the distance of the mass from the center of the Earth.
The density of the Earth is 5,52.103 kg/m3 and G = 6,67.10-11
N.m2/kg2. The mass will oscillate with a period of
a. 84.4 min.
b. 169 min.
c. 24.0 h.
d. 1130 h.
e. 27.2 d.
1. A 1.75−kg particle moves as function of time as follows:
  
x = 4 cos  2 t +  where distance is measured in metres and
 4
time in seconds.
(a) What is the amplitude, frequency, angular frequency, and period
of this motion?
(b) What is the equation of the velocity of this particle?
(c) What is the equation of the acceleration of this particle?
(d) What is the spring constant?
(e) At what next time t > 0, will the object be:
i. at equilibrium and moving to the right,
ii. at equilibrium and moving to the left,
iii. at maximum amplitude, and
iv. at minimum amplitude.

2. If the amplitude in Question #1 is doubled, how would yours

answers change?

3. What are the equations for the potential and kinetic energies
of the particle in Question 1? What is the total energy?
4. The diagram below shows the motion of a 2.00−kg mass on a
horizontal spring. Draw the reference circle. Find the phase
constant. Write down the equation of the displacement as a
function of time. What is the spring constant? What is the total
energy? What is the maximum speed? What is the maximum
acceleration? When exactly will the mass be at equilibrium and
moving to the right? When exactly will the mass be at point C?

5. The diagram below shows the velocity of a 2.00-kg mass on

a horizontal spring. What is the maximum amplitude of the
object's displacement? What is the maximum acceleration?
Draw the reference circle. What is the phase constant? Write
down the equation of the displacement as a function of time.
What is the spring constant? What is the total energy? When
exactly will the mass have maximum positive velocity (point A)?

6. The diagram below shows the acceleration of a 2.00-kg mass on

a horizontal spring. What is the maximum amplitude of the object's
displacement? What is the maximum velocity? Draw the reference
circle. Find the phase constant. Write down the equation of the
displacement as a function of time. What is the spring constant?
What is the total energy? When exactly will the mass first have
minimum acceleration (point B)?
7. The diagram below shows a block oscillating back and forth at t
= 0. Sketch the reference circle. Find the phase constant  0 in

degrees. Sketch the x-t and v-t graphs.

8. A horizontal spring with k = 200N/m has an attached mass

of 0.150 kg. It is stretched and released. As the mass passes
through the equilibrium point, its speed is 5.25 m/s. What was
the amplitude of the motion?

9. In the diagram below, a mass

on a string of length L encounters
a nail positioned a distance L/n
from the bottom of the string
when the string hangs vertical.
What is the period of this
"interrupted" pendulum?
10. A block of mass M is on a frictionless surface as shown below. It
is attached to a wall by two springs with the same constant
K. Initially the block is at rest and the springs unstretched. The
block is pulled a distance A and then released.
(a) What is the speed of the block as it passes through equilibrium?
(b) What is the angular
frequency ω of the
motion?
(c) If the two springs
were replaced by one
spring so that ω remains the same, what would its spring constant
have to be?
(d) If the two springs were kept, what would the mass have to be so
that it has the same ω as a system comprised of a single block of
mass M and spring with stiffness K?
11. A block with a mass M1 = 5.00 kg is sliding to the right with a

speed of 15.0 m/s when it hits and sticks to a block of mass, M2 =

3.00 kg, attached to a spring of spring constant k = 3000 N/m. The
second block was at the equilibrium position and the spring
uncompressed at the time of the collision. The horizontal surface is
frictionless.

(a) Find the angular frequency of vibration for the system.

(b) Find the maximum compression of the spring.
(c) Find the maximum acceleration of the joined blocks.