SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

1. A point mass oscillates along the x-axis according to the law x = x0 cos (ωt – π/4). If
the acceleration of the particle is written as, a = A cos (ωt + d), then

(a) A = x0ω2, δ = 3π/4 1

(b) A = x0, δ = –π/4
(c) A = x0ω2, δ = π/4
(d) A = x0ω2, δ = –π/4
Answer:

2. The displacement of a particle is represented by the equation

The motion of the particle is

(a) simple harmonic with period 2π/ω. 1

(b) simple harmonic with period π/ω.

(c) periodic but not simple harmonic.

(d) non-periodic.

Answer:

3. The relation between acceleration and displacement of four particles are given 1
below:
 (a) ax = +2x.
(b) ax = +2x2.
(c) ax = –2x2.
(d) ax = –2x.
Which one of the particles is executing simple harmonic motion?
Answer:

(d)

For SHM, ax ∝ (–x)

4. The displacement of a particle varies with time according to the relation y = a sin ωt +
b cos ωt.

(a) The motion is oscillatory but not S.H.M. 1

(b) The motion is S.H.M. with amplitude a + b.
(c) The motion is S.H.M. with amplitude a2 + b2.
(d) The motion is S.H.M. with amplitude
Answer:

5. A hollow sphere is fitted with water through a small hole in it. It is then hung by a
long thread and made to oscillate. As the water slowly flows out of the hole at the
bottom, the period of oscillation will
1
(a) continuously decrease
(b) continuously increase
(c) first decrease and then increase
(d) first increase and then decrease.
Answer:

(d)

As the water slowly leakes out, centre of gravity of water and sphere falls down from
the centre of sphere. Due to which length of simple pendulum (l) increases. This
continues till half of the sphere is emptied. After that as water leakes out, the length
of simple pendulum (l) decreases.
6. When a mass m is connected individually to two springs S1 and S2, the oscillation
frequencies are ν1 and ν2. If the same mass is attached to the two springs as shown
in Fig. , the oscillation frequency would be

Answer:

(b)

7. In the arrangement shown in the figure, the block of mass m is displaced, what is
the frequency of oscillation ?

Answer:

Since extension is of equal amount acting in the springs, the frequency is

8. A spring attached with a mass m oscillates with a frequency f. What will be the
frequency when the same is taken to the moon ? Why ? 2

Answer:

Frequency of a mass attached to a spring is It is independent of

acceleration due to gravity. So, the frequency is not affected on the surface of moon.

9. Two exactly identical pendulums are oscillating with amplitudes 2 cm and 6 cm.
Calculate the ratio of their energies of oscillation. 2

Answer:
10. Draw the graph of equation Fs = –kx, where Fs is the spring force and x is the
displacement of block from equilibrium position. Using the graph, show that
2
maximum work done by the spring at xm is Ws = – kxm2/2, (k = spring constant).

Answer:

where k is called spring constant. Suppose we pull the block outwards by an

amount xm the work done by the spring force is

The area of the shaded triangle represents the work done by the spring force. Due
to opposing signs of Fs and x, this work done is negative.

11. A body oscillates with S.H.M. according to the equation :

x(t) = 5 cos (2πt + π/4)

where x is in meters and t is in seconds. 3

Calculate the following :
(a) Displacement at t = 0 (b) Angular frequency (c) Magnitude of velocity
(Maximum).

Answer:
12. Two identical springs of spring constant k each are attached to a block of mass m
as shown in figure :

Show that when the mass is displacedfrom its equilibrium position on either side, it
executes a simple harmonic motion. Find the period of oscillations.

Answer:

13. A pendulum of length l is attached with a bob and placed in a lift. What will be time
period when the lift is
(i) having uniform motion upwards,
3
(ii) accelerated upwards by a,
(iii) accelerated downward by a ?

Answer:
14. An 8 kg body performs S.H.M. of amplitude 30 cm. The restoring force is 60 N when
the displacement is 30 cm. Find (a) time period (b) the acceleration, P.E. and K.E.,
3
when displacement is 12 cm.

Answer:

15. If the acceleration due to gravity on moon is one sixth that on the earth what will
be the length and time period of a second’s pendulum there ?
3
(g = 9.8 ms−2)

Answer:

16. Find the total energy of the particle executing S.H.M. and show graphically the 5
variation of P.E. and K.E. with time in S.H.M. What is the frequency of these
energies with respect to the frequency of the particle executing S.H.M.

Answer: