The equation of SHM is x=Asin(ωt+ϕ)x = A\sin(\omega t + \phi)x=Asin(ωt+ϕ). The quantity ϕ\phiϕ is called:
A Angular velocity
B Phase constant
C Time period
D Amplitude
ϕ\phiϕ determines the initial phase of motion.
Restoring force in SHM acts:
A Away from equilibrium
B Toward equilibrium
C At 90° to displacement
D Independent of displacement
Restoring force always pulls the object toward mean position.
Which quantity does NOT change in SHM?
A Amplitude
B Total mechanical energy
C Potential energy
D Kinetic energy
Energy only oscillates between K.E and P.E; total remains constant.
The unit of angular frequency ω\omegaω is:
A m/s
B rad/s
C s
D Hz
Angular frequency is measured in radians per second.
Maximum acceleration occurs at:
A Mean position
B Midway
C Extreme positions
D All positions
Acceleration ∝ displacement; maximum at extremes.
A pendulum clock runs slower on a mountain because:
A Amplitude increases
B g is smaller
C Mass increases
D Air pressure decreases
T=2πL/gT = 2\pi\sqrt{L/g}T=2πL/g; lower g → larger T → slower clock.
Time period of SHM is directly proportional to:
A √mass
B amplitude
C velocity
D acceleration
T=2πm/kT = 2\pi\sqrt{m/k}T=2πm/k.
If amplitude doubles, maximum velocity becomes:
A Half
B Double
C Same
D Four times
vmax=Aωv_{\max} = A\omegavmax=Aω.
In SHM, displacement and acceleration are:
A In phase
B Out of phase by 90°
C Out of phase by 180°
D None
a=−ω2xa = -\omega^2 xa=−ω2x → opposite in phase.
At mean position in SHM:
A P.E is maximum
B K.E is maximum
C Acceleration is maximum
D Displacement is maximum
At x=0, velocity and K.E are maximum.
In damping, amplitude decreases due to:
A Gain of energy
B Loss of energy
C Constant force
D Increase of frequency
Damping removes energy.
A car shock absorber is an example of:
A Forced oscillation
B Damped oscillation
C SHM
D Resonance
Shock absorbers use damping to reduce oscillations.
In forced oscillation, steady-state amplitude depends on:
A Natural frequency
B Driving frequency
C Mass
D All of these
All factors influence forced oscillation response.
Resonance is useful in:
A Earthquake-resistant design
B Radio tuning circuits
C Clock pendulums
D All
Resonance is a key concept in many technologies.
At resonance, amplitude is:
A Minimum
B Maximum
C Zero
D Constant
External force matches natural frequency → large amplitude.
Heavy damping causes system to:
A Oscillate slowly
B Not oscillate at all
C Oscillate rapidly
D Increase amplitude
Heavy damping eliminates oscillations.
Q-factor gives information about:
A Energy loss
B Sharpness of resonance
C Frequency band
D All
Higher Q → narrow, sharp resonance.
If damping coefficient is zero:
A Overdamped
B Underdamped
C Critical damping
D No damping
No resistive force means no damping.
In coupled oscillators, which quantity oscillates between them?
A Force
B Energy
C Displacement
D Frequency
Energy transfers back and forth.
Lissajous figures represent:
A Damped oscillations
B Coupled oscillations
C SHM in two perpendicular directions
D Beats
Combining two perpendicular SHMs gives Lissajous patterns.
A progressive wave is one that:
A Does not transfer energy
B Remains stationary
C Moves forward carrying energy
D Does not obey superposition
Progressive waves transport energy.
Transverse waves cannot travel through:
A Solids
B Liquids
C Vacuum
D Gases
Fluids cannot support shear restoring forces.
When a wave is reflected from rigid boundary, phase changes by:
A 0°
B 90°
C 180°
D 270°
Reflection at rigid boundary → phase reversal.
If wave speed is constant, increasing wavelength will:
A Increase frequency
B Decrease frequency
C Not change frequency
D Zero frequency
Since v=fλv = f\lambdav=fλ.
A crest and the next trough are separated by:
A λ
B λ/2
C 2λ
D 3λ/2
Crest–trough distance = λ/2.
Wave displacement is given by y=Asin(kx−ωt)y = A\sin(kx – \omega t)y=Asin(kx−ωt). Wave number k equals:
A ω/v\omega / vω/v
B 2π/λ2\pi/\lambda2π/λ
C λ/2π\lambda / 2\piλ/2π
D v/λ
k=2π/λk = 2\pi / \lambdak=2π/λ.
Energy transported by wave depends on:
A Frequency
B Velocity
C Amplitude²
D Wavelength
Energy ∝ A².
Phase difference between two points separated by λ/2 is:
A 0
B π/2
C π
D 2π
λ corresponds to 2π rad; thus λ/2 → π rad.
Interference occurs when waves are:
A Coherent
B Incoherent
C Moving perpendicular
D Non-superposing
Coherent sources required for stable interference.
Constructive interference occurs when phase difference is:
A π
B π/2
C 0 or 2π
D 3π/4
In-phase waves add.
Standing waves have:
A Fixed nodes and antinodes
B Moving nodes
C Only antinodes
D Only nodes
Nodes and antinodes remain stationary.
Condition for standing wave formation:
A Same amplitude
B Same frequency
C Same speed and opposite direction
D All
All three conditions are necessary.
Distance between consecutive antinode–node is:
A λ
B λ/2
C λ/4
D 2λ
Node to antinode spacing is λ/4.
Harmonics in a closed pipe are:
A All
B Only even
C Only odd
D None
Closed organ pipe supports only odd harmonics.
If string length is doubled, fundamental frequency becomes:
A Doubled
B Half
C Same
D Four times
f1=v/2Lf_1 = v/2Lf1=v/2L → doubling L halves f.
A node corresponds to:
A Minimum energy
B Maximum energy
C Maximum displacement
D Maximum pressure variation
Node = zero amplitude → zero energy.
In third harmonic of open pipe, number of nodes is:
A 2
B 3
C 4
D 1
n-th harmonic in open pipe has n+1 nodes.
Beat frequency disappears when:
A f₁ = f₂
B f₁ < f₂
C f₁ > f₂
D None
No frequency difference → no beats.
The SI unit of frequency is:
A rad/s
B Hz
C J
D m/s
Hertz = cycles per second.
A harmonic is a wave whose frequency is:
A Fraction of fundamental
B Equal to fundamental
C Integral multiple
D Zero
Harmonics = n × f₁.
Sound speed depends on:
A Amplitude
B Frequency
C Nature & temperature of medium
D Wave source
Medium properties determine sound speed.
SONAR uses:
A Infrared waves
B Ultrasonic waves
C Microwaves
D Radio waves
SONAR uses high-frequency ultrasonic waves underwater.
Intensity level is measured in:
A Pascal
B Decibel
C Tesla
D Newton
Sound intensity level unit = decibel (dB).
Pitch depends on:
A Amplitude
B Frequency
C Speed
D Phase
Higher frequency → higher pitch.
For a moving observer approaching source, observed frequency:
A Decreases
B Increases
C Zero
D Constant
Doppler effect increases observed frequency.
Sonic boom is produced when:
A Speed < sound
B Speed = sound
C Speed > sound
D Speed = 0
Object breaks sound barrier → shock waves → boom.
Echo is heard when reflected sound arrives after:
A 0.01 s
B 0.1 s
C 0.01–0.05 s
D ≥ 0.1 s
Minimum separation to hear echo ~0.1 s.
Speed of sound in air increases with:
A Humidity
B Decrease in temperature
C Decrease in pressure
D All
Moist air is lighter → sound travels faster.
Sound cannot propagate in:
A Solid
B Liquid
C Air
D Vacuum
Needs material medium.
When two waves superpose destructively, resultant amplitude is:
A Maximum
B Zero (if equal amplitude)
C Half
D Double
Equal but opposite waves → cancellation.