A loaded spring vibrates with period T. It is then cut into 4 equal parts, and the same load is suspended from one part. The new period is:
Correct answer: C. 2T
- A. T/4
- B. T/2
- C. 2T
- D. 4T
Explanation
The period of vibration of a spring-mass system depends only on the mass and the spring constant, not on the amplitude or the load. When the spring is cut into 4 equal parts, the effective spring constant is increased by a factor of 4. This is because each part has the same load but only a quarter of the original length, so it will be 4 times stiffer. Therefore, the period T is halved, so the new period becomes 2T.
Last updated
About Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple harmonic motion is oscillation in which acceleration is directly proportional to displacement and directed toward the equilibrium position. Work includes displacement, velocity, acceleration, phase, period, frequency, amplitude and energy, with applications to springs and simple pendulums. The restoring force and the conditions for SHM distinguish it from general periodic motion.
Practise Waves
1,281 free Waves MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
1 rev min-1 is equal to:
85.95° degree in terms of radian is
A 0.3 kg mass oscillates with amplitude 0.08 m. If its maximum kinetic energy is 0.096 J, what is the angular frequency?
A 0.5 kg mass on a spring (k = 50 N/m) is damped with a damping constant b = 2 kg/s. What is the damping ratio?
A 1 kg mass oscillates with SHM of amplitude 0.05 m and frequency 2 Hz. What is the total mechanical energy?