Free Simple Harmonic Motion MCQs with Answers

• A. constant in magnitude and direction
• B. proportional to the displacement and directed towards the mean position
• C. proportional to the speed
• D. always zero at the extreme positions

Explanation: The restoring force is proportional to the displacement and always points back to equilibrium, which produces sinusoidal motion in time.

• A. at the extreme positions
• B. at the mean position
• C. midway between mean and extreme
• D. everywhere, since it is constant

Explanation: At the mean position the displacement is zero, so all the energy is kinetic and the speed peaks, while at the extremes the body is…

• A. its mass and length
• B. its length and the acceleration due to gravity
• C. its amplitude, for all amplitudes
• D. the material of the bob

Explanation: The period is 2 pi times the square root of length divided by g, so it is independent of the mass entirely and of the amplitude provided…

• A. the driving frequency equals the natural frequency of the system
• B. the driving frequency is much higher than the natural frequency
• C. the amplitude is very small
• D. there is no damping present at all

Explanation: At resonance energy is transferred most efficiently to the oscillator and the amplitude builds to a large value, limited only by damping.

• A. Frequency
• B. Time period
• C. Wavelength
• D. Amplitude

Explanation: This is the option marked correct in the official UHS answer key, and the total energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is proportional to…

• A. Time period
• B. Frequency
• C. Unity
• D. Velocity

Explanation: Frequency is the reciprocal of time period, so f = 1/T. Therefore, T(s) × f(s^-1) = 1, which is unity and has no unit; the likely mistake…

• A. Maximum as well minimum
• B. Minimum only
• C. Maximum only
• D. 0

Explanation: At resonance, the driving frequency equals the system's natural frequency, allowing energy transfer to build up most effectively and…

• A. Drag force of air
• B. Gravity
• C. Tension in the string
• D. None of these

Explanation: Damping removes mechanical energy from the pendulum, mainly through air resistance or drag, so the amplitude gradually decreases.

• A. 10 cm
• B. 5 cm
• C. 15 cm
• D. 7.5 cm

Explanation: During one complete vibration, the body travels from one extreme to the other and back, giving a total distance of 4A.

• A. Gravity
• B. Spring
• C. Hand
• D. All of these

Explanation: For a simple pendulum, the component of the bob's weight tangential to the path pulls it back toward the mean position and acts as the…

• A. Mean position
• B. Elsewhere
• C. Extreme position
• D. None

Explanation: In SHM, displacement is measured from the mean position and has its greatest magnitude at either extreme position, where it equals the…

• A. Mean position
• B. Extreme position
• C. Both A and B
• D. None

Explanation: For a mass-spring oscillator, speed is maximum at the mean position because the displacement and spring potential energy are zero there…

• A. Increase
• B. Decrease
• C. Remains the same
• D. Is zero

Explanation: The pendulum period is T = 2π√(L/g). At Murree, g is smaller than at the reference location, so T increases for the same length L.

• A. Vibratory motion
• B. Rotatory motion
• C. S.H.M
• D. Both A and C

Explanation: A mass attached to an ideal spring moves repeatedly to and fro, which is vibratory motion, and its restoring force is proportional to…

• A. Simple harmonic vibration
• B. Natural vibration
• C. Driven harmonic vibration
• D. Free vibration

Explanation: Forced vibration occurs when an external periodic force drives an oscillator, so it is also called driven harmonic vibration.

• A. Amplitude of vibration
• B. Energy of vibration
• C. Both amplitude and energy
• D. Neither amplitude nor energyCalibrating Electrical Test And Measurement Equipment

Explanation: Damping removes energy from an oscillator, causing its amplitude to decrease with time.

• A. P.E is zero
• B. Acceleration is zero
• C. Restoring force is zero
• D. All P.E acceleration and restoring force are zero

Explanation: Kinetic energy in SHM is maximum at the mean position, where displacement is zero.

• A. Amplitude
• B. Square of the amplitude
• C. 2 x amplitude
• D. 4 x amplitude

Explanation: In one complete vibration, the bob travels from one extreme to the other, a distance 2A, and then returns, another 2A.

• A. Directly proportional to the damping force
• B. Inversely proportional to the damping force
• C. Equal to the square of damping force
• D. Equal to the square of damping force

Explanation: Resonance becomes sharper when damping is smaller because less energy is lost per cycle, so the oscillator responds strongly over a…

• A. Displacement only
• B. The direction of motion only
• C. Both displacement and direction of motion
• D. Neither displacement nor direction of motion

Explanation: The phase of SHM specifies the particle's state at a particular instant, including its displacement and the direction of its motion…