Free Simple Harmonic Motion MCQs with Answers
466 Simple Harmonic Motion MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
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.
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466 questions · page 2 of 24
- A. T.V
- B. Radio
- C. Microwave oven
- D. Bulb
Explanation: Television and radio tuning use resonance to select a desired frequency, and microwave ovens use resonant production and absorption of…
Correct answer: Bulb- A. 100 cm
- B. 99 cm
- C. 99.2 cm
- D. 98 cm
Explanation: A second pendulum has time period T = 2 s. Using T = 2π√(L/g), L = g(T/2π)² = 9.81 m/s² x (2 s/2π)² ≈ 0.993 m = 99.3 cm, which rounds to…
Correct answer: 99.2 cm- A. 1
- B. 2
- C. 3
- D. 4
Explanation: Frequency and time period are reciprocals: f = 1/T. Therefore fT = (1/T)T = 1, a dimensionless quantity.
Correct answer: 1- A. Mean position
- B. Extreme position
- C. In between mean and extreme
- D. All positions during SHM
Explanation: The total mechanical energy of ideal SHM is E = 1/2 kA² and remains constant as kinetic energy changes into potential energy and back.
Correct answer: All positions during SHM- A. Infinite
- B. T/g
- C. Zero
- D. g/T
Explanation: For a pendulum, T = 2π√(L/g_eff). During free fall, the lift and pendulum accelerate downward together, so the effective gravity g_eff…
Correct answer: Infinite- A. Force
- B. Pressure
- C. Surface tension
- D. Loudness
Explanation: From Hooke's law F = kx, the force constant has unit k = F/x = N/m. Surface tension also has unit force per length, N/m, so it has the…
Correct answer: Surface tension- A. Rotational motion
- B. Circular motion
- C. Musical arrangement
- D. Vibratory motion
Explanation: SHM is an oscillatory or vibratory motion in which the restoring acceleration is proportional to displacement and directed toward the mean…
Correct answer: Vibratory motion- A. 1 hertz
- B. 0.5 hertz
- C. 1.5 hertz
- D. 2.5 hertz
Explanation: A second pendulum has time period T = 2 s by definition. Its frequency is f = 1/T = 1/2 s = 0.5 s^-1 = 0.5 Hz.
Correct answer: 0.5 hertz- A. mg cosθ
- B. mg sinθ
- C. mg tonθ
- D. mg
Explanation: For a pendulum at angle θ, the tangential component of its weight is F = mg sin θ, directed toward the mean position, and this component…
Correct answer: mg sinθ- A. 4 times
- B. 6 times
- C. 8 times
- D. 2 times
Explanation: The pendulum period is T = 2π√(L/g), so T is proportional to the square root of length.
Correct answer: 2 times- A. 4 seconds
- B. 3 seconds
- C. 2 seconds
- D. 6 seconds
Explanation: A second pendulum is defined as a pendulum whose time for one complete oscillation is 2 s. Hence its time period is T = 2 s.
Correct answer: 2 seconds- A. The square root of amplitude
- B. The amplitude
- C. Reciprocal of amplitude
- D. Square of an amplitude
Explanation: The total energy of SHM is E = 1/2 kA², where A is the amplitude and k is the force constant.
Correct answer: Square of an amplitude- A. mean position
- B. extreme position
- C. middle between the mean and extreme position on the right side
- D. middle between the mean and extreme position on the left side
Explanation: For SHM, v = ω√(A² - x²), so velocity is greatest when displacement x = 0.
Correct answer: mean position- A. Vibration S-2
- B. Radian
- C. Hertz
- D. ms-1
Explanation: Frequency is the number of complete vibrations per second, and its SI unit is hertz (Hz), equivalent to s^-1.
Correct answer: Hertz- A. Standing wave
- B. Sine wave
- C. Square wave
- D. None
Explanation: In simple harmonic motion, displacement varies with time as a sine or cosine function, so its waveform is a sine wave.
Correct answer: Sine wave- A. P E remains constant
- B. K E remain constant
- C. total energy remains constant
- D. total momentum remains constant
Explanation: In ideal vibratory motion, kinetic energy changes into potential energy and back again, but their sum, the total mechanical energy…
Correct answer: total energy remains constant- A. Independent of 'x'
- B. Proportional to 'x'
- C. Proportional to 'x2'
- D. Proportional to '√x'
Explanation: The total energy in SHM is independent of x.Because E=1/2(kA2), it stays constant no matter where the block is in its motion.
Correct answer: Independent of 'x'- A. Stress is inversely proportional to strain till elastic limit
- B. Stress is directly proportional to strain till elastic limit
- C. Stress is independent of strain
- D. Stress is proportional to elastic modulus
Explanation: Hooke's law is a principle in physics that relates to the elasticity of materials.
Correct answer: Stress is directly proportional to strain till elastic limit- A. Higher
- B. Lower
- C. Intermediate
- D. Zero
Explanation: According to Hooke's law, the force F required to extend or compress a spring by some distance x is directly proportional to that…
Correct answer: Higher- A. 2f
- B. f/2
- C. F
- D. None of these
Explanation: In a simple pendulum, the potential energy is maximum when the displacement is maximum, and the kinetic energy is maximum when the…
Correct answer: 2f