Free Waves MCQs with Answers
1,281 Waves MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Progressive waves transfer energy through oscillations, with wavelength, frequency, amplitude and wave speed related by v = fλ; sound speed depends on the medium. Superposition produces interference and stationary waves in strings and organ pipes, while simple harmonic motion describes the oscillation itself and must be distinguished from wave propagation.
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1,281 questions · page 13 of 65
- A. 0.5 m/s
- B. 0.71 m/s
- C. 1.0 m/s
- D. 1.41 m/s
Explanation: Maximum speed vmax = Aω = A √(k / m) = 0.1 × √(100 / 2) = 0.1 × √50 ≈ 0.1 × 7.07 ≈ 0.71 m/s.
Correct answer: 0.71 m/s- A. 0.1458 m
- B. 0.162 m
- C. 0.18 m
- D. 0.2 m
Explanation: Amplitude decreases by 10% per cycle, so A = A × (0.9) . After 2 cycles: A = 0.2 × (0.9)² = 0.2 × 0.81 = 0.162 m.
Correct answer: 0.162 m- A. 0.079 J
- B. 0.158 J
- C. 0.316 J
- D. 0.474 J
Explanation: Total energy E = ½ k A². Angular frequency ω = 2πf = 2π × 2 = 4π rad/s. k = mω² = 1 × (4π)² ≈ 157.91 N/m. E = ½ × 157.91 × (0.05)² ≈ 0.158 J
Correct answer: 0.158 J- A. 0.99 m/s
- B. 1.4 m/s
- C. 1.96 m/s
- D. 2.8 m/s
Explanation: Energy conservation: mgh = ½mv². Cancel m: v² = 2gh = 2 × 9.8 × 0.1 = 1.96, v = √1.96 ≈ 1.4 m/s.
Correct answer: 1.4 m/s- A. 0.05 m
- B. 0.1 m
- C. 0.15 m
- D. Infinity
Explanation: At resonance (driven at natural frequency), with no damping, the amplitude theoretically approaches infinity.
Correct answer: Infinity- A. 7.5 m/s²
- B. 9.0 m/s²
- C. 10.5 m/s²
- D. 12.3 m/s²
Explanation: For a simple pendulum g = 4π²L/T² = 4π²(0.8)/(1.6)² ≈ 12.3 m/s².
Correct answer: 12.3 m/s²- A. 0.1
- B. 0.2
- C. 0.3
- D. 0.4
Explanation: Damping ratio ζ = b / (2√(mk)) = 2 / (2 × √(0.5 × 50)) = 2 / (2 × √25) = 2 / 10 = 0.2.
Correct answer: 0.2- A. 0.1 m
- B. 0.141 m
- C. 0.173 m
- D. 0.2 m
Explanation: KE = PE when ½mv² = ½kx². Total energy E = ½kA². At x, PE = ½kx², KE = E - PE = ½kA² - ½kx².
Correct answer: 0.141 m- A. At crest and trough
- B. At mean position
- C. At all points equally
- D. At nodes only
Explanation: Velocity is maximum when displacement = 0.
Correct answer: At mean position- A. Half oscillation
- B. One oscillation
- C. Two oscillations
- D. One-fourth oscillation
Explanation: A complete oscillation is the motion of a particle from its mean position → extreme position → opposite extreme → back to mean position.
Correct answer: One oscillation- A. Maximum
- B. Zero
- C. Negative maximum
- D. Constant
Explanation: In SHM, displacement and velocity are 90° out of phase. When velocity is maximum → particle passes through mean position (x=0)
Correct answer: Zero- A. Velocity and displacement
- B. Acceleration and displacement
- C. Velocity and acceleration
- D. Displacement and restoring force
Explanation: Both always act in opposite directions but have the same phase angle
Correct answer: Displacement and restoring force- A. Constant and opposite in direction to displacement
- B. Proportional to displacement and opposite in direction
- C. Proportional to velocity
- D. Independent of displacement
Explanation: Definition of SHM: F = -kxForce increases as displacement increases. Force always points toward the mean position.
Correct answer: Proportional to displacement and opposite in direction- A. Mean position
- B. Extreme position
- C. Midway
- D. Constant everywhere
Explanation: The kinetic energy of simple pendulum is maximum at mean position. This is because at mean position, pendulum's bob has its greatest…
Correct answer: Mean position- A. Straight line
- B. Parabola
- C. Circle
- D. Exponential
Explanation: The potential energy versus displacement graph in Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is a parabola because the potential energy (U) is…
Correct answer: Parabola- A. Acceleration
- B. Velocity
- C. Kinetic energy
- D. Potential energy
Explanation: In SHM, acceleration is given by , where is displacement. Acceleration is directly proportional to displacement andalways opposite in…
Correct answer: Acceleration- A. 4.567 s
- B. 3.416 s
- C. 2.315 s
- D. 0.628 s
Explanation: The time period of vibration can be calculated using the formula: T = 2π √(m/k) In this case, the mass of the body is 4 kg and the spring…
Correct answer: 0.628 s- A. Damped
- B. Critical
- C. Undamped
- D. Non-critical
Explanation: There is no change in the oscillation's amplitude hence it is undamped.
Correct answer: Undamped- A. 2 π Hertz
- B. π/2 Hertz
- C. 1/2π Hertz
- D. π/4 Hertz
Explanation: The frequency of a simple pendulum depends on the ratio . When , this ratio equals 1, so the pendulum makes one oscillation every seconds.
Correct answer: 1/2π Hertz- A. A
- B. B
- C. C
- D. D
Explanation: The correct graph would be a sinusoidal curve that oscillates symmetrically around the x-axis.
Correct answer: C