Oscillations: Master the Basics with Interactive Quizzes

Question 1

The energy stored in a simple harmonic oscillator is:

Accepted Answer

Proportional to the square of the amplitude

Answer

Proportional to the square of the frequency

Answer

Proportional to the square of the period

Answer

Constant

Question 2

What is the phase difference between displacement and velocity in simple harmonic motion?

Accepted Answer

90°

Answer

0°

Answer

180°

Answer

270°

Question 3

The resonance frequency of a simple harmonic oscillator is defined as the:

Accepted Answer

Frequency of the driving force that produces the maximum amplitude

Answer

Frequency of the oscillator with no damping force

Answer

Frequency of the oscillator with constant amplitude

Answer

Half the frequency of the driving force

Question 4

Which of the following is **not** a characteristic of simple harmonic motion?

Accepted Answer

Constant velocity

Answer

Constant acceleration

Answer

Periodic

Answer

Linear

Question 5

What is the **potential energy** of a simple harmonic oscillator at its maximum displacement?

Accepted Answer

Maximum

Answer

Zero

Answer

Minimum

Answer

Half of the maximum

Question 6

What is the effect of **damping** on a simple harmonic oscillator?

Accepted Answer

Decreases the energy

Answer

Increases the amplitude

Answer

Decreases the frequency

Answer

Increases the period

Question 7

Which of the following units is used to measure **frequency**?

Accepted Answer

Hertz (Hz)

Answer

Newton (N)

Answer

Joule (J)

Answer

Meter (m)

Question 8

In a damped spring-mass system, what happens to the amplitude of oscillations over time?

Accepted Answer

It decreases

Answer

It increases

Answer

It remains constant

Answer

It changes unpredictably

Question 9

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of damped oscillations?

Accepted Answer

Amplitude decreases over time.

Answer

Frequency increases over time.

Answer

Period remains constant.

Answer

Energy is conserved.

Question 10

Which of the following is a defining condition for simple harmonic motion?

Accepted Answer

Restoring force is linearly proportional to displacement.

Answer

Frequency is constant.

Answer

Amplitude is constant.

Answer

Energy is conserved.

Question 11

The period of oscillation (T) for a simple pendulum of length (L) and acceleration due to gravity (g) is given by which formula?

Accepted Answer

T = 2π√(L/g)

Answer

T = 4π²√(L/g)

Answer

T = π√(L/g)

Answer

T = 1/2π√(L/g)

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of simple harmonic motion (SHM)?

Accepted Answer

Constant velocity

Answer

Energy conservation

Answer

Displacement proportional to sin(ωt) or cos(ωt)

Answer

Constant acceleration

Question 13

In a simple harmonic oscillator, the force responsible for restoring the system to equilibrium is:

Accepted Answer

Elastic force

Answer

Gravitational force

Answer

Frictional force

Answer

Magnetic force

Question 14

The SI unit of frequency is:

Accepted Answer

Hertz (Hz)

Answer

Joule (J)

Answer

Newton (N)

Answer

Meter (m)

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a property of a simple harmonic oscillator?

Accepted Answer

Energy decreases with decreasing amplitude

Answer

Period is constant

Answer

Velocity is zero at the equilibrium position

Answer

Acceleration is proportional to displacement

Question 16

Define simple harmonic motion. Which of the following correctly describes its defining characteristic?

Accepted Answer

A system where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and acts in the opposite direction

Answer

A system where the velocity is constant

Answer

A system where the acceleration is inversely proportional to the displacement from equilibrium

Question 17

A mass-spring system oscillates with a time period of 0.5 seconds. Calculate its frequency of oscillation?

Accepted Answer

2 Hz

Answer

0.5 Hz

Answer

1 Hz

Answer

4 Hz

Question 18

Identify the factor that primarily affects the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum?

Accepted Answer

Length of the pendulum

Answer

Amplitude of oscillation

Answer

Air resistance

Answer

Mass of the pendulum

Question 19

Explain why a damped oscillator eventually comes to rest. What is the cause of this damping?

Accepted Answer

Energy loss due to friction or other resistive forces

Answer

Decrease in amplitude of oscillation

Answer

Increase in mass of the oscillator

Question 20

A forced oscillator is driven at a frequency slightly below its natural frequency. Describe the phase difference between the driving force and the oscillator's displacement.

Accepted Answer

Less than 90 degrees

Answer

180 degrees

Answer

90 degrees

Answer

Greater than 90 degrees

Question 21

Describe a defining characteristic of standing waves.

Accepted Answer

Presence of nodes and antinodes

Answer

Formed by two waves of equal frequency and amplitude

Answer

Constant amplitude

Answer

Traveling in one direction