Group-1

SHM
1. An object undergoing simple harmonic motion takes 0.25 s to travel from one point of zero
velocity to the next such point. The distance between those points is 36 cm. Calculate the
(a) period, (b) frequency, and (c) amplitude of the motion.

2. A 0.12 kg body undergoes simple harmonic motion of amplitude 8.5 cm and period 0.20 s.
(a) What is the magnitude of the maximum force acting on it? (b) If the oscillations are
produced by a spring, what is the spring constant?

3. What is the maximum acceleration of a platform that oscillates at amplitude 2.20 cm and
frequency 6.60 Hz?

4. In an electric shaver, the blade moves back and forth over a distance of 2.0 mm in simple
harmonic motion, with frequency 120 Hz. Find (a) the amplitude, (b) the maximum blade
speed, and (c) the magnitude of the maximum blade acceleration.

5. A particle with a mass of 1.00 × 10−20 kg is oscillating with simple harmonic motion with
a period of 1.00 s and a maximum speed of 1.00 × 103 m/s. Calculate (a) the angular
frequency and (b) the maximum displacement of the particle.

𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜋
6. The position function 𝑥 = (6.0 𝑚) 𝑐𝑜𝑠[(3𝜋 )𝑡 + 3 𝑟𝑎𝑑] gives the simple harmonic
𝑠
motion of a body. At t = 2.0 s, what are the (a) displacement, (b) velocity, (c) acceleration,
and (d) phase of the motion? Also, what are the (e) frequency and (f) period of the motion?

7. An oscillating block–spring system takes 0.75 s to begin repeating its motion. Find (a) the
period, (b) the frequency in hertz, and (c) the angular frequency in radians per second.

8. An oscillator consists of a block of mass 0.500 kg connected to a spring. When set into
oscillation with amplitude 35.0 cm, the oscillator repeats its motion every 0.500 s. Find the
(a) period, (b) frequency, (c) angular frequency, (d) spring constant, (e) maximum speed,
and (f) magnitude of the maximum force on the block from the spring.
 Group-2
SHM
1. Two particles oscillate in simple harmonic motion along a common straight-line segment
𝜋
of length A. Each particle has a period of 1.5 s, but they differ in phase by 6 rad. (a) How
far apart are they (in terms of A) 0.50 s after the lagging particle leaves one end of the path?
(b) Are they then moving in the same direction, toward each other, or away from each
other?
2. An oscillator consists of a block attached to a spring (𝑘 = 400 𝑁/𝑚). At some time t, the
position (measured from the system’s equilibrium location), velocity, and acceleration of
the block are 𝑥 = 0.100 𝑚, 𝑣 = −13.6 𝑚𝑠 −1 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = − 123 𝑚𝑠 −[Link] (a) the
frequency of oscillation, (b) the mass of the block, and (c) the amplitude of the motion.

3. When the displacement in SHM is one-half the amplitude xm, what fraction of the total
energy is (a) kinetic energy and (b) potential energy? (c) At what displacement, in terms of
the amplitude, is the energy of the system half kinetic energy and half potential energy?

4. Find the mechanical energy of a block–spring system with a spring constant of 1.3 N/cm
and an amplitude of 2.4 cm.

5. An oscillating block–spring system has a mechanical energy of 1.00 J, an amplitude of 10.0

cm, and a maximum speed of 1.20 m/s. Find (a) the spring constant, (b) the mass of the
block, and (c) the frequency of oscillation.

6. A 5.00 kg object on a horizontal frictionless surface is attached to a spring with 𝑘 =

1000 𝑁/𝑚. The object is displaced from equilibrium 50.0 cm horizontally and given an
initial velocity of 10.0 m/s back toward the equilibrium position. What are (a) the motion’s
frequency, (b) the initial potential energy of the block–spring system, (c) the initial kinetic
energy, and (d) the motion’s amplitude?

7. A block of mass M = 5.4 kg, at rest on a horizontal frictionless table, is

attached to a rigid support by a spring of constant k = 6000 N/m. A bullet
of mass m 9.5 g and velocity of magnitude 630 m/s strikes and is embedded
in the block (Fig. 1).Assuming the compression of the spring is negligible
until the bullet is embedded, determine (a) the speed of the block
immediately after the collision and (b) the amplitude of the resulting simple
harmonic motion.

8. A 10 g particle undergoes SHM with an amplitude of 2.0 mm, a maximum acceleration of

magnitude 8 × 103 𝑚𝑠 −2 , and an unknown phase constant 𝜑. What are (a) the period of
the motion, (b) the maximum speed of the particle, and (c) the total mechanical energy of
the oscillator? What is the magnitude of the force on the particle when the particle is at (d)
its maximum displacement and (e) half its maximum displacement?
 Group-3
SHM
𝜋
1. If the phase angle for a block–spring system in SHM is 6 rad and the block’s position is
given by x = xm cos (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑), what is the ratio of the kinetic energy to the potential energy
at time t = 0?

2. A 95 kg solid sphere with a 15 cm radius is suspended by a vertical wire. A torque of 0.20

Nm is required to rotate the sphere through an angle of 0.85 rad and then maintain that
orientation. What is the period of the oscillations that result when the sphere is then
released?

3. A loudspeaker diaphragm is oscillating in simple harmonic motion with a frequency of 440

Hz and a maximum displacement of 0.75 mm. What are the (a) angular frequency, (b)
maximum speed, and (c) magnitude of the maximum acceleration?

4. A 50.0 g stone is attached to the bottom of a vertical spring and set vibrating. If the
maximum speed of the stone is 15.0 cm/s and the period is 0.500 s, find the (a) spring
constant of the spring, (b) amplitude of the motion, and (c) frequency of oscillation.

5. A particle of mass 1 g moves in a potential energy well given by 𝑈 = 𝑈𝑜 + 6𝑥 + 𝑥 2 .

Find, (i) The force constant, (ii) The frequency of oscillation, and (iii) The position of stable
equilibrium.

6. A mass of 0.50 kg hangs from a light spring and executes SHM so that its position x is
given by 𝑥 = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡. It is found that the mass completes 20 cycles of oscillation in 80
s. (a) Determine (i) the period of the oscillations, (ii) the angular frequency of the
oscillations and (iii) the spring constant k. (b) Using a value of A = 2 mm, make sketches
of the variations with time t of the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the mass.

7. The ends of a tuning fork oscillate at a frequency of 440 Hz with an amplitude of 0.50
mm. Determine (a) the maximum velocity and (b) the maximum acceleration of the ends.

8. A platform oscillates in the vertical direction with SHM. Its amplitude of oscillation is 0.20
m. What is the maximum frequency (Hz) of oscillation for a mass placed on the platform
to remain in contact with the platform? (Assume g = 9.81 m s−2.)
 Group-4
1. A mass executes SHM at the end of a light spring. (a) What fraction of the total energy of
the system is potential and what fraction is kinetic at the instant when the displacement of
the mass is equal to half the amplitude? (b) If the maximum amplitude of the oscillations
is doubled, what will be the change in (i) the total energy of the system, (ii) the maximum
velocity of the mass and (iii) the maximum acceleration of the mass. Will the period of
oscillation change?

2. A mass of 0.75 kg is attached to one end of a horizontal spring of spring constant 400 N
m−1. The other end of the spring is attached to a rigid wall. The mass is pushed so that at
time t = 0 it is 4.0 cm closer to the wall than the equilibrium position and is travelling
towards the wall with a velocity of 0.50 m s−1. (a) Determine the total energy of the
oscillating system. (b) Obtain an expression for the displacement of the mass in the
form 𝑥 = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑) 𝑚, giving numerical values for A, ω and φ.
Pendulums
3. Suppose that a simple pendulum consists of a small 60.0 g bob at the end of a cord of
negligible mass. If the angle u between the cord and the vertical is given by

What are (a) the pendulum’s length and (b) its maximum kinetic energy?

4. A thin uniform rod (mass 0.50 kg) swings about an axis that passes through one end of the
rod and is perpendicular to the plane of the swing. The rod swings with a period of 1.5 s
and an angular amplitude of 10. (a) What is the length of the rod? (b) What is the maximum
kinetic energy of the rod as it swings?

5. In Fig.1, a stick of length L = 1.85 m oscillates as a physical

pendulum. (a) What value of distance x between the stick’s center
of mass and its pivot point O gives the least period? (b) What is that
least period?

Fig.1

6. A pendulum is formed by pivoting a long thin rod about a point on the rod. In a series of
experiments, the period is measured as a function of the distance x between the pivot point
and the rod’s center. (a) If the rod’s length is L = 2.20 m and its mass is m = 22.1 g, what
is the minimum period? (b) If x is chosen to minimize the period and then L is increased,
does the period increase, decrease, or remain the same? (c) If, instead, m is increased
without L increasing, does the period increase, decrease, or remain the same?
7. A simple pendulum has a length of 0.75 m. The pendulum mass is displaced horizontally
from its equilibrium position by a distance of 5.0 mm and then released. Calculate (a) the
maximum speed of the mass and (b) the time it takes to reach this speed. (Assume g = 9.81
m s−2.)

8. A simple pendulum provides an easy method to measure the value of ‘g’ in a laboratory.
An experiment with simple pendulum was carried out on the surface of moon, where it was
found that it took 38 s to complete 10 oscillations when the effective length of the pendulum
was kept at 60 cm. Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the moon’s surface. How
does it compare with the earth’s gravity? [For earth’s surface g = 9.8 ms-2 ]

Group-5
Pendulums

1. Calculate the time period of a simple pendulum of length one meter. The acceleration due
to gravity at that place is 𝜋 2 ms-2.

2. What will happen to the motion of a simple pendulum if the amplitude is large? Is it still
SHM? Explain.

3. A uniform rod of length 1 m is suspended through an end and is set into oscillations with
small amplitude under gravity. Calculate the time period of the oscillations. [g = 9.8 ms-2]

4. A simple pendulum of length 40 cm oscillates with an angular amplitude of 0.04 rad.

Determine [Take g = 10 ms-2] (a) the time period, (b) the linear amplitude of the bob, (c)
the speed of the bob when the string makes angle 0.02 rad with the vertical, and (d) the
angular acceleration when the bob is in momentary rest.

5. What is the period of a pendulum formed by pivoting a meter stick so that it is free to rotate
about a horizontal axis passing through the 75 cm mark?

6. A particle of mass M is located in a one dimensional potential field where the potential
𝑎𝑥
energy of the particle depends on the coordinate 𝑈(𝑥) = 𝑈0 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( 2 ). If the particle
performs small oscillations about the equilibrium position, calculate the period. 𝑈0 and 𝑎
are constants.
Damped Harmonic Oscillator
7. A mass of 2.5 kg is attached to a spring that has a value of k equal to 600 N m−1. (a)
Determine the value of the damping constant b that is required to produce critical damping.
(b) The mass receives an impulse that gives it a velocity of vi = 1.5 ms−1 at t = 0. Determine
the maximum value of the resultant displacement and the time at which this occurs.
8. When the E string of a guitar (frequency 330 Hz) is plucked, the sound intensity decreases
by a factor of 2 after 4 s. Determine (i) the decay time τ, (ii) the quality factor Q and (iii)
the fractional energy loss per cycle.

Group-6
Damped Harmonic Oscillator

1. The electron in an excited atom behaves like a damped harmonic oscillator when the atom
radiates light. The lifetime of an excited atomic state is 10−8 s and the wavelength of the
emitted light is 500 nm. Deduce a value for the quality factor.

2. A spring balance consists of a pan that hangs from a spring. A damping force Fd =−bv is
applied to the balance so that when an object is placed in the pan it comes to rest in the
minimum time without overshoot. Determine the required value of b for an object of mass
2.5 kg that extends the spring by 6.0 cm. (Assume g = 9.81 ms−2.)

3. A mass of 0.50 kg hangs from the end of a light spring. The system is damped by a light
sail attached to the mass so that the ratio of amplitudes of consecutive oscillations is equal
to 0.90. It is found that 10 complete oscillations takes 25 s. Obtain a quantitative expression
for the damping force and determine the damping factor ‘r’ of the system.

4. The energy of a damped harmonic oscillator is observed to reduce by a factor of 2 after 10

complete cycles. By what factor will it reduce after 50 complete cycles?

5. When damping is applied to a simple harmonic oscillator its frequency of oscillation

changes from ωo to a different frequency ω. Show for a very lightly damped harmonic
1
oscillator of quality factor Q that the fractional change in frequency is equal to to a
8𝑄 2
good approximation.

6. A damped harmonic oscillator with m = 0.25 kg, b = 0.070 kg/s and k = 85 N/m, calculate
the period of oscillation. For this harmonic oscillator calculate (i) the number of oscillations
in which its mechanical energy will drop to one-half of its initial value. Also calculate its
quality factor.

7. The amplitude of a damped harmonic oscillator reduces from 25 cm to 2.5 after 100
complete oscillations, each of period 2.3 seconds. Calculate logarithmic decrement of the
system.

8. A spring-mass system is subjected to restoring and frictional forces of magnitude 𝑘𝑥 and

𝑑𝑥
𝑏 𝑑𝑡
respectively. It oscillates with a frequency of 0.5 Hz. Its amplitude reduces to half in
2 seconds. Calculate the damping coefficient r and spring constant k, in terms of mass, m.
Also write the differential equation of motion.

Group-7
Damped Harmonic Oscillator
1. The period of a simple pendulum is 2 seconds and its amplitude is 50. After 20 complete
oscillations, its amplitude is reduced to 30. Calculate the damping constant and
relaxation time.

2. A vertically hanging spring is extended by 9.8 cm when an object is suspended from it.
The object is then pulled down and released to make it oscillate. For what value of
damping coefficient will (i) the amplitude of oscillation become 1% of its initial value
in 10 seconds? (ii) the weight return to equilibrium aperiodically ?

3. A simple pendulum has a period of 1 second and an amplitude of 10°. After 10 complete
oscillations, its amplitude has been reduced to 5°. What is the relaxation time of the
pendulum? Calculate the quality factor.

4. The amplitude of a lightly damped oscillator decreases by 3.0% during each cycle.
What percentage of the mechanical energy of the oscillator is lost in each cycle?

5. For the damped oscillator system the block has a mass of 1.50 kg and the spring
𝑑𝑥
constant is 8.00 N/m. The damping force is given by −𝑏 , where b = 230 g/s. The
𝑑𝑡
block is pulled down 12.0 cm and released. (a) Calculate the time required for the
amplitude of the resulting oscillations to fall to one-third of its initial value. (b) How
many oscillations are made by the block in this time?
Gravitation

6. A mass M is split into two parts, m and M-m, which are then separated by a certain
distance. What ratio m/M maximizes the magnitude of the gravitational force between
the parts?

7. In Fig.1, a square of edge length 20.0 cm is formed by four spheres of

masses m1 = 5.00 g, m2 = 3.00g, m3 = 1.00g, and m4 = 5.00 g. In unit-
vector notation, what is the net gravitational force from them on a
central sphere with mass m5 = 2.50 g?

8. What must the separation be between a 5.2 kg particle and a 2.4 kg particle for their
gravitational attraction to have a magnitude of 2.3 × 10−12 N?
 Group-8
Gravitation
1. A solid sphere has a uniformly distributed mass of 1 × 104 kg and a radius of 1.0 m. What
is the magnitude of the gravitational force due to the sphere on a particle of mass mwhen
the particle is located at a distance of (a) 1.5 m and (b) 0.50 m from the center of the sphere?
(c) Write a general expression for the magnitude of the gravitational force on the particle
at a distance r 1.0 m from the center of the sphere.

2. Two neutron stars are separated by a distance of 1 × 1010 [Link] each have a mass of 1 ×
1030 kg and a radius of 1 × 105 [Link] are initially at rest with respect to each other. As
measured from that rest frame, how fast are they moving when (a) their separation has
decreased to one-half its initial value and (b) they are about to collide?

3. (a) What linear speed must an Earth satellite have to be in a circular orbit at an altitude of
160 km above Earth’s surface? (b)What is the period of revolution?

4. A satellite is put in a circular orbit about Earth with a radius equal to one-half the radius of
the Moon’s orbit. What is its period of revolution in lunar months? (A lunar month is the
period of revolution of the Moon.)

5. The Martian satellite Phobos travels in an approximately circular orbit of radius 9.4 × 106
m with a period of 7 h 39 min. Calculate the mass of Mars from this information.

6. A 20 kg satellite has a circular orbit with a period of 2.4 h and a radius of 8.0 × 106 m
around a planet of unknown mass. If the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration on the
surface of the planet is 8.0 m/s2, what is the radius of the planet?

7. The fastest possible rate of rotation of a planet is that for which the gravitational force on
material at the equator just barely provides the centripetal force needed for the rotation
(Why?) (a) Show that the corresponding shortest period of rotation is

3𝜋
𝑇= √
𝐺𝜌
Where 𝜌 is the uniform density (mass per unit volume) of the spherical planet. (b) Calculate
the rotation period assuming a density of 3.0 g/cm3, typical of many planets, satellites, and
asteroids. No astronomical object has ever been found to be spinning with a period shorter
than that determined by this analysis.
 Group-9
CM problem and linear momentum
1. Three particles of masses m1 = 1.2 kg, m2 = 2.5 kg, and m3 =3 .4 kg form an equilateral
triangle of edge length a 140 cm. Where is the center of mass of this system?

2. Figure 1 shows a three-particle system, with masses m1 = 3.0 kg,

m2 = 4.0 kg, and m3 = 8.0 kg. The scales on the axes are set by xs =
2.0 m and ys = 2.0 m. What are (a) the x coordinate and (b) the y
coordinate of the system’s center of mass? (c) If m3 is gradually
increased, does the center of mass of the system shift toward or
away from that particle, or does it remain stationary?
3. A 0.70 kg ball moving horizontally at 5.0 m/s strikes a vertical wall
and rebounds with speed 2.0 m/s. What is the magnitude of the change in its linear
momentum?

4. A 2100 kg truck traveling north at 41 km/h turns east and accelerates to 51 km/h. (a) What
is the change in the truck’s kinetic energy? What are the (b) magnitude and (c) direction of
the change in its momentum?

5. A 0.30 kg softball has a velocity of 15 m/s at an angle of 35° low the horizontal just before
making contact with the bat. What is the magnitude of the change in momentum of the ball
while in contact with the bat if the ball leaves with a velocity of (a) 20 m/s, vertically
downward, and (b) 20 m/horizontally back toward the pitcher?

6. A 1.2 kg ball drops vertically onto a floor, hitting with a speed of 25 m/s. It rebounds with
an initial speed of 10 m/s. (a) What impulse acts on the ball during the contact? (b) If the
ball is in contact with the floor for 0.020 s, what is the magnitude of the average force on
the floor from the ball?

7. In a common but dangerous prank, a chair is pulled away as a person is moving downward
to sit on it, causing the victim to land hard on the floor. Suppose the victim falls by 0.50
m, the mass that moves downward is 70 kg, and the collision on the floor lasts 0.082 s.
What are the magnitudes of the (a) impulse and (b) average force acting on the victim from
the floor during the collision?

8. A force in the negative direction of an x axis is applied for 27 ms to a 0.40 kg ball initially
moving at 14 m/s in the positive direction of the axis. The force varies in magnitude, and
the impulse has magnitude 32.4 Ns. What are the ball’s (a) speed and (b) direction of travel
 just after the force is applied? What are (c) the average magnitude of the force and (d) the
direction of the im pulse on the ball?

Group-10
Rotational Variables
1. A good baseball pitcher can throw a baseball toward home plate at 85 mi/h with a spin of
1800 rev/min. How many revolutions does the baseball make on its way to home plate?
For simplicity, assume that the 60 ft path is a straight line.

2. What is the angular speed of (a) the second hand, (b) the minute hand, and (c) the hour
hand of a smoothly running analog watch? Answer in radians per second.

3. When a slice of buttered toast is accidentally pushed over the edge of a counter, it rotates
as it falls. If the distance to the floor is 76 cm and for rotation less than 1 rev, what are the
(a) smallest and (b) largest angular speeds that cause the toast to hit and then topple to be
butter-side down?
4. The angular position of a point on a rotating wheel is given by 𝜃 = 2.0 + 4𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 3 where
𝜃 is in radians and t is in seconds. At t = 0, what are (a) the point’s angular position and (b)
its angular velocity? (c) What is its angular velocity at t 4.0 s? (d) Calculate it’s angular
acceleration at t = 2.0 s. (e) Is its angular acceleration constant?

5. A diver makes 2.5 revolutions on the way from a 10-m-high platform to the water.
Assuming zero initial vertical velocity, find the average angular velocity during the dive.

6. A drum rotates around its central axis at an angular velocity of 12.60 rad/s. If the drum then
slows at a constant rate of 4.20 rad/s2,(a) how much time does it take and (b)through what
angle does it rotate in coming to rest?

7. Starting from rest, a disk rotates about its central axis with constant angular acceleration.
In 5.0 s, it rotates 25 rad. During that time, what are the magnitudes of (a) the angular
acceleration and (b) the average angular velocity? (c) What is the instantaneous angular
velocity of the disk at the end of the 5.0 s? (d) With the angular acceleration unchanged,
through what additional angle will the disk turn during the next 5.0 s?

8. Calculate the rotational inertia of a wheel that has a kinetic energy of 24 400 J when rotating
at 602 rev/min.