1

by: Mr. Naveed

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Atif

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

Chapter # 10: Simple Harmonic Motion and

Waves
SHORT QUESTIONS (EXERCISE)

Oscillation
A body is said to be in oscillatory motion when it performs To and fro motion about its
mean position.
The To and fro motion of a body about its mean position is called oscillation or vibration.
Periodic motion
A type of motion in which a body repeats its motion after regular intervals of time is
called periodic motion. For examples
(i) The seconds hand of a clock repeats its motion in every one minute.
(ii) Earth completes its revolution around its axis in 24 hours.
(iii) Motion of the simple pendulum around its mean position.
Q#1: What is Simple Harmonic Motion? What are the necessary conditions for a
body to execute simple harmonic motion?
A type of vibratory motion in which acceleration is directly proportional to the
displacement from the equilibrium position and is always directed towards the mean
position. Mathematically
ax
Characteristics of Simple Harmonic Motion are as under;
i. A body always executes To and fro motion around a fix point in SHM.
ii. SHM is always in a straight line. The maximum distance at either side from the mean
position is called amplitude of the SHM. OA and OB is called amplitude in figure.
iii. A restoring force is always acted on the Simple Harmonic Oscillator (SHO).
iv. The velocity of SHO is maximum at mean position and minimum (zero) at extreme
positions.
v. The restoring force and acceleration of SHO is maximum at extreme positions and
minimum (zero) at mean position.
Q#2: Think of several examples in everyday life of motion that are simple
harmonic.
Ans:
Motion of an elastic spring.
Motion of wire or string on guitar.
Motion of bob of a simple pendulum.
Motion of pendulum in clock.
Q#3: What are damped oscillations? How does damping progressively reduces
the amplitude of oscillation?
Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

by: Mr. Naveed Atif

www.naveedatif.weebly.com

by: Mr. Naveed

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Atif

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

Ans: Those oscillations in which the amplitude of the oscillating body decreases with
time are known as damped oscillations.
Damping occurs due to air friction and it decreases the amplitude of the oscillation.
Q#4: How can you define the term wave? Elaborate the difference between
mechanical and electromagnetic waves? Give examples of each.
Ans: Wave:
That agent which carries disturbance (energy) from one place to another in a medium is
called wave.
OR
The disturbance created in the medium is known as wave.
Types of waves are as under;
(1) Mechanical waves
(2) Electromagnetic waves
1. Mechanical waves:
A type of waves which require a medium for their production and propagation are called
Mechanical waves.
Examples
Sound waves, water waves, spring waves, etc are the examples of Mechanical waves.
2. Electromagnetic waves:
A type of waves which does not require a medium for their production and propagation
are called Electromagnetic waves.
Examples
Radio waves, x-rays, light waves, etc are the examples of Electromagnetic waves.
Q#5: Distinguish between longitudinal and transverse waves with suitable
examples.
Ans:
i. transverse waves:
A type of waves in which particles of the media vibrate perpendicularly to the direction of
propagation of waves are called
Transverse waves. For examples
Waves produce in pond of water
by dropping a stone.
Waves produce in a stretched
string.
Explanation:
When we give an upward jerk to a
string whose one end is tied with a
fixed support a pulse of wave is produced as shown in figure.
The upward portion of the wave pulse is called crest while the lower portion is called
trough.
Crest
The part of the transverse waves where the medium of propagation is above the mean
position is called Crest of the waves.
Trough

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

by: Mr. Naveed Atif

www.naveedatif.weebly.com

by: Mr. Naveed

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Atif

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

The part of the transverse waves where the medium of propagation is below the mean
position is called Trough of the waves.
ii. Longitudinal waves:
A type of waves in which particles of the media vibrate parallel to the direction of
propagation of waves are called longitudinal waves. For examples
Sound waves and Waves produced in a compressed spring.
Explanation:
When we produce a sound, it compresses the molecules of the air and after this
compression the nearer space becomes rarefact. These waves move in the form of
compressions and rarefaction in the media as
shown in figure.

Q#6: Draw a transverse wave with amplitude of 2cm and a wavelength of 4cm.
Label a crest and trough on the wave.
Ans:
crest
2 cm (A)

4 cm
Trough
Q#7: Derive a relationship between speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave.
Write a formula relating speed of a wave to its time period and wavelength.
Ans: see this derivation from book.
Q#8: Waves are the means of energy transfer without transfer of matter. Justify
this statement with the help of a simple experiment.
Ans: see this from book.
Q#9: Explain the following properties of waves with reference to ripple tank
experiment.
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Diffraction
Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

by: Mr. Naveed Atif

www.naveedatif.weebly.com

by: Mr. Naveed

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Atif

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

Q#10: Does increasing the frequency of the wave also increase its wavelength? If
not, how are these quantities related?
Ans: As we know that
V=f
Where v is the speed of the wave;
f is the frequency of the wave;
and is the wavelength of the wave;
At constant speed
=1/f
Means wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency. Thus, the higher the
frequency, the shorter the wavelength.

Conceptual Questions
Q#1: If the length of the simple pendulum is doubled what will be the change in
its time period?
Ans:
As we know the formula for time period for simple pendulum
T ' =2

L
g

According to the given condition;

If
L=2L
So,
2L
T =2
g

L
g
T = 2
2

T = 2T '
The time period is increasing by factor

2 .

Q#2: A ball is dropped from certain height onto the floor and keeps bouncing. Is
the motion of the ball simple harmonic? Explain.
Ans: No, it is not simple harmonic motion.
As in SHM the object experiences a force towards center and by plotting graph it gives
sinusoidal position-time relation. In this case the ball experiences only gravitational
force and its graph has sharp peaks when it hits the ground.
Q#3: A student performed two experiments with simple pendulum. He/she used
two bobs of different masses by keeping other parameters constant. To his/her
astonishment the time period of the pendulum did not change! Why?
Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

by: Mr. Naveed Atif

www.naveedatif.weebly.com

by: Mr. Naveed

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Atif

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

Ans: As we know the formula for time period
L
T =2
g

This formula shows clearly that the time period T does not depend on mass. Therefore,
when a student performs two experiments with simple pendulum by using two bobs with
different masses by keeping all other parameters constant then T of the pendulum does
not changes.
Q#4: What type of waves do not require any material medium for their
propagation?
Ans: EM or Electromagnetic waves do not require medium for their propagation and
can travel through vacuum.
Q#5: Plane waves in the ripple tank undergo refraction when they move from
deep to shallow water. What change occurs in the speed of the waves?
Ans: As we know the speed of a wave in water depends on the depth, so the ripples
slow down as they pass over the glass. This causes the wavelength to decrease. If the
junction between the deep and shallow water is at the angle of wave front, the waves
will refract.

Additional Questions
>>Question: Define time period. Write its unit.
Time required to complete one vibration is called Time Period. Its unit is second.
>>Question: Will the wavelength of waves of water decrease or increase while the
part of shallow depth.
Wavelength will be increased because the distance between crests or troughs will also
increase in this case.
>>Question: What is difference between wave motion and SHM?
Both are vibratory motions but in SHM, the acceleration of vibrating body is always
directed toward its mean or equilibrium position.
>>Question: Define seconds pendulum.
A pendulum which completes one complete vibration in one second is called seconds
pendulum.

Chapter wise Notes (Physics)

by: Mr. Naveed Atif

www.naveedatif.weebly.com