IIT JAM

Kshitij 2.0
Physics
Waves & Oscillation DPP: 4

Damped and Forced Oscillation

Q1 For the damped oscillator shown in figure, the

mass (m) of the block is 200g, k = 80
N

m
and
g
the damping constant b is 40
s
. Calculate the
period of oscillation.

Q3 A small spherical steel ball is placed a little

away from the centre of a concave mirror
whose radius of curvature is 2.5 m . When the
ball is released, it begins to oscillate about the
centre. What is the period of the oscillations?
Q2 For the damped oscillator shown in figure, the Neglect friction and take g = 10
m
2
s

mass (m) of the block is 200g, k = 80

N

m
and
the damping constant b is 40
g
. Calculate time Q4 A spring of force constant k is stretched by x. It
s

taken for its amplitude of vibrations to drop to take as much work to stretch second spring by
half of its initial value.
x

2
. The force constant of second spring is-
(A) k (B) 2k
(C) 4k (D) 8k

Q5 A massless spring, suspended from a rigid

support, carries a flat disc of mass 100 g at its
lower end. It is observed that the system

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oscillates with a frequency of 10 Hz and the

amplitude of the damped oscillations reduces
to half its undamped value in one minute.
Calculate the force constant of the spring.

Q6 Consider a harmonic oscillator with a mass

m=0.5kg, a spring constant k = 100
N

m
, and a
damping coefficient b = 2
N

m
The oscillator is
subjected to an external force F(t) = 5cos(2t)N.
find the amplitude?

Q7 In the context of a forced harmonic oscillator,

which statement is true?
(A) The natural frequency of the oscillator is
always equal to the frequency of the
external force.
(B) The amplitude of the oscillator is
independent of the frequency of the
external force.
(C) Resonance occurs when the frequency of
the external force matches the natural
frequency of the oscillator.
(D) Increasing the damping in a forced oscillator
always enhances its response to the
external force.

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Answer Key
Q1 0.314 Q5 394.9

Q2 6.93 Q6 0.1

Q3 3.14 Q7 (C)

Q4 (D)

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Hints & Solutions

Q1 Text Solution: is given by-
−− −−
As the damping constant, ω = √
k
= √
g

m R
kg −−−
−
−
b(= 0. 04 ) << √km R
s
T = 2π√
g

The time priod T from the equation −−

−
2.5
−−−−−−
2
− −− T = 2 × 3. 142 × √ = 3. 14s
′ k b k 10
ω = √ − ≈ √ is given by,
m 2 m
4m

−−−−− Q4 Text Solution:

−− 0.2 kg
m
T = 2π√ = 2π√ = 0. 314s w2 = 2w1
k 80N /m
x 2
kx
w1 = ∫ F. x = ∫ kxdx =
Q2 Text Solution:
0 2
x
′ 2
2 ′ k x
−bt w2 = ∫ F. x = ∫ k xdx =
From the equation x(t) = Ae 2m the time k x
′ 2
kx
2
0 8

= 2 ×
t1
/2
for the amplitude to drop to half of its initial 8
′
2

k = 8k

value is
−bt
1/2
Q5 Text Solution:
1

2
= e 2m
The force constant K of the spring is related to
or log e 2 =
bt 1/2
the frequency wo of
2m
bt 1/2 undamped oscillations, as
log e e 0. 693 = −−
2m
k
0.693×2×0.2 ω0 = √
or t 1/2 = = 6. 93s m
−3
40×10
2
or k = mω 0
Q3 Text Solution: 2
N ow, ω 0 is determined f rom the relation
F = − mg sin (θ) 2
*2 2 γ
ω = ω 0 − which gives
F = − mg (sin ce θ is small, R being very 4
2
ω 0
= 3949k
large)
2
n gψ
′
k = mω 0
F = (ψ = Rθ; ψ being the are OA)
R
k = 0. 1 × 3949
′
F = − Kψ N
k = 394. 9
m

Q6 Text Solution:
The equation of motion for a forced harmonic
oscillator is given by-
2
d x dx
m 2
+ b + kx = F (t)
dt dt

So let's write the differential equation-

2
d x dx
0. 5 2
+ 2 + 100x = 5 cos(2t)
dt dt

To solve this, we can assume a solution of the

form x(t) = A cos (ωt − ϕ)

Where force constant K =

mg
. Thus the where A is the amplitude, ω is the angular
R

motion is harmonic and the angualr frequency frequency, and ϕ is the phase angle.

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Now, substitute this solution into the differential Option D- This statement is generally false.
equation and solve for A, ω, and ϕ. Damping tends to reduce the amplitude of
−0. 5Aω
2
cos (ωt − ϕ) + 2Aω sin (ωt − ϕ) oscillations in a system. While there are cases
+ 100A cos (ωt − ϕ) = 5 cos(2t) where damping is intentionally added to
Equating coef f icients f or the cos ine control the response, it doesn't always enhance
terms : the response to the external force.
2
−0. 5Aω + 100A = 5

Equating coef f icients f or the sine terms

2Aω = 0

Solving the second equation gives ω=0, but

substituting this into the first equation gives an
inconsistent result. Therefore, we consider ω=2
(from the external force term).
Now, solving the first equation for A:
2
−0. 5A × 2 + 100A = 5

S o, A = 0. 1

Q7 Text Solution:
Option(C) is correct.
Option A- This statement is not generally true.
The natural frequency of the oscillator is an
intrinsic property, while the external force can
have any frequency. Resonance occurs when
the external force frequency matches the
natural frequency, but it's not always the case.
Option B- This statement is generally false. The
amplitude of a forced oscillator depends on the
frequency of the external force, especially in the
vicinity of the natural frequency. Resonance,
where the amplitude is maximized, occurs when
the external force frequency matches the
natural frequency.
Option C- This statement is true. Resonance is
a phenomenon where the amplitude of a
forced oscillator becomes maximized when the
frequency of the external force matches the
natural frequency of the oscillator. At
resonance, the system absorbs energy most
efficiently.

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