Periodic and Oscillatory Motions
Periodic and Oscillatory Motions: Overview
This topic covers concepts, such as, Periodic Motion, Oscillatory Motion, Time Period and Frequency & Periodic Function or Sinusoidal Function etc.
Important Questions on Periodic and Oscillatory Motions
Electrons moving with different speeds enter a uniform magnetic field in a direction perpendicular field. They will move along circular paths, time periods of rotation will be :

A particle is fastened at the end of a string and is whirled in a vertical circle with the other end of the string being fixed. The motion of the particle is,

Consider the earth as a homogeneous sphere of radius and a straight hole is bored in it through its centre. Show that a particle dropped into the hole will execute a simple harmonic motion such that its time period is .

A body is vibrating in simple harmonic motion. If its acceleration is at a displacement then time period is

Find the time period of the body (mass ), shown in the figure, when displaced slightly in the vertical direction.


An air chamber of volume has a neck of cross-sectional area into which a light ball of mass just fits and can move up and down without friction. The diameter of the ball is equal to that of the neck of the chamber. The ball is pressed down a little and released. If the bulk modulus of air is , the time period of the oscillation of the ball is

The circular motion of a particle with constant speed is

Two small magnets have their masses and lengths in the ratio 1 : 2. The maximum torques experienced by them in a uniform magnetic field are the same. For small oscillations, the ratio of their time periods is

Two masses suspended together by a massless spring of spring constant K. When the masses are in equilibrium, is removed without disturbing the system. The angular frequency of is

Due to some force a body oscillates with period and due to other force oscillates with period . If both forces act simultaneously, the new period will be

A person is listening to a tone of 500 Hz sitting at a distance of 450 m from the source of the sound. What is the time interval between successive compressions from the source?

The frequency of power supply used in India is

A horizontal platform with an object placed on it is executing in the vertical direction. The amplitude of oscillation is . What must be the least period of these oscillation so that the object is not detached ?

The displacement of a particle in simple harmonic motion in one time period is -
is the amplitude
Two tuning forks of frequencies 256 and 258 vibrations/sec are sounded together, then time interval between consecutive maxima heard by the observer is


A body is vibrating in simple harmonic motion. If its acceleration is at a displacement , then time period is

The circular motion of a particle with constant speed is

If a simple harmonic is represented by , its time period is
