BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI - HYDERABAD CAMPUS

FIRST SEMESTER 2011 - 2012

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (CLOSED BOOK) - PART A

Course No : PHY F111 Total Marks : 40
Course Title: MECH, OSCIL & WAVES
Date : 3rd DEC 2011 Max. Time : 60 mins
Note : Do the rough work on the last page of the main answerbook and enter only the final
answer in the space provided in the Answersheet for Part - A

1. How many normal modes will the system of masses and springs shown below, have (considering
the motion of the masses only along the length of the spring) ?

2. A Harmonic oscillator subjected to damping, has the following equation of motion:

d 2 x dx x
2 + + = 0 . Write down the general form of x(t) for this oscillator.
dt 2 dt 8
3. A particle is subjected to two simple harmonic motions (one along the x axis and the other along
the y axis). If the trajectory of the particle obeys the equation y = -2x. Give
(i) the ratio of the amplitude along y to the amplitude of the motion along x. (ii) phase difference
between the motions along x and y. (iii) ratio of the frequencies for the two motions.
4. A critically damped oscillator is initially in its equilibrium. It is given an impulse, so that at t = 0
(when the displacement is 0), it acquires a velocity vo. Obtain an expression for the displacement
of the oscillator as a function of time, if the damping constant is γ.
5. A block of mass 1 kg is placed on a platform of mass 5 kg that can oscillate in the vertical
direction with a frequency of 5 Hz. What should be the maximum amplitude of oscillations if the
block is not to lose contact with the platform?
6. A uniform thin rod of mass M and length L is pivoted about one end as shown in figure. A spring
of spring constant k is attached to the bottom of the rod as shown in figure. Write down the
differential equation of motion for small oscillations in terms of θ.

7. A progressive wave is traveling in the negative y direction. Due to the wave, the particles in the
medium undergo displacement in the z direction. Write down an expression for the
displacement of the particles if the amplitude of the wave is A and the wavelength and velocity
are λ and v respectively.
8. A standing wave is set up in a string which extends from x = 0 to x = L (both ends of the string
are fixed rigidly). Write down an expression for the displacement of a point on the string at a
point located at distance x, at time t, if all points on the string have zero displacement at time
t = 0.
9. A particle is executing simple harmonic motion with an amplitude A and time period T. What is
the time required for it to move from the equilibrium position to a point located at a distance
A/2 from the equilibrium position?
10. For a particle executing SHM, what is the ratio of the potential to the kinetic energy when it is
halfway between the equilibrium position and the endpoint?
r r
11. The coordinate of a particle in the xy plane is denoted by r = î x + ˆjy . Express r in polar form.
r r
12. The position vectors of any two particles of a rigid body is given by ri and r j , respectively. Write
the equation of constraint for the rigid body.
r r r
13. A particle moves in a force field given by F = r 6 r where r is the position vector of the particle.
Calculate the torque acting on the particle about origin.
r
14. Find out the work done by a two-dimensional force F = î y + ˆj 2 x in moving along a straight line
between (0,0) and (1,1).
15. The potential energy of a certain particle is U = Axy 2 + B sin Cz where A, B and C are
constants. What is the corresponding force?
16. Consider a situation where a small charge q is in the vicinity of a charged conducting sphere with
a charge Q(t) which is slowly leaking away through the moist air to ground. Will total mechanical
energy for such a system increase, decrease or remain constant with time?
17. A mass m connected to a massless rod at its end is pivoted about z axis at a fixed angle α as
r
shown in figure. The system rotates about z-axis with angular velocity ω = ωk̂ . Calculate the z-
component of the angular momentum vector calculated about the pivot point.

z
α m

18. A mouse of mass m jumps on the outside edge of a freely turning ceiling fan of rotational inertia
I and radius R. By what ratio does the angular velocity change?
19. In a particular force field, a particle of mass m moves in a xy plane so that its position vector is
r
given by: r = î a cos ωt + ˆjb sin ωt where a, b and ω are positive constants and a>b. What is the
work done when the particle starts from (a,0) and returns to the same point after one complete
revolution?
20. A solid cylinder of radius b may roll/slip along an inclined plane making an angle α with the
ground as shown in the figure. Write the condition for which slipping would occur in terms of
the given parameter.

θ
x

α
 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI - HYDERABAD CAMPUS
FIRST SEMESTER 2011 - 2012
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (CLOSED BOOK) - PART A

Course No : PHY F111 Total Marks : 40

Course Title: MECH, OSCIL & WAVES
Date : 3rd DEC 2011 Max. Time : 60 mins

ANSWER SHEET

NAME :

ID No : MARKS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. WRITE YOUR ANSWER ONLY IN THE BOX PROVIDED

2. OVERWRTING AND ILLEGIBLE WRITING WILL BE AWARDED 0 MARKS
3. NO PARTIAL MARKS. NO NEGATIVE MARKS
1.

2.

Ratio of amplitudes = Phase difference = Ratio of frequencies =

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

(Please Turn Over)

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17. z - component =

18.

19.

20.