Kinetic and potential energy in SHM — NEET & JEE Questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

For an ideal mass-spring oscillator of amplitude A, the total mechanical energy is

• A. $\frac12kA^2$
• B. $kA$
• C. $\frac12mA^2$
• D. $mgA$

Question 2 · difficulty L2 · understanding

At the equilibrium position in ideal SHM, the kinetic energy is

• A. maximum
• B. zero
• C. always equal to potential energy
• D. negative

Question 3 · difficulty L2 · understanding

At an extreme position in SHM, the kinetic energy is

• A. zero
• B. maximum
• C. equal to total energy plus potential energy
• D. negative

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

For a spring oscillator at displacement x from equilibrium, its elastic potential energy is

• A. $\frac12kx^2$
• B. $\frac12kA^2$ at every point
• C. $kx$
• D. $\frac12mv^2$

Question 5 · difficulty L3 · understanding

The sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of a simple pendulum bob is 0.02 joule. The speed of the simple pendulum bob at equilibrium position is approximately: (Consider mass of the bob $=20 \mathrm{~g}$ )

• A. $0.2 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$
• B. $1.41 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$
• C. $14.1 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$
• D. $2.0 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · understanding

A particle executing simple harmonic motion with amplitude A has the same potential and kinetic energies at the displacement

• A. $$2 \sqrt{A}$$
• B. $$\frac{A}{2}$$
• C. $$\frac{A}{\sqrt{2}}$$
• D. $$A \sqrt{2}$$

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · understanding

A body is executing simple harmonic motion with frequency 'n', the frequency of its potential energy is :

• A. 4n
• B. n
• C. 2n
• D. 3n

Question 8 · difficulty L3 · application

A spring oscillator has total energy 8 J. At some instant its potential energy is 3 J. What is its kinetic energy?

• A. 5 J
• B. 11 J
• C. 3 J
• D. 8 J

Question 9 · difficulty L4 · application

At what displacement magnitude does a spring oscillator have equal kinetic and potential energies?

• A. $A/\sqrt2$
• B. $A/2$
• C. $A$
• D. $\sqrt2A$

Question 10 · difficulty L4 · application

A spring oscillator is at displacement $x=A/2$. What fraction of its total energy is potential energy?

• A. 1/4
• B. 1/2
• C. 3/4
• D. 1