NVAEasyJEE 2023Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

JEE Physics 2023 Question with Solution

A rectangular block of mass 5kg5 \, \text{kg} attached to a horizontal spiral spring executes simple harmonic motion of amplitude 1m1 \, \text{m} and time period 3.14s3.14 \, \text{s}. The maximum force exerted by the spring on the block is _____ N\text{N}.

Answer

Correct answer:20

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: mass of the block is 5kg5 \, \text{kg}, amplitude is 1m1 \, \text{m}, and time period is 3.14s3.14 \, \text{s}.

Find: the maximum force exerted by the spring.

For simple harmonic motion,

ω=2πT\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T}

Substituting T=3.14sT = 3.14 \, \text{s},

ω=2×2273.14=2rad/s\omega = \frac{2 \times \frac{22}{7}}{3.14} = 2 \, \text{rad/s}

The maximum acceleration is,

amax=ω2Aa_{\text{max}} = \omega^2 A

Substituting ω=2rad/s\omega = 2 \, \text{rad/s} and A=1mA = 1 \, \text{m},

amax=22×1=4m/s2a_{\text{max}} = 2^2 \times 1 = 4 \, \text{m/s}^2

Now the maximum force is,

Fmax=mamaxF_{\text{max}} = m a_{\text{max}}

Substituting m=5kgm = 5 \, \text{kg} and amax=4m/s2a_{\text{max}} = 4 \, \text{m/s}^2,

Fmax=5×4=20NF_{\text{max}} = 5 \times 4 = 20 \, \text{N}

Therefore, the maximum force exerted by the spring is 20N20 \, \text{N}.

Using SHM force relation

Given: m=5kgm = 5 \, \text{kg}, A=1mA = 1 \, \text{m}, and T=3.14sT = 3.14 \, \text{s}.

Find: maximum restoring force.

In simple harmonic motion, restoring force is maximum at the extreme position. Since

amax=ω2Aa_{\text{max}} = \omega^2 A

and

Fmax=mamaxF_{\text{max}} = m a_{\text{max}}

we get

Fmax=mω2AF_{\text{max}} = m\omega^2 A

Now,

ω=2πT=2π3.142rad/s\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T} = \frac{2\pi}{3.14} \approx 2 \, \text{rad/s}

Hence,

Fmax=5×(2)2×1=20NF_{\text{max}} = 5 \times (2)^2 \times 1 = 20 \, \text{N}

So, the required numerical value is 20.

Common mistakes

  • Using F=kxF = kx directly without first finding kk or relating it to ω\omega. This is incomplete because kk is not given explicitly. Instead, use ω=2πT\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T} and then Fmax=mω2AF_{\text{max}} = m\omega^2 A.

  • Taking acceleration as constant throughout the motion. In SHM, acceleration varies with displacement and becomes maximum only at the extreme position. Use amax=ω2Aa_{\text{max}} = \omega^2 A, not an arbitrary average value.

  • Using amplitude incorrectly as total path length. The amplitude is the maximum displacement from mean position, so here A=1mA = 1 \, \text{m}. Do not replace it by 2m2 \, \text{m}.

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