MCQEasyJEE 2025Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A particle is executing simple harmonic motion with a time period of 2s2 \, \text{s} and amplitude 1cm1 \, \text{cm}. If DD and dd are the total distance and displacement covered by the particle in 12.5s12.5 \, \text{s}, then the ratio Dd\frac{D}{d} is:

  • A

    154\frac{15}{4}

  • B

    2525

  • C

    1010

  • D

    165\frac{16}{5}

Answer

Correct answer:B

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Time period T=2sT = 2 \, \text{s}, amplitude A=1cmA = 1 \, \text{cm}, and total time t=12.5st = 12.5 \, \text{s}.

Find: The ratio Dd\frac{D}{d}, where DD is the total distance and dd is the displacement.

First calculate the number of oscillations:

n=12.52=6.25n = \frac{12.5}{2} = 6.25

In SHM, the total distance covered in one complete oscillation is:

Done oscillation=4A=4×1cm=4cmD_{\text{one oscillation}} = 4A = 4 \times 1 \, \text{cm} = 4 \, \text{cm}

So, in 66 complete oscillations and an additional 0.250.25 oscillation, the total distance is:

D=6×4cm+0.25×4cmD = 6 \times 4 \, \text{cm} + 0.25 \times 4 \, \text{cm} D=24cm+1cm=25cmD = 24 \, \text{cm} + 1 \, \text{cm} = 25 \, \text{cm}

After 66 full oscillations, the particle returns to its starting position, so the displacement for that part is zero. During the extra 0.250.25 oscillation, the particle moves from the equilibrium position to the extreme position, so:

d=A=1cmd = A = 1 \, \text{cm}

Therefore,

Dd=25cm1cm=25\frac{D}{d} = \frac{25 \, \text{cm}}{1 \, \text{cm}} = 25

The correct option is B.

The solution states that in SHM, the total distance traveled is the sum of distances moved in each cycle, while displacement is the straight-line change between initial and final positions.

Cycle-wise Interpretation

Given: T=2sT = 2 \, \text{s}, A=1cmA = 1 \, \text{cm}, and t=12.5st = 12.5 \, \text{s}.

Find: The ratio Dd\frac{D}{d}.

The number of cycles completed in 12.5s12.5 \, \text{s} is:

12.52=6.25 cycles\frac{12.5}{2} = 6.25 \text{ cycles}

A particle in SHM travels from one extreme to the other and back in one full cycle, so the total path length in one cycle is:

4A=4cm4A = 4 \, \text{cm}

Hence the total distance in 6.256.25 cycles is:

D=4A×6.25=4×1cm×6.25=25cmD = 4A \times 6.25 = 4 \times 1 \, \text{cm} \times 6.25 = 25 \, \text{cm}

For displacement, 66 full cycles contribute zero net displacement because the particle returns to the initial position. The remaining quarter cycle places the particle at an extreme, giving:

d=1cmd = 1 \, \text{cm}

Thus,

Dd=251=25\frac{D}{d} = \frac{25}{1} = 25

Therefore, the ratio is 2525, so the correct option is B.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming that distance and displacement are the same in SHM is incorrect because distance is the total path length covered, whereas displacement depends only on the initial and final positions. Always compute them separately.

  • Using 2A2A as the distance in one complete oscillation is wrong. In one full cycle, the particle goes from one side to the other and back, so the total distance is 4A4A.

  • Ignoring the extra 0.250.25 cycle after 66 full oscillations leads to an incorrect result. After the full cycles, evaluate the remaining fraction of the motion separately.

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