FSc Part 1 Physics chapter 7: Oscillations MCQs with answers

By Team Megalecture · Updated 4 Nov 2026

28 exam-style questions on Oscillations, each with the answer and a short explanation. Ten of them are below to try. The chapter test draws ten fresh questions each time and is marked the moment you finish, with your score by topic.

28 questions · 3 topics · 10 per test

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What chapter 7 covers

Ten Oscillations questions with answers

Try each one, then open the answer. These ten stay the same; the test draws new ones every time.

1. A simple pendulum hangs in a lift. When the lift accelerates upwards, the period of the pendulum

  1. A
    increases
  2. B
    decreases
  3. C
    stays the same
  4. D
    becomes infinite
Show answer

Answer: B. The effective value of g becomes g + a, and T = 2π√(l/(g + a)) is smaller. In a freely falling lift (geff = 0) the pendulum would not oscillate at all.

2. The damping of an oscillating system is increased. Its resonance curve (amplitude against driving frequency) becomes

  1. A
    taller and sharper
  2. B
    lower and broader
  3. C
    unchanged
  4. D
    a straight horizontal line
Show answer

Answer: B. Heavy damping lowers the peak amplitude and spreads the response over a wider range of frequencies, so resonance is less sharp.

3. In damped oscillations,

  1. A
    the amplitude increases with time
  2. B
    the frequency immediately becomes zero
  3. C
    the amplitude decreases with time as energy is dissipated
  4. D
    the total energy remains constant
Show answer

Answer: C. Friction or air resistance removes energy from the oscillator, so the amplitude gradually dies away.

4. The displacement of a particle in SHM is x = 0.10 sin(πt) metres. What is its displacement at t = 1/6 s?

  1. A
    0.087 m
  2. B
    0.10 m
  3. C
    0.017 m
  4. D
    0.050 m
Show answer

Answer: D. x = 0.10 sin(π/6) = 0.10 × 0.5 = 0.050 m. The angle πt is in radians: π/6 rad = 30°. Using cos gives 0.087 m.

5. A spring of spring constant 200 N m−1 oscillates with amplitude 0.10 m. The total energy of the oscillation is

  1. A
    1.0 J
  2. B
    2.0 J
  3. C
    10 J
  4. D
    20 J
Show answer

Answer: A. E = ½kx02 = ½ × 200 × 0.01 = 1.0 J. 2.0 J forgets the ½; 10 J forgets to square the amplitude.

6. A pendulum is pulled aside and released, then left alone. It oscillates with

  1. A
    forced oscillations at the driving frequency
  2. B
    free oscillations at its natural frequency
  3. C
    resonance at double its natural frequency
  4. D
    forced oscillations at its natural frequency
Show answer

Answer: B. With no periodic external force acting, the pendulum performs free oscillations at its own natural frequency, set by its length and g.

7. A body with natural frequency 40 Hz is driven by a periodic force of frequency 50 Hz. Once the motion is steady, it vibrates at

  1. A
    40 Hz
  2. B
    45 Hz
  3. C
    90 Hz
  4. D
    50 Hz
Show answer

Answer: D. In forced oscillations the body vibrates at the frequency of the driving force (50 Hz), not at its natural frequency; the amplitude is small because the two do not match.

8. Which of these is an example of resonance?

  1. A
    tuning a radio to receive a particular station
  2. B
    a ball bouncing on the floor
  3. C
    the echo of a shout from a cliff
  4. D
    dispersion of white light by a prism
Show answer

Answer: A. Tuning adjusts the natural frequency of the radio's circuit to match the frequency of the wanted station, so that signal is picked up most strongly.

9. The period of a simple pendulum oscillating with small amplitude does NOT depend on

  1. A
    its length
  2. B
    the value of g at that place
  3. C
    the mass of the bob
  4. D
    whether it is on the Earth or on the Moon
Show answer

Answer: C. T = 2π√(l/g) contains only l and g. The mass cancels because both the restoring force and the inertia are proportional to m.

10. Resonance occurs when

  1. A
    the driving frequency is twice the natural frequency
  2. B
    damping is zero
  3. C
    the amplitude is zero
  4. D
    the driving frequency equals the natural frequency
Show answer

Answer: D. At resonance the driving force is in step with the natural motion, so energy is transferred most efficiently and the amplitude is greatest.

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Ways to practise this chapter

Oscillations: questions students ask

How many Oscillations MCQs are there?

28, each with the answer and a short explanation, across 3 topics: Simple harmonic motion and the reference circle, Mass-spring system, simple pendulum and energy in SHM, Free and forced oscillations, resonance and damping. Every chapter test draws ten of them, so you can take it many times.

Is the FSc Part 1 Physics chapter 7 test free?

Yes. The test, the answers and the explanations are free and need no sign-up. Sign in only if you want your scores kept across devices.

How is the chapter test marked?

The moment you press Finish: your score, the right answer and an explanation for every question, and the ones you got wrong saved in My mistakes to retry.

Can I read the explanations in Urdu?

Yes. In practice mode and on your results you can switch the explanations to Urdu.

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