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NCERT Exemplar · Q10

Q.The motion of a particle of mass mm is given by x=0x = 0 for t<0t < 0 s, x(t)=Asin⁡4p tx(t) = A \sin 4p\,t for 0<t<(1/4)0 < t < (1/4) s (A>oA > o), and x=0x = 0 for t>(1/4)t > (1/4) s. Which of the following statements is true? (Note: more than one of the given options may be correct.)

(a) The force at t=(1/8)t = (1/8) s on the particle is −16π2A m-16\pi^2 A\,m.
(b) The particle is acted upon by on impulse of magnitude 4π2A m4\pi^2 A\,m at t=0t = 0 s and t=(1/4)t = (1/4) s.
(c) The particle is not acted upon by any force.
(d) The particle is not acted upon by a constant force.
(e) There is no impulse acting on the particle.
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The motion is a half-cycle of a sine wave, so the particle accelerates and decelerates, experiencing forces and impulses at the start and end. The correct statements are (A) and (D).

The key to this problem is the Impulse-Momentum Theorem: the net impulse on a particle equals its change in momentum. When a particle starts from rest, moves, and then stops, impulses must act at the boundaries. Let's break it down.

  1. Understanding the motion

    The position is given piecewise:

    • For t<0t < 0: x=0x = 0 (particle at rest at the origin).
    • For 0<t<140 < t < \frac{1}{4} s: x(t)=Asin⁡(4πt)x(t) = A \sin(4\pi t).
    • For t>14t > \frac{1}{4} s: x=0x = 0 (particle back at rest at the origin).

    The sine term has angular frequency ω=4π\omega = 4\pi rad/s. Over the interval 00 to 14\frac{1}{4} s, the argument 4πt4\pi t goes from 00 to π\pi, so the particle executes exactly half a sine wave — starting at x=0x=0, rising to x=Ax=A at t=1/8t=1/8 s, and returning to x=0x=0 at t=1/4t=1/4 s.

  2. Velocity and acceleration

    Differentiate x(t)x(t) to get velocity:

v(t)=dxdt=4πAcos⁡(4πt)v(t) = \frac{dx}{dt} = 4\pi A \cos(4\pi t)

Differentiate again for acceleration:

a(t)=dvdt=−16π2Asin⁡(4πt)a(t) = \frac{dv}{dt} = -16\pi^2 A \sin(4\pi t)

At t=0+t = 0^+, sin⁡(0)=0\sin(0)=0 so a=0a=0, but v(0+)=4πAv(0^+) = 4\pi A — the particle jumps from rest to a finite velocity instantly. That means an impulse acts at t=0t=0. Similarly, at t=14−t = \frac{1}{4}^-, sin⁡(π)=0\sin(\pi)=0 so a=0a=0, and v(14−)=4πAcos⁡(π)=−4πAv(\frac{1}{4}^-) = 4\pi A \cos(\pi) = -4\pi A. The particle then stops at t=14+t = \frac{1}{4}^+, so another impulse acts.

  1. Checking option (A): Force at t=1/8t = 1/8 s

    At t=1/8t = 1/8 s, sin⁡(4π⋅18)=sin⁡(π/2)=1\sin(4\pi \cdot \frac{1}{8}) = \sin(\pi/2) = 1.

    So a=−16π2Aa = -16\pi^2 A.

    Force F=ma=−16π2AmF = ma = -16\pi^2 A m.

    This matches option (A) exactly. True.

  2. Checking option (B): Impulse magnitude at t=0t=0 and t=1/4t=1/4 s

    Impulse J=Δp=mΔvJ = \Delta p = m \Delta v.

    At t=0t=0: velocity jumps from 00 to 4πA4\pi A, so Δv=4πA\Delta v = 4\pi A.

    Impulse J=m⋅4πA=4πAmJ = m \cdot 4\pi A = 4\pi A m. …

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