13 Jun 2026

Waves and Oscillations Exam Quiz

Five standard waves and oscillations MCQs for physics entrance practice.

waves oscillations gate-2024 csir-net-2023 jest-2022

These are original exam-style practice questions based on common GATE, CSIR-NET and JEST waves and oscillations patterns.

Q: [GATE 2024 style] For a simple harmonic oscillator, angular frequency is
A: $\sqrt{k/m}$
B: $\sqrt{m/k}$
C: $k/m$
D: $m/k$
ANSWER: A
EXPLAIN: The equation $m\ddot x+kx=0$ gives $\omega=\sqrt{k/m}$.
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Q: [CSIR-NET 2023 style] The wave speed on a stretched string with tension $T$ and linear density $\mu$ is
A: $\sqrt{T/\mu}$
B: $\sqrt{\mu/T}$
C: $T\mu$
D: $T/\mu^2$
ANSWER: A
EXPLAIN: Transverse waves on a string travel with speed $v=\sqrt{T/\mu}$.
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Q: [JEST 2022 style] In a standing wave, adjacent nodes are separated by
A: $\lambda$
B: $\lambda/2$
C: $\lambda/4$
D: $2\lambda$
ANSWER: B
EXPLAIN: Nodes repeat every half wavelength.
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Q: [GATE 2021 style] The quality factor $Q$ of a lightly damped oscillator is approximately
A: $\omega_0/(2\beta)$
B: $2\beta/\omega_0$
C: $\omega_0\beta$
D: $1/\omega_0$
ANSWER: A
EXPLAIN: For damping constant $\beta$, $Q\simeq\omega_0/(2\beta)$.
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Q: [CSIR-NET 2020 style] The Doppler shift for a source moving toward a stationary observer causes observed frequency to
A: increase
B: decrease
C: become zero
D: become imaginary
ANSWER: A
EXPLAIN: Motion toward the observer compresses wavefronts, increasing observed frequency.

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