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Topic Simple Harmonic Motion
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 11 years (2015–2026), peaking in 2024.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2024
- Recurs across 3 years (2015–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
EPFO 2015 → NDA 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (2 of 3) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2026
A pendulum of length L oscillates with an angular amplitude of θ = 60° and time period T. Let T₀ = 2π√(L/g) be the time period for small angle of oscillations, where g is the acceleration due to gravity. If air resistance is negligibly small and the string remains straight, then which one of the following is correct?
- A T will be slightly greater than T₀. ✓
- B T will be slightly smaller than T₀.
- C T will be exactly equal to T₀.
- D T will depend upon the mass of the bob.
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2024
Which one of the following statements regarding simple pendulum is correct? Simple pendulum has a time period independent of amplitude:
- A only for small amplitudes because then the net force on its bob is independent of its displacement.
- B for any amplitude because then the net force on its bob is always proportional to its displacement.
- C for any amplitude because the net force on the bob is independent of its displacement.
- D only for small amplitudes because then the net force on its bob is proportional to its displacement. ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
EPFO2015
A sinusoidal transverse wave is travelling on a string. Any point on the string moves in
- A SHM with the same angular frequency as that of the wave ✓
- B SHM with a different frequency than that of the wave
- C Uniform circular motion with the same angular speed as that of the wave
- D Uniform circular motion with a different angular speed than that of the wave
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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