Question

A cylindrical piston of mass M slides smoothly inside a long cylinder closed at one end, enclosing a certain mass of gas. The cylinder is kept with its axis horizontal. If the piston is disturbed from its equilibrium position, it oscillates simple harmonically. The period of oscillation will be

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Let the piston be displaced through distance x towards left,

then volume decreases, pressure increases.

If $\Delta$ P is increase in pressure

and $\Delta$ V is decrease in volume,

then considering the process to take place gradually (I.e. isothermal)

$P_1{V}_1=P_2{V}_2\Rightarrow PV=(P+\Delta P)(V-\Delta V)$

$\Rightarrow \Delta P.V-P.\Delta V=0$ ( neglecting $\Delta P.\Delta V$

$\Delta P\left(Ah\right)=P\left(Ax\right)\Rightarrow \Delta P=\frac{P.x}{h}$

This excess pressure is responsible for providing the

restoring force (F) to the piston of mass M.

Hence F = $\Delta P.A=\frac{PAx}{h}$

Comparing it with |F| = kx $\Rightarrow k=M{\omega }^2=\frac{PA}{h}$

$\Rightarrow \omega =\sqrt{\frac{PA}{Mh}}\Rightarrow T=2\pi \sqrt{\frac{Mh}{PA}}$

Short trick : by checking the options dimensionally. Option (a) is correct.