Question

An elastic ball is dropped from a certain height and returns to the same height after elastic collision on the floor. What is the nature of repeated motion of the ball?

• A. Simple harmonic, oscillatory and periodic
• B. Simple harmonic, oscillatory but not periodic
• C. Simple harmonic, periodic, but not oscillatory
• D. Oscillatory, periodic but not simple harmonic

Answer 1

The correct option is D Oscillatory, periodic but not simple harmonic

Here, ball collides with the ground and rises to same height it is dropped from and this motion is repeated, hence motion is oscillatory and periodic.
The ball moves under constant acceleration and hence displacement is not proportional to acceleration. So, the motion cannot be simple harmonic.
Hence option (d) is correct.