All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

A cylindrical cork of uniform density floats in a liquid of density $\rho_1$. If the cork is depressed slightly and released, it oscillates harmonically with time period T. If the same cork floats in another liquid of density $\rho_2$, then the similar oscillation has time period 2T. The value of $\rho_2/\rho_1$ is :

This question was previously asked in
NEET UG Re-Exam 2026 Question Paper (21-Jun-2026)
The correct answer is
$\frac{1}{4}$

Cork Oscillation Time Period in Liquids: Density Ratio Calculation

This problem involves a floating, oscillating cylindrical cork and relates its time period of oscillation in two different liquids to their densities.

Equilibrium Condition

For a floating object, the weight (mg) equals the buoyant force. Let the cork have mass m and cross-sectional area A. When floating in a liquid of density $\rho$, submerged to a depth h, the buoyant force is $F_B = \rho A h g$. At equilibrium, $mg = \rho A h g$. This means the mass of the cork is constant: $m = \rho A h$.

Restoring Force and SHM

When the cork is displaced vertically by a small distance x from its equilibrium position, the change in buoyant force provides the restoring force.

  • Change in submerged depth = x
  • Change in buoyant force $\Delta F_B = \rho A x g$.
  • This force acts upwards if depressed downwards, hence it's a restoring force: $F_{restore} = -(\rho A g) x$.

This matches the form $F = -kx$ for Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM), where the effective spring constant is $k = \rho A g$.

Time Period of Oscillation

The time period T of SHM is given by $T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}$. Substituting $k = \rho A g$, we get:

$T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{\rho A g}}$

Since $m = \rho A h$, we can also write $T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{\rho A h}{\rho A g}} = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{h}{g}}$. This shows the time period depends on the equilibrium submerged depth and gravity.

Alternatively, focusing on the spring constant:

$T \propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{k}} \propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{\rho A g}}$

Since m, A, and g are constant for the cork and setup:

$T \propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{\rho}}$

Calculating Density Ratio

Let $T_1$ be the time period in liquid 1 (density $\rho_1$) and $T_2$ be the time period in liquid 2 (density $\rho_2$).

  • Given $T_1 = T$.
  • Given $T_2 = 2T$.

Using the proportionality $T \propto 1/\sqrt{\rho}$:

$\frac{T_1}{T_2} = \frac{1/\sqrt{\rho_1}}{1/\sqrt{\rho_2}} = \sqrt{\frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}}$

Substitute the given time periods:

$\frac{T}{2T} = \sqrt{\frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}}$ $\frac{1}{2} = \sqrt{\frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}}$

Squaring both sides to find the ratio:

$\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}$ $\frac{1}{4} = \frac{\rho_2}{\rho_1}$

Therefore, the value of $\rho_2/\rho_1$ is $\frac{1}{4}$.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. The sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of a simple pendulum bob is $0.02 \text{ joule}$. The speed of the simple pendulum bob at equilibrium position is approximately :
    (Consider mass of the bob = $20 \text{ g}$)
  2. For a travelling harmonic wave  $y(x, t) = 2.0 \cos 2\pi(10 t - 0.0080 x + 0.35)$, where $x$ and $y$ are in cm and $t$ in s. The phase difference between oscillatory motion of two points separated by a distance of $0.5 \text{ m}$ is :

  3. For a simple pendulum, having time period T, the variation of kinetic energy (K.E.) with time (t) is represented by :
  4. Consider a spring-mass simple harmonic oscillator in one dimension. The mass of the particle is $m\text{ kg}$ and the spring constant is $k\text{ Nm}^{-1}$. At a given instant, the extension of the spring is $x\text{ meter}$ and the speed of the particle is $v\text{ ms}^{-1}$. On the $x-v$ plane, if the graph of $v$ as a function of $x$ is a circle, then the correct option is :
  5. For sound waves, if the number of nodes for the $5^{\text{th}}$ harmonic of an open-ended pipe is $n$ and that for the $9^{\text{th}}$ harmonic of the same pipe with one of its ends closed is $m$, the ratio $\frac{n}{m}$ is :

Important Questions from Oscillations and Waves

  1. The displacement of a particle, executing simple harmonic motion with time period $T$, is expressed as $x(t) = A\sin\omega t$, where $A$ is the amplitude. The maximum value of potential energy of this oscillator is found at $t = T/2\beta$. The value of $\beta$ is ________.
  2. A simple pendulum has a bob with mass $m$ and charge $q$. The pendulum string has negligible mass. When a uniform and horizontal electric field $\vec{E}$ is applied, the tension in the string changes. The final tension in the string, when pendulum attains an equilibrium position is _________. 
    (g: acceleration due to gravity)

  3. In an open organ pipe $\nu_3$ and $\nu_6$ are $3^{\text{rd}}$ and $6^{\text{th}}$ harmonic frequencies, respectively. If $\nu_6 - \nu_3 = 2200 \text{ Hz}$ then length of the pipe is _________ mm.
    (Take velocity of sound in air is $330 \text{ m/s}$.)

  4. Using a simple pendulum experiment g is determind by measuring its time period T. Which of the following plots represent the correct relation between the pendulum length L and time period T ?
  5. A cylindrical block of mass $M$ and area of cross section $A$ is floating in a liquid of density $\rho$ and with its axis vertical. When depressed a little and released the block starts oscillating. The period of oscillation is ______.
Need Expert Advice?
More Questions from NEET

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App