Superposition of Periodic Functions MCQ Questions and Answers
1. The function x(t) = cos(6t + π/5) + 2sin(10t − π/7) + 3cos(15t) is periodic. What is its fundamental period?
A. π/15
B. 2π
C. π/3
D. π/5
Correct Answer:
2π
Explanation:
The angular frequencies are 6, 10, and 15 rad s⁻¹. Their greatest common divisor is 1 rad s⁻¹, so the fundamental angular frequency is 1 rad s⁻¹. Therefore, the fundamental period is 2π/1 = 2π.
2. Two periodic functions are superposed as x(t) = A cos(ωt) + A cos(ωt + φ), where A > 0. For which value of φ is the resultant amplitude zero?
A. φ = π/4
B. φ = π/2
C. φ = π
D. φ = 2π/3
Correct Answer:
φ = π
Explanation:
Using superposition, x(t) = 2A cos(φ/2) cos(ωt + φ/2). The resultant amplitude is 2A|cos(φ/2)|, which becomes zero when cos(φ/2) = 0. Thus φ = π modulo 2π.
3. What is the value of the superposition x(t) = sin(ωt) + sin(ωt + 2π/3) + sin(ωt + 4π/3) for every value of t?
A. sin(ωt)
B. 3sin(ωt)
C. −sin(ωt)
D. 0
Correct Answer:
0
Explanation:
The three sinusoidal functions have equal amplitudes and phases separated by 120°. Their corresponding phasors form a closed equilateral triangle, so their vector sum and hence their total superposition are identically zero.
4. The function x(t) = cos(100t) + cos(104t) can be written as 2cos(102t)cos(2t). What is the fundamental period of x(t)?
A. π/102
B. π/2
C. 2π/102
D. π/4
Correct Answer:
π/2
Explanation:
The original angular frequencies are 100 and 104 rad s⁻¹. A common fundamental angular frequency is their greatest common divisor, 4 rad s⁻¹. Hence the fundamental period of the sum is 2π/4 = π/2. The rapid oscillation and the envelope do not independently determine the exact period.
5. Which of the following superpositions is not periodic for any nonzero finite time period?
A. cos(3ωt) + sin(5ωt)
B. cos(4ωt) + cos(10ωt)
C. sin(ωt) + sin(√2ωt)
D. cos(7ωt) + cos(14ωt)
Correct Answer:
sin(ωt) + sin(√2ωt)
Explanation:
A finite common period requires the ratio of the component frequencies to be rational. The ratio √2 is irrational, so no nonzero time can simultaneously reproduce both sinusoidal components.
6. For x(t) = sin(ωt) + a sin(2ωt), the two components are orthogonal over one period. If the rms value of x(t) is √2, what is the positive value of a?
A. 1
B. √2
C. √3
D. 2
Correct Answer:
√3
Explanation:
Because the two harmonics are orthogonal over a common period, x_rms² = (1² + a²)/2. Setting this equal to 2 gives (1 + a²)/2 = 2, so a² = 3 and the positive value is a = √3.
7. The superposition x(t) = 2cos(ωt) + 2cos(ωt + 2π/3) + 2cos(ωt + 4π/3) is subjected to a phase shift of π/6 in every component. What is the resulting function?
A. 2cos(ωt + π/6)
B. 6cos(ωt + π/6)
C. 0
D. 2sin(ωt + π/6)
Correct Answer:
0
Explanation:
Before the common phase shift, the three equal-amplitude components have phases separated by 120° and cancel exactly. A common phase shift rotates all three phasors together without changing their zero resultant, so the total remains zero.
8. For x(t) = cos(ωt) + cos(ωt + φ), the resultant can be expressed as R cos(ωt + δ). If φ = 2π/3, what are R and δ, respectively?
A. R = 1, δ = π/3
B. R = √3, δ = π/3
C. R = 2, δ = 2π/3
D. R = √3, δ = 2π/3
Correct Answer:
R = 1, δ = π/3
Explanation:
Using the addition formula, cos(ωt) + cos(ωt + φ) = 2cos(φ/2)cos(ωt + φ/2). For φ = 2π/3, the amplitude is 2cos(π/3) = 1 and the phase shift is φ/2 = π/3.
9. Consider x(t) = sin(2ωt) − sin(3ωt) + sin(5ωt), with ω > 0. What is the smallest positive period of this superposition?
A. π/ω
B. 2π/(5ω)
C. 2π/ω
D. 5π/ω
Correct Answer:
2π/ω
Explanation:
All frequencies are integer multiples of ω, so 2π/ω is a common period. Since the set of harmonic indices 2, 3, and 5 has greatest common divisor 1, no smaller common period exists for the complete superposition.
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