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3
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

MECHANICS
Mechanics is the branch of physics which deals with the motion and forces producing motion i.e. the cause and
effects of the motion of a particle, rigid objects and deformable bodies etc. Mechanics is classified under two
streams namely Kinematics and Dynamics.
Statics: It is a branch of mechanics which deals with the study of material objects at rest.
An object can be at rest, even when a number of forces acting on it are in equilibrium. Thus, statics is the
branch of mechanics which deals with the study of motion of objects under the effect of forces in equilibrium,
Here, time factor does not play any role.
Mechanics

Kinematics Dynamics (or Kinetics)

The word kinematics is derived from Greek word ‘Kinema’ meaning motion. It is a branch of mechanics which
deals with study of motion without considering the causes of motion, i.e. force, torque etc. of bodies. While
dynamics is the branch of mechanics which deals with the study of motion by considering the causes of motion.
The word dynamics is derived from Greek word ‘Dynamics’ meaning power.

POINT OBJECT OR PARTICLE

A particle or a point mass is the smallest part of matter with zero dimension which can be described by its mass
and position. If the size of object is negligible in comparison with distance it moves in a reasonable duration
of time.

REST AND MOTION

Rest:

An object is said to be at rest if it does not change its position with time, with respect to its surroundings or
w.r.t. to a reference point called origin. A book lying on a table, a person sitting in a chair are the examples of
rest.

Motion:

An object is said to be in motion if its position changes with time w.r.t. its surrounding or w.r.t a reference
point called origin.
Example: A bird flying in air, a train moving on rails, a ship sailing on water, a man walking on road are some
of the examples of motion, visible to the eye. Motion of gas molecules is an example of motion, invisible to
the eye.
The concept of motion and rest depends on frame of reference of observer and object. If the position of an
object changes with time in space [relative to an observer] it is said to be in motion. It may happen in both
ways either observer moves or object moves.

4
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

FRAME OF REFERENCE
In order to specify unique position of an object in space, we use a rectangular
coordinate system consisting of three mutually perpendicular axes, called X, Y and
Z axes. The point of intersection of these three axes is called origin (O) and serves
as reference point. The coordinates (x, y, z) describes position of given object w.r.t.
origin in given frame of reference.
If one or more coordinates of an object change with time, object is said to be in
motion. Otherwise, the object is said to be at rest w.r.t. given frame of reference.

MOTION IN ONE, TWO AND THREE DIMENSION

One dimensional motion:

The motion of an object in a straight line is said to be one dimensional motion.

For example, the motion of a train along a straight railway track, an object dropped from a certain height above
the ground, a man walking on a level and narrow road, oscillations of a mass suspended from a vertical spring
etc., are one dimensional motion.

Two dimensional motion:

The motion of an object in a plane along curved path is said to be two dimensional motion if two out of the
three coordinates specifying the position of the object change with respect to time.
For example, an insect crawling over the floor, the earth revolving around the sun, a billard ball moving over
the billard table, are two dimensional motion.

Three dimensional motion:

The motion of an object is said to be three dimensional motion if all the three coordinates specifying the position
of the object change with respect to time. In three dimensional motion, the object moves in space.
For example, a kite flying on a windy day, the random motion of a gas molecule, a flying aeroplane or bird
etc. are three dimensional motions.

DISTANCE
Distance is the actual length of the path. It is the characteristic property of any path i.e. path is always associated
when we consider distance between two positions. Distance between A and B while moving through path (1)
may or may not be equal to the distance between A and B while moving through path (2).

(i) It is a scalar quantity

(ii) Dimension: [M0L1T0]
(iii) Unit: In CGS, centimeter (cm); In MKS, meter(m)

5
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

DISPLACEMENT
Displacement of a particle is the shortest distance of its final position w.r.t. initial position and its direction is
from initial to final position of the object, during the given interval of time.
It is a vector quantity.
Displacement = AB in the above diagram
It is the characteristic property of any point i.e. depends only on final and initial positions.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DISTANCE & DISPLACEMENT

Distance is the actual path travelled by a moving body, while displacement is the change in the position.

In the above figure distance travelled is S, while displacement is  r = AB

Regarding distance and displacement it is worth noting that:
(a) Distance is scalar, while displacement is vector both having same dimensions [L] and same SI unit metre.
(b) The magnitude of displacement is equal to minimum possible distance so,
Distance  |Displacement|
(c) For motion between two points displacement is single valued, while distance depends on actual path
and so can have many values.
(d) For a moving particle distance can never decreases with time while displacement can. Decrease in
displacement means body is moving towards the initial position.
(e) For moving particle distance can never be negative or zero, while displacement can be. (Zero
displacement means that body after motion has come back to initial position)
Distance > 0 but |Displacement| > = or < 0
(f) In general magnitude of displacement is not equal to distance. However it can be so if the motion is
along a straight line without change in direction.
(g) The knowledge of displacement between two points does not give any information about the distance
covered between these points.
Comparative study of distance & displacement:
Distance =  r,
|Displacement| = 2r

A r B
Distance = 2h, Displacement = 0

A B
Distance = s, |Displacement| = s
A

6
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Note: Distance and Displacement, while moving in a circle from A to B and then from B to A.

Half Cycle Full Cycle

Distance R 2R
Displacement 2R 0
Direction 1. A → B,
When particle A R R B
moves from
A to B
2. B → A,
When particle
moves from
B to A

Example 1: An old person moves on a semi circular track of radius 40 m during a morning walk. If he starts at
one end of the track and reaches at the other end. Find the displacement of the person.
Solution: Displacement = 2R = 2  40 = 80 meter
Example 2: An athelete is running on a circular track of radius 50 meter. Calculate the displacement of the
athlete after completing 5 rounds of the track.
Solution: Since final and initial positions are same. Hence displacement of athlete will be 0.
Example 3: A man has to go 50 m due north, 40 m due east and 20 m due south to reach a field.
(a) What distance he has to walk to reach the field?
(b) What is his displacement from his house to the field?
N

W E

S
40m B
Solution: Let origin be O then A
20m
(a) Distance covered = OA + AB + BC = 50 + 40 + 20 = 110 m 50m C

Displacement OC = OD + CD = 40 + 30 = 50 m
2 2 2 2 
(b) O D

1
Example 4: A body covers th part of a circular path. Calculate the ratio of distance and displacement.
4
B
1

A
O r

2 r  r
Solution: Distance = AB from path (1) = =
4 2
& Displacement = AB = r2 + r2 = r 2
Distance r / 2 
 = =
Displacement r 2 2 2

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

SPEED
Speed of an object is defined as the ratio of distance covered and the corresponding time taken by the object.
Speed of an object represent how fast or how slow is the particle moving.
(i) It is a scalar quantity
(ii) Unit: In MKS metre/second or km/s
In CGS cm/s
(iii) Dimension: [M0L1T–1]
Types of speed:
(a) Uniform speed: An object is said to be moving with uniform speed, if it covers equal distances in equal
intervals of time, howsoever small these intervals may be. If during the entire motion speed of the body
remains same, the body is said to have uniform speed.
(b) Non-uniform speed: An object is said to be moving with non-uniform speed, if it covers equal distances
in unequal intervals of time, howsoever small these time intervals may be. If speed changes, the body is
said to have non-uniform speed.
(c) Average speed: Average speed of the object is that constant speed with which the body covers the same
distance in a given time as it does while moving with variable speed during the given time.
Total distance travelled
Average speed =
Total time taken
(d) Instantaneous Speed:
It is the speed of a particle at particular instant.
S dS
Instantaneous speed = lim =
t →0 t dt

VELOCITY
It is defined as rate of change of displacement.
(i) It is a vector quantity
(ii) Its direction is same as that of displacement
(iii) Unit and dimension: Same as that of speed

Types of Velocity:

(a) Uniform velocity: A particle is said to have uniform velocity, if magnitude as well as direction of its
velocity remains same and this is possible only when the particles moves in same straight line without
reversing its direction.
(b) Non-uniform velocity: A particle is said to have non-uniform velocity, if either of magnitude or direction
of velocity changes (or both change).
(c) Average velocity:
Total displacement travelled
Average velocity =
Total time taken
(d) Instantaneous velocity: It is defined as the velocity at some particular instant.
r dr
Instantaneous velocity = lim =
t →0 t dt

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INSTANTANEOUS SPEED AND INSTANTANEOUS

VELOCITY
Instantaneous velocity or simply velocity is defined as rate of change of particle's position with time
r dr
v = lim = where the position r of a particle at any instant changes by r in a small time t
t →0 t dt
The magnitude of velocity is called speed i.e. speed = | velocity| i.e. v = v

Note: In straight line motion there is no change in direction so v and v both have same meaning

(a) Velocity is a vector while speed is a scalar having same units (m/s) and dimension [LT–1]
(b) If during motion velocity remains constant throughout a given interval of time, the motion is said to be
uniform and for uniform motion, v = constant = vav
However, converse may or may not be true i.e. If v = vav , the motion may or may not be uniform.
(c) If velocity is constant, speed (= | velocity |) will also be constant. However, converse may or may not be true
i.e. if speed = constant, velocity may or may not be constant as velocity has a direction in addition to
magnitude which may or may not change. e.g. in case of uniform rectilinear motion. v = constant and so
speed v = constant
while in case of uniform circular motion, v = constant but v  constant due to change in direction.
(d) Velocity can be positive or negative, as it is a vector but speed can never be negative as it is the magnitude
of velocity
i.e. v=v
(e) If displacement is given as a function of time, the time derivative of displacement will give velocity and
modulus of velocity gives speed.
ds
e.g. s = A0 − At
1 + A2t , v =
2
= − A1 + 2 A2t . So, initially (t = 0), velocity = – A1, while speed = |–A1| = A1
dt

ds s s A
Note: It is common misconception, that = , Here = 0 − A1 + A2t
dt t t t
ds
which is totally different from the above value of .
dt

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AVERAGE SPEED & AVERAGE VELOCITY

The average speed of a particle for a given interval of time is defined as the ratio of distance travelled to the
time taken, while average velocity is defined as the ratio of displacement to time taken.
Distance traveled
Average speed =
Time taken
s
i.e. vav =
t
Displacement
Average velocity =
Time taken
r
i.e. vav =
t

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

(a) Average speed is a scalar, while average velocity is a vector both having same unit (m/s)
(b) Both have dimension [M0LT–1]
(c) For a given time interval average velocity is single valued, while average speed can have many values
depending on path followed.
(d) If after motion body comes back to its initial position vav = 0 [as r = 0], but vav > 0 and finite (as s > 0)
(e) For a moving body average speed can never be negative or zero i.e. vav > 0, while average velocity can be
while vav > = or < 0
(f) In general average speed is not equal to magnitude of average velocity (as s  r ). However, it can be

so if the motion is along a straight line without change in direction (as s = r ).

(g) If a particle travels distances L1, L2, L3 etc at speeds v1, v2, v3 etc. respectively, then
s L + L + ......... + Ln Li
vav = = 1 2 =
t L1 + L2 + ........... + Ln  Li
v1 v2 vn vi
If L1 = L2 ……... = Ln = L
1 11 1  1 1
then =  + + ...... = 
vav n  v1 v2  n vi

i.e. average speed is harmonic mean of individual speeds

Note: If a particle moves a distance at speed v1 and comes back with speed v2, then
2v1v2
vav =
v1 + v2
while vav = 0 [as displacement = 0]

(h) If a particle travels at speeds v1, v2 etc. for intervals t1, t2 etc. respectively, then
s v1t1 + v2t2 + ............ vi ti
vav = = =
t t1 + t2 + ............. ti
If t1 = t2 = ..... = tn = t
v1 + v2 + ......... 1
then vav = =  vi
n n
i.e. average speed is arithmetic mean of individual speeds.

Note: If a particle moves for two equal time-intervals

v1 + v2
vav =
2
Example 5: Can a body have uniform velocity but non-uniform speed?
Solution: No.
Velocity = Speed + Direction
Example 6: Can a body have uniform speed but non-uniform velocity?
Solution: Yes.
e.g. Speed of a particle in circular path is constant but due to change in direction its velocity
changes.

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Example 7: A car travels first half distance between two places with a speed of 40 km/h and the rest half
distance with a speed of 60 km/h. Calculate the average speed of the car?
Solution: Let the total distance travelled be x.
Time taken to travel first half distance
x/2 x
t1 = = hr
40 80
Time taken to travel the rest half distance
x/2 x
t2 = = hr
60 120
Total distance
 Average speed =
Total time
x
= = 48 km/hr
( x / 80) + ( x /120)
Example 8: A clock has its minute hand 4.0 cm long. Calculate the average velocity of the tip of the minute
hand between 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 a.m. and 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. respectively? (in cm/s)
Solution: At 6.00 a.m. the tip of the minute hand is at 12 mark and at 6.30 a.m. or 6.30 p.m. it is 180o away.
Thus, the straight line distance between the initial and final positions of the tip is equal to the
diameter of the clock.
Displacement = 2 R = 2 × 4 cm = 8 cm
Time taken from 6 a. m. to 6.30 a.m. is 30 minutes = 1800 s. The average velocity is
Displacement 8.0 cm
vav = = = 4.4 10−3 cm/s
time 1800 s
Again, time taken from 6 am to 6.30 p.m. = 12 hrs + 30 minutes = 45000 s
Displacement 8 −4
 vav = = = 1.8 10 cm/s
time 45000
Example 9: What are the average speed and average velocity during one complete cycle of radius R
respectively? (T is the time to take one complete revolution)
2 R
Solution: Average speed vav = and
T
0
Average velocity v av = =0
T
Example 10: A boy covers a distance AB of 2 km with speed of 2.5 km/h, while going from A to B and comes
back from B to A with speed 0.5 km/hr. What is his average speed?
Solution: As boy goes from A to B and then comes back from B to A hence his average speed can be found
by using harmonic mean
2v1v2 2  2.5  0.5
vav = =
v1 + v2 2.5 + 0.5
2.5
= = 0.8 km/hr
3

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 11: Usually "average speed" means the ratio of total distance covered to the time elapsed. However, some
time the phrase "average speed" can mean the magnitude of the average velocity. Are the two same?
distance
Solution: No, usually they have different meanings, as according to I-definition, vav = , while
time
|displacement|
according to II-definition vav = . Now as distance  | displacement |, so vav  vav
time
i.e. usually average speed is greater than the magnitude of average velocity
e.g. If a body returns to its starting point after some motion, then as distance travelled is finite
while displacement is zero so vav > 0 but vav = 0. However, in case of motion along a straight-line
without change in direction, as |displacement| = distance, the two definition will mean same.
Example 12: A body moves along the sides AB, BC and CD of a square of side 10 meter with velocity of
constant magnitude 3 meter/sec. Calculate its average velocity?
Total displacement
Solution: Average velocity of the body =
Total time
AD 10
= = = 1 m/s
( AB + BC + CD) / v 30 / 3
Example 13: A point travelling along a straight line traverse one third the distance with a velocity v0. The
remaining part of the distance was covered with velocity v1 for half the time and with velocity v2
for the other half of the time. Calculate the mean velocity of the point averaged over the whole
time of motion?
Solution: Let s be the total distance. Let (s/3) distance be covered in time t1 while the remaining distance
(2s/3) in time t2 second.
s s
Now   = v0t1 or t1 = …(1)
3 3v0
 2s   t2   t2 
and   = v1   + v2  
 3 2 2
4s
or t2 = …(2)
3(v1 + v2 )
s s 3v (v + v )
Average velocity = = = 0 1 2
t1 + t2 s
+
4s v1 + v2 + 4v0
3v0 (v1 + v2 )
Example 14: A motor boat covers the distance between two spots on the river in t1 = 8 hr and t2 = 12 hr
downstream and upstream respectively. Calculate the time required for the boat to cover this
distance in still water?
Solution: Let s be the distance between that two spots. Also assume that the velocity of the motor boat in
still water is v and the velocity of flow of water is u.
Then, for downward journey,
s
= v+u …(1)
t1

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

s
= v+u …(2)
t2
Adding equation (1) and (2),
s s
+ = 2v
t1 t2
s 2t t 2  8 12
or t= = 12 = = 9.6 hr
v (t1 + t2 ) (8 + 12)
Example 15: A particle moves along the x-axis in such a way that its x-coordinates varies with time as
x = 2 – 5t + 6t2. What will be its initial velocity?
Solution: Here displacement, x = 2 – 5t + 6t2
The velocity at any instant t is given by
= ( 2 − 5t + 6t 2 )
dx d
v=
dt dt
 v = – 5 + 12t
This is the velocity at time t. Initially t = 0,
 v = – 5 m/s
Hence speed will be v = 5 m/s.
Example 16: The displacement of a particle moving in one-dimensional direction under a force at time t is given
by t = x + 3 , where x is in m and t in sec. What is the displacement of the particle, when its
velocity is zero?
Solution: Given t = x + 3  t −3 = x  x = t 2 − 6t + 9
dx
 = 2t − 6
dt
dx
 Instantaneous velocity, v = = 2t − 6
dt
when v = 0, 2t – 6 = 0  t = 3 sec. Thus at t = 3 sec,
x = (t2 – 6t + 9) = 0

ACCELERATION
It is defined as the rate of change of velocity.
(i) It is a vector quantity.
(ii) Its direction is same as that of change in velocity and not of the velocity (That is why acceleration in
circular motion is towards the centre)
(iii) There are three ways possible in which change in velocity may occur
When only direction When only magnitude When both the direction changes
changes and magnitude change
To change the direction of In this case, net force or net In this case, net force or net
motion only net acceleration acceleration should be parallel acceleration has two components.
or net force should be or anti-parallel to the direction One component is parallel or anti-
perpendicular to direction of of velocity. (straight line parallel to velocity and another one
velocity. motion) is perpendicular to velocity.
Example: Example: Example:
Uniform circular motion When ball is thrown up under Projectile motion
gravity

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Types of acceleration:
(a) Uniform acceleration: An object is said to be moving with a uniform acceleration if its velocity changes by
equal amounts in equal intervals of time, howsoever small the intervals may be. A body is said to have
uniform acceleration if magnitude and direction of the acceleration remains constant during particle motion.
Note: If a particle is moving with uniform acceleration, this does not necessarily imply that particle is
moving in straight line.

Example: Parabolic motion

(b) Non-uniform acceleration: A object is said to be moving with a variable acceleration if its velocity
changes by unequal amounts in equal intervals of time, howsoever small the intervals may be. A body is
said to have non-uniform acceleration, if magnitude or direction or both change during motion.
(c) Average acceleration: When an object is moving with a variable acceleration, then the average
acceleration of the object for the given motion is defined as the ratio of the total change in velocity of the
object during motion to the total time taken, i.e., aav = v = v2 − v1
t t2 − t1
(d) Instantaneous acceleration: It is defined as the acceleration of a body at some particular instant. Hence,
the instantaneous acceleration of an object at a given instant is defined as the limiting value of the average
acceleration in a small time interval around the given instant, when the time interval tends to zero.
v dv
Instantaneous acceleration = lim =
t →0 t dt
Important points:
(i) Acceleration is a vector with dimensions [LT–2] and SI units (m/s2)
(ii) If acceleration is zero, velocity will be constant and motion will be uniform.
(iii) However, if acceleration is constant then acceleration is uniform but motion is non-uniform and if
acceleration is not constant then both motion and acceleration are non-uniform.
(iv) If a force F acts on a particle of mass m then by Newton's II law, a = F
m
ds
(v) As by definition v =
dt
dv d  ds  d 2 s
so, a = =  =
dt dt  dt  dt 2
i.e. if s is given as a function of time, second time derivative of displacement gives acceleration.
(vi) If velocity is given as function of position then by chain rule
dv dv dx
a= = .
dt dx dt
dv dx
 a=v [as = v]
dx dt
dv
(vii) As acceleration a =
dt
dv
The slope of velocity -time graph gives acceleration i.e. a = = tan 
dt
da
(viii) The slope of a -t curve, i.e. is a measure of rate of non-uniformity of acceleration. However, we
dt
do not define this physical quantity as it is not involved in basic laws or equation of motion.
(ix) Acceleration can be positive or negative. Positive acceleration means velocity is increasing with time
while negative acceleration called retardation means velocity is decreasing with time.

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Example 17: The displacement x of a particle along a straight line at time t is given by x = a0 − a1t + a2t 2 .
Calculate the acceleration of the particle?
Solution: x = a0 − a1t + a2t 2
dx
 = −a1 + 2a2t
dt
d 2x
 = 2a2
dt 2
Example 18: If the displacement of a particle is proportional to the square of time, then pick out the correct
statements.
(A) velocity is inversely proportional to t (B) velocity is proportional to t
(C) velocity is proportional to t (D) acceleration is constant
Solution: Given that s  t 2  s = kt 2 , where k is constant
ds
 velocity v = = 2kt , velocity varies with time
dt
dv
acceleration a = = 2k = constant.
dt
Hence acceleration of particle is constant
Hence correct answer are (B) & (D).
Example 19: The displacement is given by x = 2t2 + t + 5. What is the acceleration at t = 5?
Solution: Given, x = 2t2 + t + 5
dx
 = 4t + 1
dt
d 2x  d 2x 
 = 4   2  = 4 m/s 2
dt 2  dt t = 5 s
Example 20: A particle moves along the x-axis in such a way that its x-co-ordinate varies with time as
x = 2 – 5t + 6t2. What will be the initial velocity and acceleration of particle respectively?
Solution: x = 2 – 5t + 6t2
dx
 v= = −5 + 12t ,
dt
Initially t = 0  v = –5 m/s,
d2x
a= = 12 m/s2
dt 2

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 21: The position x of a particle varies with time (t) as x = at2 – bt3. When will the acceleration of the
particle be equal to zero?
Solution: Given that x = at2 – bt3
dx
 Velocity v = = 2at − 3bt 2
dt
d  dx 
and acceleration a =  
dt  dt 
 0 = 2a − 6bt
2a a
 t= =
6b 3b
Example 22: In the above example, calculate the average acceleration of the particle in the interval t = 1 to t = 3s?
Solution: In the light of above example, we have
dx
= 2at − 3bt 2
dt
 dx 
Now velocity at t = 1 s, v1 =   = 2a − 3b
 dt t =1
 dx 
and that at t = 3s, v2 =   = 6a − 27b
 dt t =3
v − v1
Thus, average acceleration aav = 2
t2 − t1
6a − 27b − 2a + 3b 4a − 24b
= = = 2a − 12b
3 −1 2
Example 23: The velocity of any particle is related with its displacement as; x = v + 1 , Calculate acceleration
at x = 5 m.
Solution: x = v + 1  x 2 = v + 1  v = ( x 2 − 1)

= ( x − 1) = 2 x = 2 x v = 2 x ( x 2 − 1)
dv d 2 dx
Therefore a =
dt dt dt
At x = 5m, a = 2  5 ( 25 −1) = 240m/s
2

1
Example 24: If displacements of a particle varies with time t as s = , then pick out the correct statement.
t2
(A) The particle is moving with constant velocity
(B) The particle is moving with variable acceleration of decreasing order
(C) The particle is moving with constant retardation
(D) The particle has constant speed but variable velocity
ds 2
Solution: s = t −2 , Velocity v = =− 3
dt t
d 2s 6
Acceleration a = =
dt 2 t 4
Hence, correct answer is (B).

16
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Example 25: What will be the retardation of a moving particle, if the relation between time and position is
t = Ax 2 + Bx (where A and B are constant)?
dt
Solution: As t = Ax 2 + Bx  = 2 Ax + B
dx
v = ( 2 Ax + B )
−1
 …(1)
dx
[as = v ], Now by chain rule
dt
dv dv dx dv
a= = . =v
dt dx dt dx
−1 d
a = ( 2 Ax + B ) ( 2 Ax + B )
−1

dx
= −2 A ( 2 Ax + B )
−3

So retardation, −a = 2 A ( 2 Ax + B )
−3
= 2 Av 3 (By (1))

Example 26: It is possible to be accelerating if you are travelling at constant speed? Is it possible to round a
curve, with zero acceleration? With constant acceleration? With variable acceleration?
Solution: If speed is constant, velocity may change due to change in direction and as acceleration is rate of
change of velocity so acceleration may not be zero when speed is constant. Actually, in uniform
circular motion, speed = constant but acceleration  0.
For motion on a curve we at least have to change the direction of motion, so we will require a force
and hence, acceleration i.e. it is not possible to round a curve with zero acceleration. However, in
rounding a curve acceleration may be constant or variable. In case of projectile motion acceleration
is constant ( = g ) while in case of circular motion acceleration  constant, either due to change in
direction or both change in direction and magnitude.
d |v | dv
Example 27: What does and represent?
dt dt
d |v |
Solution: represents time rate of change of speed as v = v .
dt
dv
while represents magnitude of acceleration.
dt
Example 28: The position of a body with respect to time is given by, x = 4t3 – 6t2 + 20t + 12. What is acceleration
at t = 0?
dv d 2 x
Solution: a= =
dt dt 2
dx
= 12t 2 − 12t + 20
dt
d2x
 = 24t − 12
dt 2
when t = 0, a = 0 – 12 = –12 units

17
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

POSITION TIME GRAPH

Position time graph is plotted by taking time t along x-axis and position of the particle on y-axis.

The above graph shows the variation of the position of the particle with time of the motion. Let AB be the
motion of the particle.
change in position y − y1
Since, the velocity is defined as = 2
Time Taken t2 − t1
BC AD y − y1
In triangle ACB, tan  = = = 2
AC AC t2 − t1
 velocity v = tan  , which is the slope of the position time graph.
 The graph which has a higher slope (tan ) has a higher velocity.

When Particle is at rest

When the particle is at rest or the particle is stationary then v = 0 . This means that the slope of line which is equal
to tan  = 0. Therefore, the line is parallel to the time axis as shown by the line AB in the following graph.

When particle is in uniform motion

When the particle is in uniform motion then the velocity of the particle remains same i.e. the value of tan  =
c, where c is a constant. The sign of the constant can be +ve or –ve according to the direction of the motion of
the particle in reference to the frame of reference.
Since, the slope of the curve which is given by tan  is constant, the curve of the position time graph is a straight
line inclined to the time axis at an angle . thus relation between position (displacement) and time can be
represented by x = ( tan  ) t + k
where x denotes the displacement and t denotes the time and k represents the y-intercept (the value of x at time
t = 0). The value of k can be +ve , –ve or 0.
The following graphs shows the various possibility of uniform motion

(a) (b)

18
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Both of the above position-time graphs represent uniform motion. In fig (a) the velocity is positive as slope is
positive and the value of displacement increases with time, while in fig (b) the velocity is negative as the slope
is negative and the value of displacement decreases with increase in time.
When particle is in non-uniform motion
When the particle is in non-uniform motion the value of displacement changes unequally among equal intervals
of time i.e the particle does not have a uniform velocity and thus, it is in accelerated motion. The value of
acceleration can be +ve or –ve.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

In fig (a) accleration is +ve and velocity is +ve
In fig (b) acceleration is –ve but velocity is +ve
In fig (c) accleration is +ve but velocity is –ve
In fig (d) acceleration is –ve and velocity is –ve
 ds 
As by definition v =   , the slope of displacement versus time graph gives
 dt 
ds
velocity, i.e. v = = tan  = slope of s/t curve
dt

If a graph is plotted between distance (or displacement) and time, the slope of chord during a given time interval
gives average speed (or velocity)

B
Displacement

s2
s
A 
s1
t

t1 t2
Time
s
vav = = tan  = slope of chord
t

19
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Note: If the graph is plotted between distance and time then it is always an increasing curve and it
never comes back towards origin because distance never decrease with time. Hence such
type of distance time graph is valid up to point A only, after point A it is not valid as shown
in the figure.

VELOCITY TIME GRAPH

The velocity-time graph sketch the relation between the velocity and the time time in a given.
Case I: When the motion is uniform
When a body is moving in a uniform motion its velocity remains constant with time. So its velocity time graph
is a straight line parallel to x - axis as shown in the fig

The acceleration in this case is zero as given by the slope of the line which is 0.
The distance travelled by the body is given by the area under the curve which in this case is given by the product
of k and t1
 s = kt1
Case II: When the acceleration is uniform
In this case the velocity time curve is a straight line inclined to the time axis at an angle . Thus the equation
of velocity can be written as:
v = ( tan  ) t + c
where c is a constant which can be +ve, zero or –ve and tan  is the slope of the line which again can be +ve,
zero or –ve depending upon the value of angle .
Since acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity. Therefore, the acceleration in this case is given
by the slope of the line i.e. tan .

(a) (b)

20
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Both of the above velocity-time graphs represent uniform accelerated motion. In fig (a) the acceleration is positive
as slope is positive and the value of velocity increases with time, while in fig (b) the acceleration is negative as the
slope is negative and the value of velocity decreases with increase in time.
ds
v=  ds = vdt

velocity
As,
dt v
From figure vdt = dA. so, dA = ds
 s =  dA =  vdt O time
t
Area under velocity versus time graph with proper algebraic sign gives displacement while without sign gives distance.
v

II
0 t2 t3
t
t1
I III

e.g. From the adjoining v-t graph.

The distance travelled by body in time t3 = Area I + Area II + Area III and
the displacement of body = Area II – Area III – Area I
Example 31: Which of the following graph(s) is / are not possible?
Distance

Distance

(A) (B)
0 Time 0 Time
Displacement

Displacement

(C) (D)

0 t1 Time 0 Time
Solution: The (A) graph shows that with increase in time distance first increases and then decreases.
However, distance can never decrease with time so this graph is not physically possible. The graph
(C) shows that at certain instant of time (t1) body is present at two positions. Also, it shows that
time first increases then decreases. These conditions are not possible physically.
Hence correct answer is (A) and (C).
Example 32: From the adjoining position time graph for two particles A and B, find the ratio of velocities vA:vB.
B
Displacement

60º

30º
O Time

VA tan  a tan 30 1/ 3 1 o
Solution: = = = =
VB tan b tan 60o 3 3

21
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 33: Which of the following graph represents uniform motion?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

Solution: When distance time graph is a straight line with constant slope then motion is uniform. Therefore,
correct answer is option (A).
Example 34: Figure shows the displacement time graph of a body. What is the ratio of the speed in the first
second and that in the next two seconds?

AC 30
Solution: Speed in first second = = = 30
OC 1
AC 30
and Speed in next two seconds = = = 15
BC 2
So, the required ratio is 2 : 1.
Example 35: State whether the following graph can be seen in nature or not. Explain.
Speed

t2 0 t3 Time

Solution: This graph shows that speed is negative for some interval of time (t2 to t3). Since speed can never
be negative, so this graph is physically not possible.
Example 36: Out of the following graph(s), which is / are not possible?

(A) (B)
Velocity
Time

0 0
Position Time
Velocity

(C) (D)
Velocity

0 t4 t5
Time
0 Time

22
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Solution: The graph (A) shows that on increasing position (x), time first increases, then decreases, which is
impossible. The graph (C) shows that at a given instant of time (t4) particle has two velocities. Also
v
it shows that at time (t5) the acceleration is infinite (= slope of curve). Since both these
t
conditions cannot be achieved practically, then these graphs are not possible.
Hence correct answer is (A) and (C).
Example 37: From the adjoining graph, calculate the distance traversed by particle in 4 s.
v(m/s)

20
10

0 1 2 3 4
→Time (sec)
Solution: The given graph can be drawn as shown in figure
Distance travelled = Area under v-t graph

(m/s) A B
v 20
III C
10 G' D
I II IV VE
H G F
0 1 2 3 4
Time (sec) →
= Area I + Area II + Area III + Area IV + Area V
= (1/2) (OH × AH) + HG × AH + 1/2 (GC × BG) + (GF × GG) + (EF × CF)
= (1/2) (1 × 20) + (1 × 20) + 1/2 (1 × 10) + (1 × 10) + (1 × 10) = 10 + 20 + 5 + 10 + 10 = 55 m
Example 38: For a particle moving along x–axis, velocity–time graph is as shown in figure. Find the distance
travelled and displacement of the particle?

Solution: Distance travelled = Area under v–t graph (taking all areas as +ve.)
 Distance travelled = Area of trapezium + Area of triangle
1 1
= ( 2 + 6)  8 +  4  5
2 2
= 32 + 10 = 42 m
Displacement = Area of trapezium – Area of triangle
= 32 – 10 = 22 m
Example 39: Describe the motion shown by the following velocity–time graphs.

(a) (b)

23
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Solution:
(a) During interval AB: velocity is +ve so the particle is moving in +ve direction, but it is slowing
down as acceleration (slope of v–t curve) is negative. During interval BC: particle remains at rest
as velocity is zero. Acceleration is also zero. During interval CD: velocity is –ve so the particle
is moving in –ve direction and is speeding up as acceleration is also negative.
(b) During interval AB: particle is moving in +ve direction with constant velocity and acceleration
is zero. During interval BC: particle is moving in +ve direction as velocity is +ve, but it slows
down until it comes to rest as acceleration is negative. During interval CD: velocity is –ve so the
particle is moving in –ve direction and is speeding up as acceleration is also negative.
Example 40: A car is to be hoisted by elevator to the fourth floor of a parking garage, which is 14 m above the
ground. If the elevator can have maximum acceleration of 0.2 m/s2 and maximum deceleration of
0.1 m/s2 and can reach a maximum speed of 1.4 m/s, determine the shortest time to make the lift,
starting from rest and ending at rest.
Solution: Area of v – t graph – displacement
1
 ( 3t )( 0.2t ) = 14
2
3t2 = 140  t = 6.83 s
And max. speed obtained = 0.2  6.83 = 1.366 m/s
(< maximum permissible speed)
 Required time = 6.83 s
Example 41: The displacement vs time graph of a particle moving along a straight line is shown in the figure.
Draw velocity vs time and acceleration vs time graph

dx dv
Solution: x = 4t 2  v= = 8t a= =8
dt dt
Hence, velocity–time graph is a straight line having slope i.e. tan  = 8.

Example 42: A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate  for sometime after which it decelerates at constant
rate  to come to rest. If the total time elapsed is t sec. Calculate the maximum velocity of car in
terms of , , and t.
vmax A

v
tan–1  tan–1  B
0 t2
t1
t

24
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Solution: If the car accelerates for time t1 and decelerates for time t2, then according to given problems
t = t1 + t2 …. (1)
If vmax is the maximum velocity of the car, then from v/t curve, we have
vmax v
= ,  = max [as slope of v/t curve gives acceleration.]
t1 t2
 1 1  t1 + t2
So  + =
    vmax

 vmax = t [ t = t1 + t2]
( +  )

MOTION WITH UNIFORM ACCELERATION

Let u = Initial velocity (at t = 0), v = Velocity of the particle after time t
a = Acceleration (uniform), s = Displacement of the particle during time 't'
v −u
(a) Acceleration, a = [Because of uniform acceleration, this acceleration is instantaneous as well
t
average acceleration]. From above equation
v = u + at ...(i)

(b) Displacement s = Average velocity × time,
u+v
s= t ...(ii)
2
[This is very useful equation, when acceleration is not given]
1
(c) From (i) and (ii) s = ut +   at 2 ...(iii)
2
Again from (i) and (iii)
1
s = vt −   at 2
2
[Here negative sign does not indicate that retardation is occurring]
(d) From (i) and (ii) v 2 = u 2 + 2a.s ...(iv)
S nth = displacement of particle in n second
th

= Sn − Sn−1
 1   1 2
= u ( n ) +   an2  − u ( n − 1) +   a ( n − 1) 
 2   2 
1
Snth = u + a ( 2n − 1)
2
[This equation seems to be dimensionally unbalanced because we have substituted value of t = 1s and
second is neglected that's why it seems to be unbalanced]
Equations (i), (iii) and (iv) one called 'equations of motion' and are very useful in solving the problems of
motion along a straight line with constant acceleration.

25
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Equations of uniformly Accelerated motion by Calculus Method

Consider an object moving in a straight line with uniform acceleration a.
Let u be the velocity of the object at time t = 0, and v be the velocity of the object at time t.
(i) Velocity-time relation: Let at an instant of time t, dv be the change in velocity in time interval dt.
Then, acceleration is
dv
a= or dv = a dt
dt
Integrating it within the conditions of motion (i.e., when time changes from 0 to t, velocity changes from
u to v), we get
v t

 dv = a  dt
u 0
or v − u = at or v = u + at …(1)

(ii) Distance-time relation: Consider an object moving in a straight line with uniform acceleration ‘a’. Let at
an instant t, dx be the displacement of the object in time interval dt. Then, its instantaneous velocity v is
given by

dx = ( u + at ) dt ( v = u + at )
dx
v= or dx = v dt or
dt
Let x0 displacement of the object at t = 0 and x be the displacement of the object at time t. Integrating the
above relation within the conditions of motion (i.e., when time changes from 0 to t, displacement changes
from x0 to x), we get
t
x t t t
 t2 
 dx =  ( u + at ) dt = u  dt + a  tdt ( x )x = u ( t )0 + a  
x t
or
x0 0 0 0
0
 2 0
1 1
or x − x0 = ut + at 2 or x = x0 + ut + at 2 …(2)
2 2
If x − x0 = S = the distance covered by object in time t, then from (2),
1
S = ut + at 2 …(3)
2
(iii) Velocity-displacement relation: Consider an object moving in a straight line with initial velocity u and
uniform acceleration a.
dv dv dx dv
Then, a= =  = v or a dx = v dv
dt dx dt dx
Let u, v be the velocity of the object at positions given by displacement x0 and x.
Integrating the above expression within the conditions of motion, we have,
v
x v
 v2 
 a dx =  v dv a ( x )x = 
x
or
x0 u
0
 2 u
v2 u 2
or a ( x − x0 ) = − or v2 − u 2 = 2a ( x − x0 )
2 2
Putting x − x0 = S , we get, v 2 − u 2 = 2aS …(4)
Which is the required equation.
(iv) Distance travelled by an object in nth second: Let A and B be two points on the velocity time graph as
shown in figure, corresponding to time (n – 1) and n seconds respectively. Let vn–1 and vn be the velocity
of the object at A and B respectively. Distance travelled in nth second is

26
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

S nth = distance travelled in n seconds – distance travelled in (n – 1) seconds

= area OO1ABB1 – area OO1AA1
= area of trapezium ABB1A1
1 1
=  AA1 + BB1   A1B1 = vn−1 + vn   n  ( n − 1)
2 2
1
= vn−1 + vn  1
2
The velocity of object at time t is v = u + at
 vn = u + an and vn−1 = u + a ( n −1)

Snth =
1
2
 1

u + a ( n − 1) + ( u + an ) =  2u + 2an − a 
2
1 a
=  2u + a ( 2n − 1) = u +  2n − 1
2 2
a
i.e. Snth = u + ( 2n − 1)
2
Distance covered as Area under Velocity-Time Graph

The velocity-time graph of an object may be used to calculate the distance covered by the object in certain time
interval. Figure represents the velocity-time graph of a uniformly accelerated motion. Corresponding to time t
and t, consider two points A and B on the velocity-time graph. Then,
AA = v and BB = v
represent the velocities of the object at the time t and t respectively.
Also, AB = t  − t
Area under v-t graph between the time t and t
= area of trapezium ABBA
1
= ( AA + BB)  ( AB)
2
1
= ( v + v )  ( t  − t ) …(1)
2
Now, from the equation, we have
v − v
t − t =
a
In the equation, substituting for t  − t , we have area under v-t graph between time t and t
v − v  v  2 − v 2
( v + v)  
1
= = …(2)
2  a  2a
But from the equation (1), we have
v2 − v 2
= x − x …(3)
2a
Therefore, from the equations (2) and (3)
x − x = area under the v-t graph between time t and t
i.e. distance covered by an object having uniformly accelerated motion in a time interval (t – t) is numerically
equal to the area under velocity-time graph between time t and t.

27
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 43: A particle starts with an initial velocity 2.5 m/s along the positive x-direction and it accelerates
uniformly at the rate 0.50 m/s2. Calculate the time taken to reach the velocity 7.5 m/s.
Solution: We have v = u + at
or 7.5 = 2.5 + 0.50 t
 t = 10 s
Example 44: A particle starts with an initial velocity 2.5 m/s along the positive x-direction and it accelerates
uniformly at the rate 0.50 m/s2. Calculate the distance travelled by the particle in first two seconds.
1
Solution: We have, s = ut +   at 2
2
1
= ( 2.5)( 2 ) +   ( 0.50 )( 2 ) 2 = 6 m
2
Since the particle does not return back, it is also the distance travelled.
Example 45: A body moving with uniform acceleration describes 4 m in 3rd second and 12 m in the 5th second.
Calculate the displacement described in next three second.
Solution: Let u is the initial velocity and a is the acceleration then
1
Sn = u +   a ( 2n − 1)
2
For 3rd second,
1
 S3 = u +   a ( 2  3 − 1)
2
5
 4=u+ a …(i)
2
Similarly, for 5th second
1
S5 = u +   a ( 2  5 − 1)
2
9
 12 = u +   a …(ii)
2
From (i) & (ii) u = – 6 m/s and a = 4 m/s2,
so, displacement travelled in 5 sec,
1 2
From “ s = ut + at ”,
2
1
s = – 6 × 5 +   × 4 × 52 = 20 m
2
1
Similarly, displacement travelled in 8 sec = –6 × 8 +  2
 4 × 8 = 80 m
2
So, displacement travelled in next 3 sec = 80 – 20 = 60 m

28
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Example 46: A particle starts moving from position of rest under a constant acceleration. If it travels a distance
x in t sec. Calculate the distance it will travel in next t sec.
Solution: The velocity of particle after time t will be v = u + at = 0 + at = at
Now for next t sec, it will be the initial velocity,
1 2
From “ s = ut + at ”, we have
2
1
 x = ( at ) t +   at 2 [Here u = at]
2
3
x = at 2 …(1)
2
This is the distance travelled in next t sec
1 2
Also, given that particle travels x distance in t sec. so again using “ s = ut + at ”
2
We have, x = at2 …(2)
From (1) & (2), we have, x = 3x
Example 47: A body travels 200 cm in the first two seconds and 220 cm in the next four second. Calculate the
velocity at the end of the seventh second from the start.
Solution: Let ‘u’ and ‘a’ be the initial velocity and acceleration of the body respectively. For first two second
(t = 2 sec), the distance covered is 200 cm.
1 2
Now using, s = ut + at
2
1
We have, 200 = u ( 2 ) +   a ( 2 )
2
…(1)
2
After four seconds of this journey i.e., after a time t = 6 sec the distance covered is
200 cm + 220 cm = 420 cm.
1
Hence 420 = u ( 6 ) +   a ( 6 )
2
…(2)
2
Solving equations (1) and (2),
we get, u = 115 cm/sec and a = – 15 cm/sec2
Now velocity after 7 seconds = u + at =115 + (–15) 7 = 10 cm/sec
Example 48: An  particle travels along the inside of straight hollow tube, 2.0 metre long, of a particle
accelerator. Under uniform acceleration, how long is the particle in the tube if it enters at a speed
of 1000 m/s and leaves at 9000 m/s?
Solution: Let a be the uniform acceleration of -particle. According to the given problem s = 2.0 m,
v = 9000 m/sec and u = 1000 m/sec
Using the formula, v 2 = u 2 + 2as ,
v 2 − u 2 ( 9000 ) − (1000 )
2 2

We have a = =
2s 2  ( 2.0 )
8 107
= = 2.0 107 m/s
4.0
Let the particle remains in the tube for t sec.

29
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

v −u
Then v = u + at  t =
a
9000 − 1000
 −7
= 4 10−4 s
2 10
Example 49: A truck starts from rest with an acceleration of 1.5 m/s2 while a car 150 m behind starts from rest
with an acceleration of 2 m/s2. How long will it take before both the truck and car side by side, and
how much distance is travelled by each?
Solution: Let x be the distance travelled by the truck when truck and car are side by side. The distance
travelled by the car will be (x + 150) as the car is 150 metre behind the truck. Applying the formula
1
s = ut + at 2 ,
2
1
We have, x =  (1.5) t 2 …(1)
2

( x + 150 ) =    ( 2 ) t 2
1
and …(2)
2
Here t is the common time.
From equations (1) and (2)
x + 150 2
We have, =
x 1.5
Solving we get,
x = 450 m (truck)
and x + 150 = 600 m (car)
Substituting the value of x in eq. (1), we get
1
450 = (1.5) t 2
2
450  2
 t= = 600 = 24.5 s
1.5
Example 50: Two car travelling towards each other on a straight road at velocity 10 m/sec and 12 m/sec
respectively. When they are 150 m apart, both drivers apply their brakes and each car decelerates
at 2 m/sec2 until it stops. How far apart will they be when they have both come to a stop?
Solution: Let x1 and x2 be the distance travelled by the car before they stop under deceleration. Using the
formula v2 = u2 + 2as,
We have,
0 = (10)2 – 2 × 2 × x1
and 0 = (12)2 – 2 × 2 × x2
Solving we get,
x1 = 25 metre and x2 = 36 metre,
Total distance covered by the two cars x1 + x2 = 25 + 36 = 61 metre
Distance between the two cars when they stop = 150 – 61 = 89 metre
Example 51: A car is moving with a velocity of 20 m/sec. The driver sees a stationary truck at a distance of
100m ahead. After some reaction time t, he applies the brakes, produces a retardation of 4 m/s2.
Calculate the maximum reaction time to avoid collision.

30
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

Solution: Car covers a distance s before coming to rest using relation as v2 = u2 + 2as
20  20
s= = 50 m
4 2
To avoid the clash the remaining distance 100 – 50 = 50 m must be covered by the car with uniform
velocity 20 m/s during the reaction time t.
50 50
Hence = 20 or t = = 2.5s
t 20
Example 52: A bullet going with speed 350 m/s enters in a concrete wall and penetrates a distance of 5 cm
before coming to rest. Find deceleration on the bullet (assumed constant) during motion
Solution: Here, u = 350 m/s,
s = 5 cm, v = 0 m/s and a = ?
By using v 2 = u 2 − 2as
0 = u 2 − 2as
u2
u 2 = 2as or a=
2s
350  350
a= = 12.25 105 m/s2
2  0.05
MOTION UNDER GRAVITY
Ideal Motion: The most important example of motion in a straight line with constant acceleration is motion
under gravity. In case of motion under gravity unless stated it is taken for granted that.
(i) The acceleration is constant, i.e. a = g = 9.8 m/s and directed vertically downwards.
2

(ii) The motion is in vacuum i.e. viscous force or thrust of the medium has no effect on the motion.
Now in the light of above assumptions, there are two possibilities.
(iii) Earth’s surface is flat.

Case-I: Body Falling Freely Under Gravity

Taking initial position as origin and direction of motion (i.e. downward direction) as positive, here we have
u = 0 (as body starts from rest)
a=+g
(as acceleration is in the direction of motion)
So, if the body acquires velocity v after falling a distance h in time t, equations of motion viz
v = u + at
1
s = ut +   at 2
2
and v = u + 2as reduces to
2 2

v = gt …(1)
1
h =   gt 2 …(2)
2
v2 = 2 gh …(3)

31
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

These equations can be used to solve most of the problems of freely falling as
t is given h is given v is given
From eq. (1) From eq. (2) From eq. (3)
& (2) & (3) & (1)
v = gt 2h v
t= t=
g g
1 2 v= 2gh v2
and h = gt h=
2 2g
s v a

tan = g g

t (B) t
(A) (C) t

Note:
(a) If the body is dropped from a height H, as in time t, it has fallen a distance h from its
initial position, the height of the body from the ground will be h' = H – h, with
1 2
h= gt .
2
1
(b) As h = gt 2 i.e. h  t 2 , distance fallen in time t, 2t, 3t etc. will be in the ratio of
2
12 : 22 : 32 : ––––––– i.e. square of integers.
1 1 1
(c) The distance fallen in nth sec., hn − hn−1 =   g ( n ) −   g ( n − 1) =   g ( 2n − 1)
2 2

2 2 2

So distance fallen in Ist, IInd, IIIrd sec will be in the ratio 1 : 3 : 5 i.e. odd integers only.
It is called Galelio’s law of odd numbers.

Case-II: Body is projected vertically up

Taking initial position as origin and direction of motion (i.e. vertically up) as positive, here we have v = 0
[as at the highest point, velocity = 0], a = – g [as acceleration is downwards while motion upwards].
So, if the body is projected with velocity u and reaches the highest point at a distance h above the ground
in time t, the equations of motion viz
v = u + at
1
s = ut +   at 2
2
and v = u + 2as reduces to
2 2

0 = u – gt
1
h = ut − gt 2
2
and 0 = u2 – 2gh
or u = gt …(1)
1 2
h= gt …(2)
2
( u = gt ) , u2 = 2gh …(3)

32
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

These equations can be used to solve most of the problems of bodies projected vertically up as, if
If t is given If h is given If u is given
From eq. (1) and (2) From eq. (2) and (3) From eq. (3) and (1)
u = gt 2h u
t= t=
g g

h=
1 2
gt u = 2hg h=
u2
2 2g

Discussion:

From cases I and II it is clear that:

(a) In case of motion under gravity for a given body, mass, acceleration and mechanical energy remains
constant while speed, velocity, momentum, kinetic energy and potential energy changes.
(b) The motion is independent to the mass of the body as in any equation of motion mass is not involved. This
is why a heavy and light body when released from same height reaches the ground simultaneously and with
same velocity.
2h
i.e. t=
g
and v = 2gh
However, momentum, kinetic energy or potential energy depends on the mass of the body
(all  mass)
(c) As from case (b) time taken to reach a height h,
2h
tU =
g
And from case (a) time taken to fall down through a distance h,
2h
tD =
g
2h
so tU = tD =
g
So in case of motion under gravity time taken to go up is equal to the time taken to fall down through the
same distance.
(d) If a body projected vertically up reaches a height h then from case (b), u = 2 gh and if a body falls freely
through a height h from case (a),
v = 2gh
So in case of motion under gravity the speed with which a body is projected up is equal to the speed with
which it comes back to the point of projection

33
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 53: A body is released from a height and falls freely towards the earth. Exactly 1 sec later another body
is released. What is the distance between the two bodies 2 sec after the release of the second body?
If g = 9.8 m/s2.
Solution: According to given problem 2nd body falls for 2 s so that
1
h2 =   g ( 2 )
2
…(1)
2
While 1st has fallen for 2 + 1 = 3s,
1
h1 =   g ( 3)
2
so …(2)
2
 Separation between two bodies 2 s after the release of 2nd body
1
d = h1 − h2 =   g ( 32 − 22 ) = 4.9  5 = 24.5 m
2
Example 54: If a body travels half its total path in the last second of its fall from rest. Calculate the time and
height of its fall, respectively.
Solution: If the body falls a height h in time t, from 2nd equation of motion we have
1 2
h= gt [u = 0 as body starts from rest] …(1)
2
Now the distance fallen in (t – 1) s will be
1
h= g ( t − 1)
2
…(2)
2
So from eq. (1) & (2) distance fallen in the last second
1 1
h − h =   gt 2 −   g ( t − 1)
2

2 2
1
h − h =   g ( 2t − 1)
2
But according to given problem as
h
h − h =
2
1 1
i.e.   h =   g ( 2t − 1)
2 2
1 2 1
or   gt = g ( 2t − 1) [as from eq. (1) h =   gt 2 ]
2 2
or t2 – 4t + 2 = 0
4 
 (4 2
− 4  2) 

or t=
2
or t = 2  2 or t = 0.59 or 3.41 s
0.59 s is physically unacceptable as it gives the total time t taken by the body to reach ground is
lesser than one sec while according to the given problem time of motion must be greater than 1 s.
So t = 3.41 s
1
h =    ( 9.8)  ( 3.41) = 57 m
2
&
2
OR

34
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

a
Using Sn = u + ( 2n − 1)
2
h g
= 0 + ( 2n − 1)
2 2
 h = g ( 2n −1) …(1)
1 2
Also using S = ut + at
2
1
h = 0 +  g  n2
2
1 2
 h = gn …(2)
2
Solving (1) and (2)
h = 57 m
n = 3.41 s
Example 55: A man standing on the edge of a cliff throws a stone straight up with initial speed u and then throws
another stone straight down with the same initial speed and from the same position. Find the ratio
of the speed the stones would have attained when they hit the ground at the base of the cliff.
Solution: As the stone thrown vertically up will come back to the point of projection with same speed, both
the stones will move downward with same initial velocity, so both will hit the ground with velocity
v2 = u2 + 2gh
i.e., v = (u 2 + 2 gh)
So, the ratio of speeds attained when they hit the ground is 1 :1

Example 56: A juggler throws balls into air. He throws one, when ever the previous one is at its highest point.
How high do the balls rise if he throws n balls such each sec.
Solution: A juggler is throwing n balls each second and second is thrown when the first is at its highest point,
1
so time taken by one ball to reach the highest point t =   sec and as at highest point v = 0,
n
From 1st equation of motion
1 g
0 = u − ( g )  i.e. u =  …(1)
n n
Now from 3rd equation of motion
i.e. v2 = u2 + 2as, 0 = u2 – 2gh
 u2 
i.e. h= 
 2g 
g g
h= 2 [From equation (1) u = ]
2n n

35
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 57: A pebble is thrown vertically upwards from bridge with an initial velocity of 4.9 m/s. It strikes the
water after 2s. If acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2. Calculate the height of the bridge and
velocity with which the pebble strike the water.
Solution: Take the point of projection as origin and downward direction as positive. By 2nd equation of
1
motion, i.e. s = ut +   at 2 ,
2
We have,
h = – 4.9 × 2 + (1/2)  9.8 × 22 = 9.8 m (u is taken to be negative as it is upwards)
From 1st equation of motion i.e. v = u + at,
v = – 4.9 + 9.8 × 2 = 14.7 m/s
Example 58: A rocket is fired vertically up from the ground with a resultant vertical acceleration of 10 m/s2. The
fuel is finished in 1 minute and it continues to move up. Calculate (a) the maximum height reached.
(b) After how much time from then will the maximum height be reached. (Take g = 10 m/s2)
Solution:
(a) The distance travelled by the rocket during burning interval (1 minute = 60 s) in which resultant
acceleration is vertically upwards is 10 m/s2 will be
h1 = 0 × 60 + (1/2) × 10 × 602 = 18000 m …(1)
And velocity acquired by it will be
v = 0 + 10 × 60 = 600 m/s …(2)
Now after 1 minute the rocket moves vertically up with initial velocity of 600 m/s and acceleration
due to gravity oppose its motion. So, it will go to a height h2 till its velocity becomes zero that
0 = (600)2 – 2gh2
 h2 = 18000 m [as g = 10 m/s2] …(3)
So from eq. (1) and (3) the maximum height reached by the rocket from the ground.
H = h1 + h2 = 18 + 18 = 36 km
(b) As after burning of fuel the initial velocity from Eq. (2) is 600 m/s and gravity opposes the motion
of rocket, so from 1st equation of motion time taken by it to reach the maximum height (for which
v = 0)
0 = 600 – gt, i.e. t = 60 s
after finishing of fuel, the rocket goes up for 60 sec i.e., 1 minute more.
Example 59: A ball is projected vertically up with an initial speed of 20 m/s on a planet where acceleration due
to gravity is 10 m/s2
(a) How long does it take to reach its highest point?
(b) How high does it rise above the point of projection?
(c) How long will it take for the ball to reach a point 10 m above the point of projection?
Solution: As here motion is vertically upwards a = – g and v = 0
(a) From 1st equation of motion
i.e., v = u + at
 0 = 20 – 10 t, i.e., t = 2s
(b) From 3rd equation of motion
i.e., v2 = u2 + 2as
 (20)2 –2 × 10 × h, i.e., h = 20 m
(c) From 2nd equation of motion,
1
i.e., s = ut +   at 2
2
 10 = 20t – (1/2) × 10 × t2
t2 – 4t + 2 = 0,

36
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

i.e. t = 2 2
i.e. t = 0.59 s or 3.41 s
i.e. there are two such times, as the ball passes twice through h = 10 m once when going up and once
when coming down.
Example 60: A balloon going upward with a velocity of 12 m/sec is at a height of 65 m from the earth at any
instant. Exactly at this instant a packet drops from it. How much time will the packet take in
reaching the earth? (g = 10 m/sec2)
1
Solution: h = −ut + gt 2
2
 65 = −12t + 5t 2
 5t 2 −12t − 65 = 0  t = 5s
Example 61: A body is falling from a height 'h'. It takes t1 sec to reach the ground, calculate the time taken to
reach the half of the height.
2h
Solution: Time of fall to ground = t1 =
g
h
Let the time taken to cover is t2,
2
2h h t
then t2 = = = 1
2g g 2
Example 62: A body thrown up with a velocity reaches a maximum height of 100 m. Another body with double
the mass is thrown up with double the initial velocity. What is the maximum height of body?
u2
Solution: The maximum height reached by a vertically projected body is given by S =
2g
i.e. S  u2 as 2g is constant,
S1 u12
=
S2 u22
100 u2 1
 = 2
=
S2 (2u ) 4
 S2 = 400 m
Example 63: A ball dropped from the top of a building takes 0.5 sec to clear the window of 4.9 m height. What
is the height of building above the window?
Solution: As the ball clears the window of height 4.9 m. Now from,
1
S = ut + gt 2 ,
2
2
1 1 1
We get, 4.9 = u    +   9.8   
2 2  2
u 4.9 3
 = 4.9 − = 4.9 
2 4 4
4.9  3
 u= m/s
2

37
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

If h is the height of the building above the window. For the flight from top of the building
u 2 4.9  3  4.9  3
h= = = 2.75 m
2g 2  9.8  2  2
Example 64: A ball is thrown straight upward with an initial speed of 12 m/sec. After 1 sec, calculate velocity
& displacement.
Solution: v = u – gt = 12 – 9.8 ×1
 v = 12 – 9.8 = 2.20 m/s
1
h = ut −   gt 2 = 12 × 1 – (1/2) × 9.8 (1)2
2
 h = 12 – 4.9 = 7.10 m.
Example 65: A ball is thrown from ground vertically upward, reaches the roof of a house 100 meters high. At
the moment this ball was thrown vertically upward, another ball is dropped from rest vertically
downward from the roof of the house. At which height from the ground do the balls pass each other
and after what time?
Solution: Let the two balls meet at a height h from the top of the house or at a height (100 – h) from the
bottom. Let the balls meet after a time 't' Then for the ball moving down,
1
h =   gt 2 …(1)
2
For the ball moving up,
1
100 − h = ut −   gt 2 …(2)
2
Since the up going ball reaches to a height of 100 m, its initial velocity u is
0 = u2 – 2 × 9.8 × 100  u= 1960 m/sec
From (1) & (2),
1 1
100 −   gt 2 = ut − gt 2
2 2
100
 t= …(3)
u
Put (3) in (1)
 1  9.8 100 100
 h =   = 25 m
2 1960
Thus the height of their meeting point from ground is 100 – h = 75 m and they will meet after
100
t= s
1960
Example 66: From the foot of a tower 90 m high a stone is thrown up so as to reach the top of the tower. Two
second later another stone is dropped from the top of the tower. When and where two stones meet?
Solution: Let the two stones meet t seconds after the projection of the first particle. The sum of the distance
moved by the particles is 90 meters i.e., h1 + h2 = 90 …(1)
Let u be the velocity of projection of the first particle. As it reaches only up to the top of the tower,
its velocity becomes zero,
So v2 = u2 – 2gh or 0 = u2 – 2g.(90)
or u2 = 180g, u = 180  9.8 = 42 m/s

38
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

1
Now, h1 = 42t −   ( 9.8  t 2 )
2
1
h2 =   9.8 ( t − 2 )
2
and …(2)
2
Substituting these values in eq. (1), we get
42t – 4.9t2 + 4.9 (t – 2)2 = 90
or 42t – 19.6t + 19.6 = 90
70.4 22 1
 t= = =3 s
22.4 7 7
2
9.8  22  64
 h2 =   − 2  = 4.9  = 6.4 m
2  7  69
h1 = 90 – 6.4 = 83.6 metre

MOTION WITH VARIABLE ACCELERATION

There are two equations in this type of motion.
dx dv d 2 x vdv
(a) v= (b) a = = =
dt dt dt 2 ds
Example 68: The velocity of a particle moving in the x direction varies as v =  x where  is a constant.
Assuming that at the moment t = 0 the particle was located at the point x = 0. Find the acceleration.
dv d 1 dx
Solution: a= = x =  . x −1/2 .
dt dt 2 dt
1
 a = . . x
2 x
2
 a=
2
Example 69: An object starts from rest at t = 0 and accelerates at a rate given by a = 6t. What is (a) its velocity
and (b) its displacement at any time t?
Solution: As acceleration is given as a function of time,
v (t ) t

 
v ( t0 )
dv =  adt
t0
Here t0 = 0 and v(t0) = 0
t
 t2  t  t2 
 v ( t ) =  6tdt = 6   = 6  − 0  = 3t 2
0 20 2 
So, v(t) = 3t2
t

As x =  vdt
t0
t
 t3  t  t3 
 x =  3t 2 dt = 3   = 3  − 0  = t 3
0 30 3 
Hence, velocity v(t) = 3t2 and displacement x ( t ) = t
3

39
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Example 70: The displacement of particle is zero at t = 0 and at t = t it is x. It starts moving in the x direction
with velocity, which varies as v = k x , where k is constant. Calculate the velocity of particle as
a function of time.
dx
Solution: v=k x  =k x
dt
dx x +1/2
  x
=  kdt =
1/ 2
= kt + c

Given that, at t = 0, x = 0  c = 0
Now, 2x1/2 = kt
1
 x =   kt
2
1  k t
2
Now, v = k  kt  =
2  2
Thus velocity varies with time.
Example 71: The acceleration of a particle is given as a = 3x2. At t = 0, v = 0, x = 10 m. Calculate the velocity
at t = 2s.
dv
Solution: a = 3x 2  v = 3x 2
dx
 vdv = 3x2 dx
v2 x3
 =3
2 3
v2
Now, = x3
2
v 2 = 2 x3  v = 2 x3/2 …(1)
dx
 = 2 x3/2
dt
dx = 2 x3/2 dt
Integrating both sides
x
−2 t
= 2t
x0 0

−2
Now = 2t  4 = 2 xt 2
x
2
 x= 2 …(2)
t
3/2
2
From (1) and (2) v = 2  2 
t 
at t = 2 sec  v = 1/2 m/sec

Note: Remember, when a is function of x.

vdv
use a =
dx
dv
when a is function of t, a =
dt

40
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

RELATIVE – VELOCITY
The relative velocity of one object w.r.t. another is the velocity with which one object moves w.r.t. another
object. Hence, relative velocity is defined as the time rate of change of relative position of one object with
respect to another.
(i) There is nothing in absolute rest or absolute motion.
(ii) Motion is a combined property of the object under study and the observer.
Example:
(i) A book placed on the table in a room is at rest, if it is viewed from the room but it is in motion, if it is
viewed from the moon (another frame of reference). The moon is moving w.r.t. the book and the book
w.r.t. the moon.
(ii) A robber enters a train moving at great speed with respect to the ground, brings out his pistol and says "
Don't move, stand still".
The passengers stand still. The passengers are at rest with respect to the robber but are moving with respect
to the rail track.
Important points:
(a) If two bodies are moving along the same line in same direction with velocities VA and VB relative to earth,
the velocity of B relative to A will be given by VBA = VB – VA.
If it is positive the direction of VBA is that of B and if negative the direction of VBA is opposite to that of B.
(b) However, if the bodies are moving towards or away from each other, as direction of VA and VB are opposite,
velocity of B relative to A will have magnitude
VBA = VB – (–VA) = VB + VA and directed towards A or away from A respectively.
(c) In dealing the motion of two bodies relative to each other Vrel. is the difference of velocities of two bodies,
if they are moving in same direction and is the sum of two velocities if they are moving in opposite
direction.

Note: In case of motion of a body A on a moving body B, the velocity of A relative to ground is the
sum of two velocities if A is moving on B in the same direction and is equal to difference of
two velocities if they are moving in opposite direction.
VAB = VA + VB

Example 72: Two trains along the same straight rails moving with constant speed 60 km/hr and 30km/h
respectively towards each other. If at time t = 0, the distance between them is 90 km, after what
time will they collide?
Solution: The relative velocity
vrel. = 60 – (–30) = 90 km/hr
Distance between the trains
Srel. = 90 km
Srel . 90
 Time when they collide = = = 1 hr.
vrel . 90
Example 73: Two cars are moving in the same direction with the same speed 30 km/hr. They are separated by a
distance of 5 km, calculate the speed of a car moving in the opposite direction if it meets these two
cars at an interval of 4 minutes.

41
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Solution: As the two cars (say A and B) are moving with same velocity, the relative velocity of one (say B)
with respect to the other A,
vBA = vB − vA = v – v = 0
So the relative separation between them (= 5 km) always remains the same.
Now if the velocity of car (say C) moving in opposite direction to A and B, is relative to ground
then the velocity of car C relative to A and B will be vrel . = vC − v
But as v is opposite to vC,
vrel = vC – (–30) = (vC + 30) km/hr
So, the time taken by it to cross the cars A and B is
d
t=
vrel.
4 5
 =
60 vC + 30
 vC = 45 km/hr
Example 74: The driver of a train travelling at 115 km/hour sees on the same track 100 m in front of him a slow
train travelling in same direction at 25 km/hr. Calculate the least retardation that must be applied
to the faster train to avoid a collision.
Solution: The velocity of faster train with respect to slow train = (115 – 25) = 90 km/hr.
The distance between two trains = 100 m.
If the collision is to be avoided, the relative speed should become zero till distance 100 m is covered.
Using the formula v2 = u2 + 2as, we have
90 103
2
 5 5
0 =  90   + 2a 100 ( 90 km/h = = 90 × = 25 m/sec)
 18  60  60 18
− ( 25)
2

a= m/s2 = −3.125 m/s2

200
 Retardation = – a = 3.125 m/s2
Example 75: An engine driver of a passenger train travelling at 40 m/s sees a goods train, whose last
compartment is 250 m ahead on the same track. The goods train is travelling in the same direction
as the passenger train, with a constant speed of 20 m/s. The passenger train driver has reaction time
of 0.5 sec. He applies the brakes which causes the train to decelerate at the rate of 1 m/sec2, while
the goods train continues with its constant speed. Can the driver save a crash?
Solution: The initial distance between the trains = 250 m. Before the application of brakes, the relative
velocity of the passenger train with respect to goods train = (40 – 20) =20 m/sec. When the brakes
were applied (after reaction time), the distance between the trains = 250 – (20 × 0.5) = 240 metre.
The relative acceleration of passenger train = (–1 – 0) = – 1 m/sec2. The crash can only be avoided
provided that after applying the brakes the relative velocity of the passenger train with respect to
goods train becomes zero before the relative distance becomes zero.
Now applying the formula v2 = u2 + 2 a s,
We have, 0 = (20)2 – 2 × 1 × s
(20)2 400
or s= = = 200 metre
2 2
This is less than the distance between the trains before the application of brakes. Hence the crash
can be avoided.

42
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. If body starts from rest or falls freely or is dropped then, u = 0
2. If the body is thrown upwards then it will rise until its vertical velocity becomes zero. Maximum height
u2
attained is h = .
2g
u
3. If air resistance is negligible then the time of the rise is equal to time of fall and each is equal to t = .
g
4. The body returns to the starting point with the same speed with which it was thrown.
5. The straight line inclined to time axis in x-t graph represents constant velocity.
6. In x-t graph the straight line inclined to time axis at an angle greater than 90º shows negative velocity.
7. No line in x – t graph can be perpendicular to time axis because it will represent infinite velocity.
8. If the x – t graph is a curve whose slope decreases continuously with time, then the velocity of the body
goes on decreasing continuously and the motion of the body is retarded.
9. If the v – t graph is a straight line parallel to time axis, then the acceleration of the body is zero.
10. If the graph is a straight line inclined to time axis with positive slope, then that body is moving with constant
acceleration.
11. If v – t graph is a straight line inclined to time axis with negative slope, then the body is retarded.
12. Velocity and acceleration of a body need not be zero simultaneously.
13. A body in equilibrium has zero acceleration only. All other quantities need not be zero.
14. If a body travels with a uniform acceleration a1 for a time interval t1 and with uniform acceleration a2 for
a1t1 + a2t2
a time interval t2, then the average acceleration a =
t1 + t2

15. For a body moving with uniform acceleration, the average velocity
( u + v ) , where u is the initial velocity
2
and v is the final velocity.
16. The distance travelled by the body in successive second in the ratio 1 : 3 : 5 : 7 .......etc.
17. When the body is starting from rest, the distances travelled by the body in the first second, first two seconds,
first three seconds, etc. are in the ratio of 1 : 4 : 9 : 16 : 25 ........etc.
18. When a body is dropped freely from the top of the tower and another body is projected horizontally from
the same point, both will reach the ground at the same time.
19. If the v – t graph is a curve whose slope decreases with time then the acceleration goes on decreasing.
20. If the v-t graph is a curve whose slope increases with time then the acceleration of the body goes on
increasing.
21. The v-t graph normal to time axis is not a practical possibility because it means that the acceleration of the
body is infinite.

43
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

Various Graphs Related to Motion:

A. Displacement-Time Graph:
(a) For a stationary body
y

Displacement
x
0 Time
(b) For a body moving with constant velocity
y

Displacement
0
x
Time
(c) For a body moving with non-uniform velocity
y
Displacement

x
0 Time
(d) For a body with accelerated motion
y
Displacement

x
0 Time
(e) For a body with decelerated motion
y
Displacement

x
0 Time

(f) For a body which returns towards the point of reference

y
Displacement

 > 90º
0 x

Time

44
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

(g) For a body whose velocity constantly changes

y

Displacement
x
0
Time
(h) For a body whose velocity changes after certain interval of time
y

Displacement
Q
P R

x
0 S
Time
B. Velocity-Time Graph:
(a) For the body having constant velocity or zero acceleration
y
Velocity

x
0 Time
(b) When the body is moving with constant retardation and its initial velocity is not zero
y
Velocity

x
0 Time
(c) When body moves with non-uniform acceleration and its initial velocity is zero.
y
Velocity

x
0 Time

(d) When the body is uniformly accelerated, and its initial velocity is zero

45
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

(e) When the body is decelerated.

y

Velocity
x
0
Time
C. Acceleration-Time Graph:
(a) When acceleration is constant
y

Acceleration
x
0
Time
(b) When acceleration is increasing and is positive
y
Acceleration

x
0 Time
(c) When acceleration is decreasing and is negative
y
Acceleration

x
0 Time
(d) When initial acceleration is zero and rate of change of acceleration is non-uniform
y
Acceleration

x
0 Time

46
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS
1. Can speed ever be negative? If so give an example and if not explain why?
2. (a) Can a body have a constant velocity but varying speed?
(b) Can a body have a constant speed but varying velocity?
3. (a) Is in case of a uniform motion, velocity always equal to average velocity? (b) Is the motion always
uniform if velocity is equal to the average velocity?
4. Can average speed be lesser than the magnitude of average velocity? If yes explain and if not explain why?
5. Can a body have zero velocity and still be accelerating? If yes give an example and if not explain why?
6. Can velocity of an object reverse direction when its acceleration is constant? If yes give an example and if
not explain why?
7. Can an object increase its speed as its acceleration decreases? If so give an example and if not explain why?
8. If in case of a motion, displacement is directly proportional to the square of time elapsed, what do you
think about it (a) velocity and (b) acceleration?
9. If a ball A is dropped while B is projected vertically down, which ball will reach the ground (a) first (b)
with greater velocity?
10. Two spheres of the same radius and same metal fall through air from the same height; one sphere is solid
while the other is hollow. Which sphere falls faster, if effects of medium are taken into account?
11. The density of water is more than the density of air, even then clouds containing water droplets do not fall
and continue to float. Explain.
12. Usually ‘average speed’ means the ratio of total distance covered to the time elapsed. However, sometimes
the phrase ‘average speed’ can mean the magnitude of the average velocity. Are the two same? Discuss.
13. When the velocity is constant, can average velocity over any time interval differ from instantaneous
velocity at any instant? If so, give an example; if not, explain why?
d |v| dv
14. What does and represent? Can these be equal? Can :
dt dt
dv dv dv dv
(a) = 0 while 0 (b)  0 while 0 ?
dt dt dt dt
15. Galileo was punished by the Church for teaching that the sun is stationary and the earth moves around it.
His opponents held the view that the earth is stationary and the sun moves around it. If the absolute motion
has no meaning, are the two view points not equally correct or equally wrong?
16. When a particle moves with constant velocity, its average velocity, its instantaneous velocity and its speed
are all equal. Comment on this statement.
17. A car travels at a speed of 60 km/hr due north and the other at a speed of 60 km/hr due east. Are the
velocities equal? If no, which one is greater? If you find any of the question irrelevant, explain.
18. A ball is thrown vertically upward with a speed of 20 m/s. Draw a graph showing the velocity of the ball
as a function of time as it goes up and then comes back.
19. The velocity of a particle is towards west at an instant. Its acceleration is not towards west, not towards
east, not towards north and not towards south. Give an example of this type of motion.
20. The position-time (x-t) graphs for two children A and B returning from their school O to their homes P and
Q respectively are shown in Fig Choose the correct entries in the brackets
below;
(a) (A/B) lives closer to the school than (B/A)
(b) (A/B) starts from the school earlier than (B/A)
(c) (A/B) walks faster than (B/A)
(d) A and B reach home at the (same/different) time
(e) (A/B) overtakes (B/A) on the road (once/twice).

47
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

21. A player throws a ball upwards with an initial speed of 29.4 ms–1.
(a) What is the direction of acceleration during the upward motion of the ball?
(b) What are the velocity and acceleration of the ball at the highest point of its motion?
(c) Choose the x = 0 m and t = 0 s to be the location and time of the ball at its highest point, vertically
downward direction to be the positive direction of x-axis, and give the signs of position, velocity and
acceleration of the ball during its upward, and downward motion.
(d) To what height does the ball rise and after how long does the ball return to the player’s hands ? (Take
g = 9.8 m s–2 and neglect air resistance).
22. Read each statement below carefully and state with reasons and examples, if it is true or false ; A particle
in one-dimensional motion
(a) with zero speed at an instant may have non-zero acceleration at that instant
(b) with zero speed may have non-zero velocity,
(c) with constant speed must have zero acceleration,
(d) with positive value of acceleration must be speeding up.
23. Explain clearly, with examples, the distinction between :
(a) magnitude of displacement (sometimes called distance) over an interval of time, and the total length of
path covered by a particle over the same interval;
(b) magnitude of average velocity over an interval of time, and the average speed over the same interval.
[Average speed of a particle over an interval of time is defined as the total path length divided by the
time interval].
Show in both (a) and (b) that the second quantity is either greater than or equal to the first. When is the
equality sign true ?
24. Look at the graphs (a) to (d) carefully and state, with reasons, which of these cannot possibly represent
one-dimensional motion of a particle.

25. Figure shows the x-t plot of one-dimensional motion of a particle. Is it correct to say from the graph that
the particle moves in a straight line for t < 0 and on a parabolic path for t > 0? If not, suggest a suitable
physical context for this graph

26. The velocity-time graph of a particle in one-dimensional motion is shown in Fig.

48
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

27. Figure gives a speed-time graph of a particle in motion along a constant direction. Three equal intervals of
time are shown. In which interval is the average acceleration greatest in magnitude? In which interval is
the average speed greatest? Choosing the positive direction as the constant direction of motion, give the
signs of v and a in the three intervals. What are the accelerations at the points A, B, C and D?

28. Figure gives the x-t plot of a particle in one-dimensional motion. Three different equal intervals of time are
shown. In which interval is the average speed greatest, and in which is it the least? Give the sign of average
velocity for each interval.

29. Figure gives the x-t plot of a particle executing one-dimensional simple harmonic motion. Give the signs
of position, velocity and acceleration variables of the particle at t = 0.3 s, 1.2 s, – 1.2 s.

30. Suggest a suitable physical situation for each of the following graphs:

49
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

1. A sphere lying on the ground rolls forward by half revolution. What is the displacement of the lowest or
the highest point of the sphere?
2. A stick 1m in length is moving at 2.7  108 m/s. What is the apparent length of stick?
(A) 10m (B) 0.22m
(C) 0.44m (D) 2.4m
3. The speed of a motor launch with respect to still water is v = 7 ms–1 and the speed of stream is u = 3 ms–1.
When the launch began travelling upstream, a float was dropped from it. The launch travelled 4.2 km
upstream, turned about and caught up with the float. How long is it before the launch reaches the float?
4. A boat covers certain distance between two spots on a river taking 4 hours going downstream and 6 hours
going upstream. What time will be taken by the boat to cover same distance in still water?
5. A person standing on an escalator takes time t1 to reach the top of a tower when the escalator is moving.
He takes time t2 to reach the top of the tower when the escalator is standing. How long will he take if he
walks up a moving escalator?
(A) t2 – t1 (B) t1 + t2
𝑡1 𝑡2 𝑡1 𝑡2
(C) (D)
𝑡1 −𝑡2 𝑡1 +𝑡2
6. Wind is blowing west to east along two parallel tracks. Two trains moving with same speed in opposite
directions have the stream track of one double the other. The speed of each train is:
(A) equal to that of wind (B) double to that of wind
(C) three times to that of wind (D) half times to that of wind
7. A car covers first half of the distance with a speed of 40 kmh–1 and second half of the distance with a
speed of 60 kmh–1. What is the average speed over entire journey?
8. A car travels first half distance between two places with a speed of 60 kmh–1. What should be its speed
for rest half of the distances so that its average speed becomes 90 kmh–1?
9. A body travelling along a straight line transverse one-third of the total distance with a velocity v0. The
remaining part of the distance was covered with a velocity v1, for half the time and with velocity v2 for
the other half of time. Find the mean velocity averaged over the whole time of motion.
10. A man walks on a straight road from his home to a market 2.5 km away with a speed of 5 km h–1. Finding
the market closed, he instantly turns and walks back home with a speed of 7.5 km h–1. What is the
(a) magnitude of average velocity, and
(b) average speed of the man over the interval of time
(i) 0 to 30 min, (ii) 0 to 50 min, (iii) 0 to 40 min?
11. The position of a particle moving along x-axis changes with time as x = (t2 + t + 1) m, where t is in
second. Calculate (a) instantaneous speed at t = 3s (b) average speed between t = 0 and t = 3s.
12. The position of a particle moving along x-axis changes with time as x = (t2 – 2t + 2) m, where t is in
second. Calculate (a) instantaneous velocity at t = 3s (b) average speed and (c) average velocity from t =
0s to t = 3s.
13. A car moving with a speed of 72 kmh–1 due east takes U-turn in 10s and finally moves due west with a
speed of 72 kmh–1. What is average acceleration on the car during 10s interval?

50
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

14. A ball is dropped onto the floor from a height of 10 m. It rebounds to a height of 2.5 m. If the ball is in
contact with the floor for 0.01s, what is the average acceleration during contact?
(A) 1400 m/s2 (B) 2100 m/s2
(C) 700 m/s2 (D) 2800 m/s2
15. The position of a particle moving along y-axis changes with time according to the relation
y = ( t − 1) , where t is in second.
Prove that acceleration on the body at any instant is constant. Also calculate average velocity of the
particle from t = 0s to t = 3s.
16. The position of a body moving on a horizontal surface changes with time (measured in second) as
s = (t3 – 3t2 + 2) m
Calculate
(a) velocity of body when acceleration is zero
(b) acceleration on body when its velocity is zero
(c) instantaneous velocity and instantaneous acceleration at t = 4s
(d) average acceleration from t = 0s to t = 2s.
17. The position x of a particle moving in one dimension, under the action of a constant force is related to
time t by the equation, t = x + 3, where x is in metres and t in seconds. Find the displacement of the
particle when its velocity is zero.
18. What is the retardation of a particle if the relation between time and position is t = x2 + x, where  and
 are constants.
19. The distance x covered by a particle in one dimensional motion varies with time t as x 2 = at 2 + 2bt + c .
If the acceleration of the particle depends on x as x − n , where n is an integer, then find the value of n
[JEE (M) 2020]
20. The velocity-time graph for a vehicle is shown in Figure. Draw acceleration-time graph from it.

21. A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate  for some time, after which it decelerates at a constant rate
 to come to rest. If the total time elapsed is t second, then calculate:
(i) The maximum velocity attained by the car,
(ii) The total distance travelled by the car in terms of ,  and t.
22. Starting from rest a car moves with uniform acceleration and attains a velocity of 72 kmh–1 in 15 s. It
then moves with uniform speed for 20s and is then brought to rest in 10s under uniform retardation. Find
total distance travelled using velocity-time graph.
23. A body projected vertically upwards with a speed of 20 ms–1 is caught by the thrower after sometime.
Draw its velocity-time graph and calculate the displacement from the graph.

51
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

24. A woman starts from her home at 9.00 A.M. walks with a speed of 5 kmh –1 on a straight road upto her
office 2.5 km away, stays at the office upto 5.00 P.M. and returns home by an auto with a speed of 25
kmh–1. Choose suitable scales and plot the x-t graph of her motion.
25. A drunkard walking in a narrow lane takes 5 steps forward and 3 steps backward, followed again by 5
steps forward and 3 steps backward, and so on. Each step is 1m long and requires 1s. Plot the x-t graph of
his motion. Determine graphically and otherwise how long the drunkard takes to fall in a pit 13 m away
from the start.
26. The speed-time graph of a particle moving along a fixed direction is shown in Figure. Obtain the distance
travelled by the particle between (i) t = 0 to 10s (ii) t = 2 to 6s. What is the average speed of the particle
in intervals in (i) and (ii)?

27. An insect flies in a line for 4 second with a velocity v = |t – 2| m/s. Calculate the distance covered by
insect in 4 second.
(A) 2 m (B) 4 m
(C) 6 m (D) 8 m
28. A race car accelerates on a straight road from rest to a speed of 180 kmh –1 in 25s. Assuming uniform
acceleration of the car throughout, find the distance covered in this time.
29. A driver takes 0.20s to apply the brakes after he sees a need for it. This is called the reaction time of the
driver. If he is driving car at a speed of 54 kmh–1 and the brakes cause a deceleration of 6.0 ms–2, find the
distance travelled by the car after he sees the need to put the brakes.
30. If x, y, z be the distances described by a particle during the pth, qth and rth second respectively, for
uniformly accelerated motion, prove that (q – r) x + (r – p) y + (p – q) z = 0.
31. A body covers 12m in 2nd second and 20m in 4th second. How much distance will it cover in 4 seconds
after the 5th second?
32. A hundred metre sprinter increases her speed from rest uniformly at the rate of 1 ms–2 upto three quarters
of the total run and covers the last quarter with uniform speed. How much time does she take to cover the
first half and the second half of the run?
33. A bullet loses 1/10th of its velocity in passing through a plank. The number of planks needed to stop the
bullet is:
(A) 3 (B) 6
(C) 9 (D) 11

52
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

34. A bullet loses half of its velocity after covering 3 cm thickness of a plank. How much distance further
will it take to come to rest?
35. A bus starts moving with acceleration of 2m/s2. A cyclist 96m behind starts simultaneously towards the
bus at 20m/s. After what time will the bus overtake the cyclist?
(A) 10s (B) 12s
(C) 14s (D) 16s
36. Two particles start moving from the same point along the same straight line. The first moves with
acceleration a and second with constant speed v. During the time that elapses before the second catches
the first, the greatest distance between the particle is:
(A) v2/a (B) v2/2a
(C) 2v2/a (D) v2/4a
37. Two balls are thrown simultaneously, A vertically upwards with a speed of 20 ms–1 from the ground, and
B vertically downwards from a height of 40m with the same speed and along the same line of motion. At
what point do the two balls collide?
38. A ball is dropped from a height of 400m and at the same time another ball is projected from the ground
along the same line such that it can just reach the top of the tower. Where will the two balls collide and
after what time?
39. A stone is dropped from rest from a point 0.4m above a window 0.5m high. Find the time taken by the
stone to pass against window.
40. A ball thrown vertically upwards with a speed of 19.6 ms–1 from the top of a tower hits the ground in 6s.
Find the height of the tower.
41. A balloon is ascending at the rate of 9.8 ms–1 at a height of 39.2m above the ground when a food packet
is dropped from the balloon. After how much time and with what velocity does it reach the ground?
Take g = 9.8 ms–2.
42. A body is thrown upwards with a speed of 39.2 ms–1. What is its position at time t = 5 s?
43. A body projected vertically upwards from the top of a tower reaches the ground in t1 seconds. If it is
projected vertically downwards from the same top with same speed, it reaches the ground in t2 seconds. If
it is just dropped from the top, it reaches the ground in t second. Prove that t = t1t2
44. A body is dropped and the distance covered in first three second is equal to distance covered in the last
second. Find the height from which it was dropped.
45. A body falling from rest through certain height ‘h’ acquires speed v. What is the additional distance
travelled for velocity to become three times?
46. Two bodies are thrown upwards from the same point with same speed of 39.2 m/s but at an interval of 2s.
At what height will the bodies collide?
1
47. A ball is dropped from the top of a 100 m high tower on a planet. In the last s before hitting the
2
ground, it covers a distance of 19 m. Calculate the acceleration due to gravity (in ms–2) near the surface
on that planet.

53
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

48. A juggler keeps n balls going with one hand, so that at any instant (n – 1) balls are in air and one ball in
the hand. If each ball rises to a height ‘x’ meter then the time for which each ball stays in his hand is:
1 2x 2 2x
(A) (B)
n −1 g n −1 g
3 2x 2x
(C) (D)
n −1 g g
49. A body is thrown upwards and it is at same height at t = 10s and t = 20s. With what speed was it thrown
upward?
50. A ball is dropped from a height of 90m on a floor. At each collision with the floor, the ball loses one-
tenth of its speed. Plot the speed-time graph of its motion between t = 0 to 12s.
51. The acceleration acting on body is given as a = (3t2 + 1)ms–2. If particle starts from origin with velocity
2 ms–1 at t = 0, calculate
(i) velocity at t = 3 s
(ii) distance covered in first 3 s.
dv
52. The acceleration experienced by a boat after the engine is cut off, is given by = −kv3 , where k is a
dt
constant. If v0 is the magnitude of the velocity at cut off, find the magnitude of the velocity at time t after
the cut off.
53. A jet airplane travelling at the speed of 500kmh–1 ejects its products of combustion at the speed of 1500
kmh–1 relative to the jet plane. What is the speed of the latter with respect to an observer on the ground?
54. On a long horizontally moving belt, a child runs to and fro with a speed of 9 kmh–1 (with respect to the
belt) and his father and mother located 50 m apart on the moving belt. The belt moves with a speed of
4 kmh–1. For an observer on a stationary platform outside, what is the
(i) Speed of the child running in the direction of motion of the belt,
(ii) Speed of the child running opposite to the direction of motion of the belt, and
(iii) Time taken by the child in (i) & (ii) ?
Which of the answers alter if motion is viewed by one of the parents?
55. Two trains each 200 m long are running on parallel tracks. If one train overtakes the other in 20 s and the
trains cross each other in 5 s, find the speed of each train. Find total length of road used for overtaking?
56. Two trains A and B of length 400 m each are moving on two parallel tracks with a uniform speed of 72
kmh–1 in the same direction, with A ahead of B. The driver of B decides to overtake A and accelerates by
1 ms–2. If after 50s, the guard of B just brushes past the driver of A, what was the original distance
between them?
57. On a two-lane road, car A is travelling with a speed of 36 kmh–1. Two cars B and C approach car A in
opposite directions with a speed of 54 kmh–1. At a certain instant, when the distance AB is equal to AC,
both being 1 km, B decides to overtake A before C does. What minimum acceleration of car B is required
to avoid an accident?

54
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

58. A police van moving on a highway with a speed of 30 kmh–1 fires a bullet at a thief’s car speeding away
in the same direction with a speed of 192kmh–1. If the muzzle speed of the bullet is 150 ms–1, with what
speed does the bullet hit the thief’s car?
59. Two stones are thrown up simultaneously from the edge of a cliff 200 m high with initial speeds of
15 ms–1 and 30 ms–1. Verify that the following graph correctly represents the time variation of the relative
position of the second stone with respect to the first. Neglect air resistance and assume that the stones do
not rebound after hitting the ground. Take g = 10 ms–2. Give the equations for the linear and curved parts
of the plot.

60. Two trains A and B, each having a speed of 30 kmh–1 are headed towards each other on the same straight
track. A bird that can fly at 60 kmh–1 flies off one train when they are 60 km apart and heads directly for
the other train. On reaching the other train, it flies directly back to the first train and so forth.
(i) How many trips can the bird make from one train to the other before they crash?
(ii) What is the total distance the bird travels?
61. Two parallel rail tracks run north-south. Train A moves north with a speed of 54 km h–1, and train B
moves south with a speed of 90 km h–1. What is the
(a) velocity of B with respect to A?
(b) velocity of ground with respect to B?
(c) velocity of a monkey running on the roof of the train A against its motion (with a velocity of 18 km h–1
with respect to the train A) as observed by a man standing on the ground?

55
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

1. Study of motion of objects along a straight line is called

(A) Rotational motion (B) Rectilinear motion
(C) Simple harmonic (D) General motion
2. Kinematics is a branch of Physics in which we study motion
(A) Considering cause of motion (B) Considering forces acting on object
(C) Without going into the cause of motion (D) None of the above
3. If in any question, we are talking about initial velocity of a particle without specifying time, then time
should be taken as
(A) arbitrary time (B) any time t
(C) final time (D) Initial time as t = 0
4. Motion of earth around sun is an example of
(A) 1D motion (B) 2D motion
(C) 3D motion (D) may be 2D or 3D motion.

5. To describe motion of an object, we should specify its

(A) Position (B) time
(C) Position at all times (D) all of above.
6. With shift of origin of time from one point to another point
(A) Distance between two points may change
(B) Time interval between two locations will change.
(C) Distance remains same but time interval between two locations will change
(D) No change in distance and time interval between two locations.
7. Which of the following statement is true about time?
(A) Time is always +ve
(B) Time required to move from one position to another position must be positive.
(C) We cannot taken –ve time on time axis.
(D) None of above
8. An object is said to be at rest if
(A) If does not change its position
(B) time remains constant
(C) its position remains same with the passage of time w.r.t. surrounding
(D) object is a point object.

56
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

9. Which of the following statement is true about origin of position and time
(A) Origin of time and position must be same
(B) Origin of time and position may be different but in that case origin of time must be on right of origin
of position for 1-D motion
(C) Origin of time and position may be different but in that case origin of time must be on left of origin
of position for 1-D motion
(D) Origin of time and position may be taken anywhere and may be different

10. Suppose a particle moves from initial position x1 to final position x2, then displacement of particle will be
given as
(A) x1–x2 (B) x2–x1
(C) |x2–x1| (D) Any one from above three options
11. Distance covered by a moving particle can be
(A) never be equal to displacement (B) less than displacement
(C) greater than displacement magnitude. (D) Can’t be answered without data
12. Two trains A and B 100 km apart are travelling towards each other on different tracks with same starting
speed of 50 km/h. The distance covered by the train A when they cross each other is
(A) 70 km (B) 55 km
(C) 65 km (D) 50 km
13. A body covered a distance of 5 m along a semicircular path. The ratio of distance to displacement is :
(A) 11 : 7 (B) 12 : 5
(C) 8 : 3 (D) 7 : 5
14. An athlete completes half a round of a circular track of radius R, then the displacement and distance
covered by the athlete are:
(A) 2R and πR (B) πR and 2R
(C) R and 2πR (D) 2πR and R
15. The location of a particle is changed. What can we say about the displacement and distance covered by
the particle
(A) both cannot be zero
(B) one of the two may be zero
(C) both must be zero
(D) if one is positive, the other is negative and vice – versa.

57
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

16. A car travels a distance A to B at a speed of 40kmh-1 and returns to A at a speed of 30 kmh-1. What is the
average speed for the whole journey?
(A) Zero (B) 34.3kmh-1
(C) 68.6 kmh-1 (D) 120kmh-1
17. Assertion: The average velocity of the object over an interval of time is either smaller than or equal to the
average speed of the object over the same interval.
Reason: Velocity is a vector quantity and speed is a scalar quantity.
(A) Assertion is true, Reason is true; Reason is a correct explanation for Assertion
(B) Assertion is true, Reason is true; Reason is a not a correct explanation for Assertion
(C) Assertion is true; Reason is false
(D) Assertion is false; Reason is true
18. If a particle moves in two equal intervals of time at different speeds V1 and V2 respectively, then
1 1 1 2 1 1
(A) = + (B) = +
vav v1 v2 vav v1 v2
v1 − v2 v1 + v2
(C) vav = (D) vav =
2 2
19. A body covers first one-third of the distance with a velocity 20 ms–1, the second one-third with a velocity
of 30 ms–1 and last one-third with a velocity of 40 ms–1. The average velocity is nearly:
(A) 28 m/s (B) 38 m/s
(C) 18 m/s (D) 8 m/s
20. A train passes an electric post in 10 second and a bridge of length 2 km in 110 second. The speed of the
engine is :
(A) 18 kmph (B) 36 kmph
(C) 72 kmph (D) 90 kmph
21. When a particle moves with variable velocity, which of the following relations are false?
(I) Average speed = average velocity
(II) Instantaneous speed = magnitude of instantaneous velocity
(III) Distance covered = magnitude of displacement
(A) I, II, III (B) I, II
(C) II, III (D) I, III
22. A person walks up a stationary escalator in time 8min. If he remains stationary on the escalator, then it
can take him up in time 12 min. How much time would it take him to walk up the moving escalator?
(A) 10 min (B) 4 6 min
(C) 4.8 min (D) None of these

58
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

23. In uniform motion

(A) Average velocity is equal to instantaneous velocity
(B) Force is required to maintain motion
(C) Calculated velocity will change with change in coordinate frame
(D) Direction of particle may remain same or may get reversed
24. Velocity of a particle is always
(A) positive (B) Negative
(C) Zero (D) May be +ve, zero or –ve
25. The displacement y (in meters) of a body varies with time t (in seconds) as y = –( 2/3) t2 +16t +2 how
long does the body take to come to rest?
(A) 8seconds (B) 10 seconds
(C) 12 seconds (D) 16 seconds
26. A cyclist start from the centre O of a circular track of radius r =1km, reaches the edge P of the track and
then cycles along the circumference and stops at point Q as shown in fig. If the total time taken is 10min,
what is the average velocity of the cyclist?

(A) 3 km/h (B) 6 km/h

(C) 9 km/h (D) 12 km/h
27. A particle moving in a straight line covers half the distance with speed of 3 m/s. The other half of the
distance is covered in two equal time intervals with speed of 4.5 m/s and 7.5 m/s respectively. The
average speed of the particle during the motion is
(A) 4.0 m/s (B) 5.0 m/s
(C) 5.5 m/s (D) 4.8 m/s
28. For the given interval of time which of the following is single valued for a particle in motion?
(A) instantaneous speed (B) instant velocity
(C) average speed (D) average velocity

29. (a) Which speed is measured by the speedometer of your scooter?

(b) When does a cyclist appear to be stationary with respected to another moving cyclist?
30. Distinguish between average velocity and instantaneous velocity. If the velocity does not change from
instant to instant, will the average velocity be different for the intervals?

31. (a) The variation of displacement with time is given by the relation x = t + 9. Plot the velocity –time
graph of motion.
(b) A body travels 75m in first 5 seconds and 69 m in next 3 seconds. What is distance traveled by body
in next second and velocity at the end of 10th sec?

59
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

32. A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate of 2 m/s2 for some time. Then, it retards at a constant rate of 4 m/s2
and comes to rest. What is the maximum speed attained by the car, if it remains in motion for 3 seconds?
(A) 2 m/s (B) 3 m/s
(C) 4 m/s (D) 6 m/s
33. A car moving at a speed v is stopped in a certain distance when the brakes produce a deceleration ‘a’ If
the speed of the car was (nv), what must be the deceleration of the car to stop it in the same distance.
(A) n a (B) n 2 a

(C) n a (D) n3 a
34. A car, starting from rest, has a constant acceleration a1 for a time interval t1 during which it covers a
distance s1. In the next time interval t2, the car has a constant retardation a2 and comes to rest after
covering a distance s2 in time t2. Which of the following relations is correct?
(A) a1/a2 = s1/s2 = t1/t2 (B) a1/a2 = s2/s1 = t1/t2
(C) a1/a2 = s1/s2 = t2/t1 (D) a1/a2 = s2/s1 = t2/t1
35. In Q. No. 34, the average speed of the car during its entire journey is given by
(A) ½ a1t1 (B) ½ a2t2
(C) Both (A) and (B) (D) None of these
36. Tripling the speed of a car multiplies the distance needed to stop it to :
(A) 3 times (B) 6 times
(C) 9 times (D) None of the above
37. A body experience a constant acceleration for 20 sec after it starts from rest. It covers a distance S 1 in
first 10 sec in next 10 sec of its motion. Relation between S1 and S2 is
(A) S2 = 3S1 (B) S2 = 4S1
(C) S2 = 2S1 (D) S2 = S1
38. The motor of an electric train can give it an acc. of 1 m/sec2 and the brakes can give a retardation of 3 m
s–1. What is the shortest time in which the train can make a strip between two stations 1215 m apart?
(A) 42.6 sec (B) 14.2 sec
(C) 56.8 sec (D) None of the above

39. (a) By using calculus method derive velocity–displacement relation. Is the relation valid if the body is
having non-uniform acceleration?
(b) Define acceleration. A particle starts from rest and its speed increases directly proportional to square
of time. What conclusion can be drawn about its acceleration?
(c) The light travels 100 m in vacuum and then 100 m in media in which velocity of light is 2.4 x 10 8
m/sec. What is the average velocity of light?

60
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

40. Derive the relation

(i) Position-time relation using calculus method.
(ii) The acceleration time graph of a moving object is shown in Fig

a
(iii) Derive Sn = u + ( 2n − 1) by Calculus method.
2

41. Which of the following graph is not possible for particle moving with constant velocity?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
42. Position-time graph is given as:

Draw corresponding velocity –time graph.

(A) (B)

61
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

(C) (D)
43. A body falls from height h. The v-s graph is :

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
44. Average velocity of a particle moving in a straight line, with constant acceleration ‘a’ and initial velocity
'u ' in first 2t seconds is
1
(A) u + at (B) ( u + at )
2
u + at u
(C) (D)
2 2
45. A particle starts from rest. Its acceleration at time t = 0 is 5ms -2 which varies with time as shown in
figure. The maximum speed of the particle will be

(A) 7.5 ms-1 (B) 15 ms-1

(C) 30 ms-1 (D) 2.5 ms-1
46. Each of the three graphs represents acceleration versus time for an object that already has a positive velocity at
time t1. Which graphs show an object whose speed is increasing for the entire time interval between t1 and t2?

(A) graph I, only (B) graphs I and II, only

(C) graphs I and III, only (D) graphs I, II, and III

62
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

47. The displacement time graph of a motion is shown in fig. The ratio of the magnitudes of the speeds
during the first two seconds and the next four seconds is

(A) 1:1 (B) 1:2

(C) 2:1 (D) 1: √2
48. Figure shows the displacement –time (x-t) graph of a body moving in a straight line. Which one of the
graphs shown in fig. represents velocity –time (v-t) graph of the motion of the body.

(A) (B)

(C) (D) None of these

49. A body starts from rest at time t = 0 and undergoes an acceleration as shown in fig.

Which of the graphs shown in fig. below represents the velocity –time (v-t) graph of the motion of the
body from t = 0s to t = 4 s?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
50. In above question, what is the velocity of the body at time t = 2.5 s?
(A) 2.5 m/s (B) 3.5 m/s
(C) 4.5 m/s (D) 5.5 m/s
51. In question no. 46, how much distance does the body cover from t =0 to t = 4s?
(A) 6 m (B) 9 m
(C) 12 m (D) 15 m

63
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

52. In Q 46, which of the graph shown in fig. represents the displacement –time (x-t) graph of the motion of
the body from t =0s to t = 4s?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
53. Fig. show the position of a particle moving along the X-axis as a function of time :

(A) The particle has come to rest 6 times

(B) The maximum speed is a t = 6 s,
(C) The velocity remains positive for t = 0 to t = 6s
(D) The average velocity for the total period shown in the fig. is negative.
54. A ball is dropped vertically from a height ‘d’ above the ground. It hits the ground and bounces up
vertically to a height d/2. Neglecting air resistance its velocity v varies with the height h above the
ground as:

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

64
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

55. (a) Is the time variation of position, shown in the figure below, observed in nature?

(b) If a car accelerates uniformly to a speed of 144 km/hr in 20 sec. Calculate the distance covered by the car.
(c) Draw the displacement time graph corresponding to following acceleration-time graph

(d) Two balls of different masses (one lighter and other heavier) are thrown vertically upward with same
initial speed. Which one will rise to the greater height?
(e) Given : Tangent at a point on the position – time graph of a particle in non –uniform motion. Which
physical quantity is measured by the slope of this tangent?

56. The displacement of the particle varies with time according to the relation x =
b
c
( )
1 − e− ct , where b and
c are constants. The velocity of the body is :
b −ct
(A) be− ct e
(B)
c2
(C) b.c.e− ct
b
(
(D) 2 1 − e− ct
c
)
57. The acceleration of a particle moving in S.H.M is a = − A sin t. Its displacement at time t is given
2

by:
(A) − A 2 cos t (B) A sin t
(C) A cos t (D) A 2 sin t
58. If the velocity of the particle is given by v = 180 − 16 x . Its acceleration will be :
(A) – 16 m s–2 (B) –8 m s–2
(C) 4 m s–2 (D) 32 m s–2

65
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

59. Two parallel rail tracks run north-south. On one track train A moves north with a speed of 54 km h-1 and
on the other track train moves south with a speed of 90 km h-1. The velocity of train A with respect to
train B is
(A) 10 m s-1 (B) 15 m s-1
(C) 25 m s-1 (D) 40 m s-1
60. In the question number 1, what is the velocity of a monkey running on the roof of the train A against its
motion with a velocity of 18 km h-1 with respect to the train A as observed by a man standing on the
ground?
(A) 5 m s–1 (B) 10 m s–1
(C) 15 m s–1 (D) 20 m s–1
61. A bird is tossing (flying to and fro) between two cars moving towards each other on a straight road. One
car has speed of 27 kmh–1 while the other has the speed of 18 kmh–1. The bird starts moving from first car
towards the other and is moving with the speed of 36 kmh-1 when the two cars were separated by 36 km.
The total distance covered by the bird before the cars collide is
(A) 28.8 km (B) 38.8 km
(C) 48.8 km (D) 58.8 km
62. Which one of the following represents displacement time graph of two objects A and B moving with zero
relative velocity?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
63. Two cars A and B are running at velocity of 60 km h and 45 km h-1. What is the relative velocity of car
-1

A with respect to car B, if both are moving eastward?

(A) 15 km h-1 (B) 45 km h-1
(C) 60 km h-1 (D) 105 km h-1
64. In question number 5, what is the relative velocity of a car A with respect to car B, if car A is moving
eastward and car B is moving westward?
(A) 15 km h-1 (B) 45 km h-1
(C) 60 km h-1 (D) 105 km h-1

66
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

65. A ball A is dropped from a building of height 45 m. Simultaneously another identical ball B is thrown up
with a speed 50 m s-1. The relative speed of ball B w.r.t. ball A at any instant of time is (Take
g = 10m s −2 )
(A) 0 m s-1 (B) 10 m s-1
(C) 25 m s-1 (D) 50 m s-1
66. A bus is moving with a speed of 10 ms–1 on a straight road. A scooterist wishes to overtake the bus in 100 s.
If the bus is at a distance of 1 km from the scooterist with what speed should the scooterist chase the bus?
(A) 40 m s-1 (B) 25 m s-1
(C) 10 m s-1 (D) 20 m s-1
67. A ball A is thrown vertically upwards with speed u. At the same instant another ball B is released from
rest at height h. At time t, the speed of A relative to B is
(A) u (B) u − 2 gt

(C) u 2 − 2 gh (D) u = gt
68. A ball is dropped from a bridge 122.5 m high. After the ball been falling for 2 sec another is thrown
straight downwards after it. The initial velocity of the ball is such that they strike the water together. The
velocity is :
(A) 9.8 m s–1 (B) 26.1 m s–1
(C) 49 m s–1 (D) 55 m s–1

69. A ball is projected upwards from the foot of a tower. The ball crosses the top of the tower twice after an
(
interval of 6s and the ball reaches the ground after 10s. The height of the tower is g = 10m / s 2 : )
(A) 120 m (B) 135 m
(C) 175 m (D) 80 m
70. A particle is released from rest from a tower of height 3h. The ratio of time to fall equal height h, i.e. t 1 :
t2 : t3 is
(A) 3 : 2 :1 (B) 3 : 2 : 1
(C) 9 : 4 : 1 ( )(
(D) 1 : 2 − 1 : 3 − 2 )
3V0
71. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity V0. Find the distance travelled in time
2g
5V02 5V02
(A) (B)
8g g
V02 5V02
(C) (D)
8g 4g

67
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

72. From the top of a multi-storeyed building 40 m tall, a boy projects a stone vertically upwards with an
intial velocity 10 m/s such that it eventually falls to the ground. After how long will the stone strike the
ground? Take g = 10m/s2.
(A) 1 s (B) 2s
(C) 3 s (D) 4 s
73. In above question, after how long will the stone pass through the point from where it was projected?
(A) 1 s (B) 2 s
(C) 3 s (D) 4 s
74. In Q.No. 50, what will be the speed of the stone when it strikes the ground?
(A) 10m/s (B) 20 m/s
(C) 30 m/s (D) 40 m/s
75. A stone is thrown vertically upward with an initial speed u from the top of a tower, reaches the ground
with a speed 3u. The height of the tower is :
3u 2 4u 2
(A) (B)
g g
6u 2 9u 2
(C) (D)
g g
76. A body is projected vertically upwards with a velocity of 10 ms–1. It reaches the maximum vertical height
h in time t. In t/2, the height covered is :
h 2h
(A) (B)
2 5
3h 5h
(C) (D)
4 8
77. Two bodies are thrown vertically upwards with their initial speeds in the ratio 2 : 3. The ratio of the
maximum heights reached by them and the ratio of their time taken by them to return back to the ground
respectively are:
(A) 4 : 9 and 2 : 3 (B) 2 : 3 and 2: 3
(C) 2 : 3 and 4:9 (D) 2 : 3 and 2:3
78. A certain body starts from rest and falls through a height of 19.6 ms–1. What time does it take to fall
through the last metre of its fall ?
(A) 0.4 sec (B) 0.01 sec
(C) 0.05 sec (D) 5 sec
79. A rocket starts rising vertically upwards with a constant acceleration of 5 ms–1. After a period of 10 sec it
releases a base plate. After 3 sec of the release, the base plate is moving with velocity (g = 10 m s –2)
(A) zero (B) 20 m s–1
(C) 30 m s–1 (D) 50 m s–1
80. A steel ball is bouncing up and down on a steel plate with a period of oscillation of 1 second. If g = 10 m
s –2, then it bounces upto a height of :
(A) 5 cm (B) 10 m
(C) 2.5 m (D) 1.25 m

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

81. (a) If a body travels half of its total path in the last second of its fall from rest, calculate the time and
height of its fall.
(b) Derive the position time equation and plot the x-t graph for it.
(c) Two balls are thrown simultaneously, A vertically upwards with a speed of 20 m/s from the ground
and B vertically downwards from a height of 60 m with a speed of 40 m/s and along the same line of
action. At what points do the balls collide? (g = 9.8 m/s2)

69
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

1. A body is moving along a straight line path with constant velocity. At any instant of time the distance
travelled by it is S and its displacement is D, then
(A) D < S (B) D > S
(C) D = S (D) Not sufficient information
2. The displacement-time graph for two particles A and B are straight lines inclined at angle of 30° and 60°
with the time axis. The ratio of velocities of VA : VB is
(A) 1 : 2 (B) 1 : 3
(C) 3 :1 (D) 1 : 3
3. A bullet fired into a fixed target loses half of its velocity after penetrating 3 cm. How much further it will
penetrate before coming to rest assuming that it faces constant resistance to the motion?
(A) 4 cm (B) 1.0 cm
(C) 3.0 cm (D) 2.0 cm
4. A bus begins to move with an acceleration of 1ms-2. A man who is 48 m behind the bus starts running at
10 ms-1 to catch the bus. The man will be able to catch the bus after
(A) 6s (B) 3s
(C) 5s (D) 8s
5. Which of the following four statements is false?
(A) A body can have zero velocity and still be accelerated
(B) A body can have constant velocity and still have a varying speed
(C) A body can have a constant speed and still have a varying velocity
(D) The direction of the velocity of a body can change when its acceleration is constant
The velocity of a body depends on time according to the equation v = 20 + 0.1t . The body is undergoing
2
6.
(A) Uniform acceleration (B) Uniform retardation
(C) Non – uniform acceleration (D) Zero acceleration
7. The relation between time and distance is t =  x +  x , where  and
2
 are constants. The retardation is
(A) 2v (B) 2v
3 3

(C) − 2v (D) − 2v

3 3

8. The velocity of a particle is v = v0 + gt + ft 2 . If its position is x = 0 at t = 0, then its displacement after

unit time (t = 1) is
g f
(A) v0 + 2 g + 3 f (B) v0 + +
2 3
g
(C) v0 + g + f (D) v0 + + f
2

70
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

9. Speed of two identical cars are u and 4u at a specific instant. The ratio of the respective distances in
which the two cars are stopped from that instant is
(A) 1 : 1 (B) 1 : 4
(C) 1 : 8 (D) 1 : 16
10. The displacement of a particle is proportional to the cube of time elapsed. How does the acceleration of
the particle depends on time obtained?
(1/2)
(A) a  t (B) a  t
2

(C) a  t (D) a  t
3

dv
11. An object moving with a speed of 6.25 m/s, is decelerated at a rate given by = −2.5 v , where v is
dt
the instantaneous speed. The time taken by the object, to come to rest, would be
(A) 1 s (B) 2 s
(C) 4 s (D) 8 s
12. A body A moves with a uniform acceleration a and zero initial velocity. Another body B, starts from the
same point moves in the same direction with a constant velocity v. The two bodies meet after a time t.
The value of t is
2v v
(A) (B)
a a
v v
(C) (D)
2a 2a
13. A balloon is at a height of 81 m and is ascending upwards with a velocity of 12 m/s. A body of 2 kg
weight is dropped from it. If g = 10 m/s2, the body will reach the surface of the earth in
(A) 1.5 s (B) 4.025 s
(C) 5.4 s (D) 6.75 s
14. A body falls from rest in the gravitational field of the earth. The distance travelled in the fifth second of
its motion is (g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 25 m (B) 45 m
(C) 90 m (D) 125 m
15. P, Q and R are three balloons ascending with velocities u, 4u and 8u respectively. If stones of the mass be
dropped from each, when they are at the same height, then
(A) They reach the ground at the same time (B) Stone from P reaches the ground first
(C) Stone from R reaches the ground first (D) Stone from Q reaches the ground first
16. Free fall of an object (in vacuum) is a case of motion with
(A) Uniform velocity (B) Uniform acceleration
(C) Variable acceleration (D) Constant momentum

71
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

17. A ball is thrown vertically upwards. Which of the following graph represent velocity-time graph of the
ball during its flight (air resistance is neglected)?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
18. The graph of displacement v/s time is

Its corresponding velocity-time graph will be

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
19. A boy begins to walk eastward along a street in front his house and the graph of his position from home
is shown in the following figure. His average speed for the whole time interval is equal to

(A) 8 m/min (B) 6 m/min

8
(C) m/min (D) 2 m/min
3

72
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

20. The velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs of a particle are given as

Also at t = 0, position ≠ 0. Its position-time graph may be given as

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

21. Which graph represents uniform positive acceleration?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
22. The acceleration ‘a’ in m/s2 of a particle is given by a = 3t + 2t + 2 , where t is the time. If the particle
2

starts out with a velocity u = 2 m/s at t = 0, then the velocity at the end of 2 s is
(A) 12 m/s (B) 18 m/s
(C) 27 m/s (D) 36 m/s
23. A cat moves from X to Y with a uniform speed vu and returns to X with a uniform speed vd. The average
speed for this round trip is
2v d v u
(A) (B) vu vd
v d + vu
vd vu vu + vd
(C) (D)
vd + vu 2

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

24. A man walks on a straight road from his home to a market 2.5 km away with a speed of 5 km/hr. Finding
the market closed, he instantly turns and walks back home with a speed of 7.5 km/hr. The average speed
of man over the interval of time 0 to 40 min. is equal to
25
(A) 5 km/hr (B) km/hr
4
30 45
(C) km/hr (D) km/hr
4 8
25. Which of the following is a one dimensional motion
(A) Landing of an aircraft (B) Earth revolving around the sun
(C) Motion of wheels of moving train (D) Train running on a straight track
26. A particle moves along a straight line such that its displacement at any time t is given by
S = t 3 − 6t 2 + 3t + 4 metres
The velocity when the acceleration is zero is
(A) 3 ms-1 (B) –12 ms-1
(C) 42 ms-1 (D) –9 ms-1
27. The position x of a particle with respect to time t along x-axis is given by x = 9t − t , where x is in
2 3

metre and t in second. What will be the position of this particle when it achieves maximum speed along
the +x direction?
(A) 32 m (B) 54 m
(C) 81 m (D) 24 m

− t
28. The displacement x of a particle varies with time t, x = ae + be t where a, b,  and  are positive
constants. The velocity of the particle will
(A) Goes on decreasing with time (B) Be independent of  and 
(C) Drop to zero when  =  (D) Goes on increasing with time
29. A particle is moving with constant acceleration from A to B in a straight line AB. If u and v are velocities
at A and B respectively, then its velocity at the mid-point C will be
u2 + v2 u+v
(A) (B)
2u 2
v −u u2 + v2
(C) (D)
2 2
30. A particle starts its motion from rest under the action of a constant force. If the distance covered in first
10 seconds is S1 and that covered in the first 20 seconds is S2, then
(A) S2 = 2S1 (B) S2 = 3S1
(C) S2 = 4S1 (D) S2 = S1

74
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

31. A car start from rest and accelerates uniformly to a speed of 180 km h -1 in 10 seconds. The distance
covered by the car in this time interval is
(A) 500 m (B) 250 m
(C) 100 m (D) 200 m
32. A body starts from rest with acceleration a1. After 2 seconds, another body B starts from rest with an
acceleration a2. If they travel equal distances in the 5th second, after the start of A, then the ratio a1 : a2 is
equal to
(A) 5 : 9 (B) 5 : 7
(C) 9 : 5 (D) 9 : 7
33. The velocity of a bullet is reduced from 200 m/s to 100 m/s while travelling through a wooden block of
thickness 10 cm. The retardation, assuming it to be uniform, will be
(A) 10 × 104 m/s2 (B) 12 × 104 m/s2
(C) 13.5 × 104 m/s2 (D) 15 × 104 m/s2
34. Two bodies are thrown vertically upwards with their initial speed in the ratio 2 : 3. The ratio of the
maximum heights reached by them
(A) 4 : 9 (B) 2 : 3
(C) 2 : 3 (D) 3: 2
35. Two bodies of different masses ma and mb are dropped from two different heights a and b. The ratio of
the time taken by the two to cover these distances are
(A) a : b (B) b : a
2 2
(C) a: b (D) a :b
36. When a ball is thrown up vertically with velocity V0, it reaches a maximum height of ‘h’. If one wishes
to triple the maximum height then the ball should be thrown with velocity of
(A) 3 V0 (B) 3V0
3
(C) 9V0 (D) V0
2
37. Consider the acceleration, velocity and displacement of a tennis ball as it falls to the ground and bounces
back. Directions of which of these changes in the process? (Assume point of drop as origin)
(A) Velocity only (B) Displacement and velocity
(C) Acceleration, velocity and Displacement (D) Displacement and acceleration
38. The acceleration of a particle is increasing linearly with time t as bt. The particle starts from the origin
with an initial velocity v0. The distance travelled by the particle in time t will be
1 2 1 3
(A) v0t + bt (B) v0t + bt
3 3
1 3 1 2
(C) v0t + bt (D) v0t + bt
6 2

75
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

39. The x – t graph shown in the figure represents

(A) Constant Velocity

(B) Velocity of the body is continuously changing
(C) Instantaneous velocity
(D) The body travels with constant speed upto time t1 and then stops
40. A 150 m long train is moving with a uniform velocity of 45 km/hr. The time taken by the train to cross a
bridge of length 850 m is
(A) 56 s (B) 68 s
(C) 80 s (D) 92 s
41. The initial velocity of a body moving along a straight line is 7 m/s. It has a uniform acceleration of 4
m/s2. The distance covered by the body in the 5th second of its motion is
(A) 25 m (B) 35 m
(C) 50 m (D) 85 m
42. The position of a particle moving along the x-axis at certain times is given below.
t (s) 0 1 2 3
x (m) -2 0 6 16
Which of the following describes the motion correctly?
(A) Uniform, accelerated (B) Uniform, decelerated
(C) Non - Uniform, accelerated (D) There is not enough data for generalization
43. If a car at rest accelerates uniformly to a speed of 144 km/hr. in 20 s. Then it covers a distance of
(A) 20m (B) 400 m
(C) 1440 m (D) 2880 m
44. A particle is thrown vertically upwards. If its velocity at half of the maximum height is 10 m/s, the
maximum height attained by it is (Take g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 8m (B) 10m
(C) 12m (D) 16m
45. The true relation for velocity of a body on reaching the point from which it was projected upwards, is
(Here v is final speed and u is initial speed of projection)
(A)  = 0 (B) = 2u
(C)  = 0.5u (D)  = u

76
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

46. The time taken by a block of wood (initially at rest) to slide down a smooth inclined plane 9.8 m long
(angle of inclination is 300) is

1
(A) s (B) 2 s
2
(C) 4 s (D) 1 s
47. If a body is thrown up with the velocity of 15 m/s then maximum height attained by the body is (g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 11.25 m (B) 16.2 m
(C) 24.5 m (D) 7.62 m
48. A body A is thrown up vertically from the ground with a velocity V0 and another body B is
H
simultaneously dropped from a height H. They meet at a height if V0 is equal to
2
(A) 2gH (B) gH
1 2g
(C) gH (D)
2 H
49. At t = 0, a stone of mass 10 gm is thrown straight up from the ground level with a speed 10m/s. After 1 s,
a second stone of the same mass is thrown from the same position with a speed 20 m/s. What is the
position of the first stone from the ground level at the moment? (Take g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 10 m (B) 1 m
(C) 2 m (D) 5 m
50. A point initially at rest moves along x-axis. Its acceleration varies with times as a = (6t + 5)m / s . If its
2

starts from origin, the distance covered in 2 s is

(A) 20 m (B) 18 m
(C) 16 m (D) 25 m
51. A car travels a distance S on a straight road in two hours and then returns to the starting point in the next
three hours. Its average velocity is
S 2S
(A) (B)
5 5
S S
(C)  +  (D) None of the above
2 3

77
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

−1
52. A particle moves along the sides AB, BC, CD of a square of side 25 m with a velocity of 15 ms . Its
average velocity is
C B

D A

−1 −1
(A) 15 ms (B) 10 ms
−1 −1
(C) 7.5 ms (D) 5 ms
53. A body has speed V, 2V and 3V in first 1/3 of distance S, second 1/3 of S and third 1/3 of S respectively.
Its average speed will be
(A) V (B) 2V
18 11
(C) V (D) V
11 18
54. If the body covers one-third distance at speed v1, next one third at speed v2 and last one third at speed v3,
then average speed will be
1 2 + 2 3 + 3 1 1 + 2 + 3
(A) (B)
1 + 2 + 3 3
1 2 3 31 2 3
(C) (D)
1 2 + 2 3 + 3 1 1 2 + 2 3 + 3 1
k
55. The displacement of the particle varies with time according to the relation x = [1 − e−bt ] . Then the
b
velocity of the particle is
− bt k
(A) k (e ) (B) 2 − bt
be
− bt
(C) k be (D) None of these
56. The acceleration of a particle starting from rest, varies with time according to the relation a = – A2 sint.
The displacement of this particle at a time t will be
1
(A) − ( A sin  t ) t (B) A sin  t
2 2

2
(C) A cos  t (D) A sin  t
57. If the velocity of a particle is (10 + 2t2) m/s, then the average acceleration of the particle between 2s and
5s is
2 2
(A) 2 m/s (B) 4 m/s
2 2
(C) 12 m/s (D) 14 m/s

78
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

58. A thief is running away on a straight road in jeep moving with a speed of 9 ms–1. A police man chases
him on a motor cycle moving at a speed of 10 ms–1. If the instantaneous separation of the jeep from the
motorcycle is 100 m, how long will it take for the police to catch the thief
(A) 1 s (B) 19 s
(C) 90 s (D) 100 s
59. A car A is travelling on a straight level road with a uniform speed of 60 km/h. It is followed by another
car B which is moving with a speed of 70 km/h. When the distance between them is 2.5 km, the car B is
given a deceleration of 20 km/h2. After how much time will B catch up with A
(A) 1 hr (B) 1/2 hr
(C) 1/4 hr (D) 1/8 hr
60. The speed of a body moving with uniform acceleration is u. This speed is doubled while covering a
distance S. When it covers an additional distance S, its speed would become
(A) 3u (B) 5u
(C) 11u (D) 7u
61. Two trains one of length 100 m and another of length 125 m, are moving in mutually opposite directions
along parallel lines, meet each other, each with speed 10 m/s. If their acceleration are 0.3 m/s2 and 0.2
m/s2 respectively, then the time they take to pass each other will be
(A) 5 s (B) 10 s
(C) 15 s (D) 20 s
62. A body starts from rest with uniform acceleration. If its velocity after n second is , then its displacement
in the last two seconds is
2 ( n + 1)  ( n + 1)
(A) (B)
n n
 ( n − 1) 2 ( n − 1)
(C) (D)
n n
63. A particle is moving in a straight line and passes through a point O with a velocity of 6 ms–1. The particle
moves with a constant retardation of 2 ms–2 for 4 s and there after moves with constant velocity. How
long after leaving O does the particle return to O
(A) 3s (B) 8s
(C) Never (D) 4s
64. A bird flies for 4 s with a velocity of | t − 2 | m/s in a straight line, where t is time in seconds. It covers a
distance of
(A) 2 m (B) 4 m
(C) 6 m (D) 8 m

79
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

65. A particle is projected with velocity 0 along x-axis. The deceleration on the particle is proportional to

the square of the distance from the origin i.e., a =  x . The distance at which the particle stops is
2

1
3 0  3v  3
(A) (B)  o 
2  2 
1
3 20  3 2  3
(C) (D)  0 
2  2 
66. A body is projected vertically up with a velocity v and after some time it returns to the point from which
it was projected. The average velocity and average speed of the body for the total time of flight are
(A) v / 2 and v / 2 (B) 0 and v / 2
(C) 0 and 0 (D) v / 2 and 0
67. A stone is dropped from a height h. Simultaneously, another stone is thrown up from the ground which
reaches a height 4 h. The two stones cross each other after time
h
(A) (B) 8g h
8g
h
(C) 2g h (D)
2g
68. Four marbles are dropped from the top of a tower one after the other with an interval of one second. The
first one reaches the ground after 4 s. When the first one reaches the ground the distances between the
first and second, the second and third and the third and forth will be respectively
(A) 35, 25 and 15 m (B) 30, 20 and 10 m
(C) 20, 10 and 5 m (D) 40, 30 and 20 m
69. A body falls freely from the top of a tower. It covers 36% of the total height in the last second before
striking the ground level. The height of the tower is
(A) 50 m (B) 75 m
(C) 100 m (D) 125 m
70. A particle is projected upwards. The times corresponding to height h while ascending and while
descending are t1 and t2 respectively. The velocity of projection will be
(A) gt1 (B) gt2

g ( t1 + t2 )
(C) g ( t1 + t2 ) (D)
2

80
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

71. A projectile is fired vertically upwards with an initial velocity u. After an interval of T seconds a second
projectile is fired vertically upwards, also with initial velocity u.
u u 2 gT 2
(A) They meet at time t = and at a height +
g 2g 8
u T u 2 gT 2
(B) They meet at time t = + and at a height +
g 2 2g 8
u T u 2 gT 2
(C) They meet at time t = + and at a height −
g 2 2g 8
(D) They never meet
72. Initially car A is 10.5 m ahead of car B. Both start moving at time t = 0 in the same direction along a
straight line. The velocity time graph of two cars is shown in figure. The time when the car B will catch
the car A, will be

(A) t = 21 s (B) t = 2 5 s
(C) 20 s (D) none
73. What is nature of v-t graph for a particle moving in straight line with constant velocity?
(A) Straight line parallel to velocity axis (B) Straight line inclined to velocity axis
(C) Straight line parallel to time axis (D) Straight line inclined to time axis
74. What is the significance of velocity - time graph for a particle in uniform motion?
(A) Slope of graph gives distance Covered (B) Slope of graph gives position of particle
(C) Area under graph gives displacement covered (D) Area under graph gives acceleration
75. Which graph represents a state of rest for an object?

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
76. A particle is constrained to move on a straight line path if returns to the starting point after 10 sec. The
total distance covered by the particle during this time is 30 m. Which of the following statements about
the motion of the particle is false?
(A) Displacement of the particle is zero (B) Average speed of the particle is 3 m/s
(C) Displacement of the particle is 30 m (D) Both (A) and (B)

81
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

77. A horse rider is moving towards a big mirror with velocity v. The velocity of his image with respect to
him is -
(A) 0 (B) 4 v
(C) 2 v (D) v
78. The displacement of a body along x-axis depends on time as x = t + 1 . Then, the velocity of body
(A) Increases with time (B) Decreases with time
(C) Independent of time (D) None of these
79. If ball is thrown vertically upwards with speed u, the distance covered during the last t second of its
ascent is
1 2 1 2
(A) gt (B) ut − gt
2 2
(C) (u − gt ) t (D) ut

t3 5 2
80. A particle is moving in a straight line according to equation x = − t + 6t . The time interval in
3 2
which velocity i.e. instantaneous rate of change of position w.r.t time is negative is
(A) 0 < t < 3 (B) 0 < t < 2
(C) 2 < t < 3 (D) t > 3 and t < 2
81. Two trains each of length 50 m are approaching each other on parallel rails. Their velocities are 10 m/sec
and 15 m/sec. They will cross each other in -
(A) 2 sec (B) 4 sec
(C) 10 sec (D) 6 sec
82. Two runners Ram and Shyam in a 144 m race start from the same place, but one runner gives the other a
little advantage. The first runner, Ram, starts right away and runs at a constant velocity of 8.0 m/s. The
second runner, Shyam, waits two seconds and then runs at a velocity of 9.0 m/s. How much is the
separation between them (in m) when the race is just about to finish?
(A) 0 (B) 8
(C) 9 (D) 17
83. The acceleration time graph of a body moving in a straight line is shown here.

Statement-1: Velocity of the body is continuously decreasing over the time interval shown.
Statement-2: Acceleration of the body is continuously decreasing over the time interval shown.
(A) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is correct explanation for statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is true and statement-2 is not the correct explanation for statement-1.
(C) Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false.
(D) Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is true

82
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

84. A bus starts from rest moving with acceleration 2m/s2. A cyclist 96 m behind the bus starts
simultaneously towards the bus at 20 m/s. After what time he will be able to overtake the bus-
(A) 8 s (B) 10 s
(C) 12 s (D) 14 s
85. Two balls A and B are thrown with same velocity u from the top of a tower. Ball A is thrown vertically
upwards and the ball B is thrown vertically downwards. If tA and tB are the respective times taken by the
balls A and B respectively to reach the ground, then identify the correct statement
(A) tA > tB (B) tA = tB
(C) tA < tB (D) cannot be interpreted
86. A particle has a velocity u towards east at t = 0. its acceleration is towards west and is constant. Let xA

and xB be the magnitudes of displacement in the first 10 seconds and the next 10 seconds then :

(A) xA  xB

(B) xA = xB

(C) xA  xB

(D) the information is insufficient to decide the relation of xA with xB .

87. A stone is released from an elevator going up with an acceleration a. the acceleration of the stone after
thwe release is
(A) a upward (B) (g–a) upward
(C) (g–a) downward (D) g downward
88. A person standing near the edge of the top of a building throws two balls A and B. the ball A is thrown
vertically upward and B is thrown vertically downward with the same speed. The ball A hits the ground
with a speed vA and the ball B hits the ground with a speed vB. We have :
(A) vA  vB

(B) vA  vB

(C) vA = vB
(D) the relation between vA and vB depends on height of the building above the ground.
89. The acceleration of a particle as seen from two frames S1 and S2 have equal magnitude 4 ms–2:
(A) the frames must be at rest with respect to each other
(B) The frames may be moving with respect to each other but neither should be accelerated with respect to other
(C) the acceleration of S2 with respect to S1 may either be zero or 8 m/s2.
(D) the acceleration of S2 with respect to S1 may be anything between zero and 8 m/s2
90. A train passes an observer standing on a platform. The first carriage of the train passes the observer in
time t1 = 1s and the second carriage in t2 = 1.5s find its acceleration assuming it to be constant. The
length of each carriage is : l = 12m
(A) 3.3 m/s2 (B) –3.2 m/s2
(C) 24 m/s2 (D) –24 m/s2

83
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

91. A particle starts from rest at A and moves with uniform acceleration a m/s2 in a straight line. After 1/a seconds
a second particle starts from A and moves with uniform velocity u in the same line and same direction. If u > 2
m/s then during the entire motion the second particle remains ahead of first particle for a duration:
u (u + 2) a
(A) 2 (B) u(u − 2)
a 2
2
(C) u(u − 2) (D) None of these
a
92. Two cars start off to race with velocity 4 m/s and 2 m/s & travel in straight line with uniform acceleration 1
m/s2 and 2 m/s2 respectively. If they reach the final point at the same instant, then the length of the path is:
(A) 30 m (B) 32 m
(C) 20 m (D) 24m
93. An open lift is coming down from the top of a building at a constant speed v = 10m/s. A boy standing on
the lift throws a stone vertically upwards at a speed of 30 m/s w.r.t. himself. The time after which he will
catch the stone is:
(A) 4 sec (B) 6 sec
(C) 8 sec (D) 10 sec
94. A body is thrown up from a lift with velocity u relative to lift. If its time of flight with respect to lift is t
then acceleration of the lift is:
(u − gt ) (u − gt )
(A) upwards (B) downwards
t t
(2u − gt ) (2u − gt )
(C) upwards (D) downwards
t t
95. A point moves rectilinearly. Its displacement x at time t is given by x = t + 1, its acceleration at time t is:
2 2

1 1 1
(A) (B) −
x3 x x2
t t2
(C) − (D) − 3
x2 x
96. Two cars approach each other on a straight road. Car A moves at 16 m/s and car B moves at 8m/s. when
they are 45 m apart, both drivers apply their brakes. Car A slows down at 2 m/s2, while car B slows down
at 4 m/s2. When do they collide?
(A) t = 13.2 s (B) t = 2.8 s
(C) t = 8 s (D) They do not collide
97. The velocity-displacement graph of a particle moving along a straight line is as shown in figure. Find the
velocity of particle as a function of time.

(A) et (B) 2et

(C) (et – 1) (D) e–t

84
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

85
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

1. In a car race on straight road, car A takes a time t less than car B at the finish and passes finishing point
with a speed 'v' more than that of car B. Both the cars start from rest and travel with constant acceleration
a1 and a2 respectively. Then 'v' is equal to [JEE (M) 2019]
a1 + a2
(A) t (B) 2a1a2 t
2
2a1a2
(C) t (D) a1a2 t
a1 + a2
2. A particle is moving along a circular path with a constant speed of 10 ms –1. What is the magnitude of the
change is velocity of the particle, when it moves through an angle of 60° around the centre of the circle?
[JEE (M) 2019]
(A) zero (B) 10 m/s
(C) 10 3 m/s (D) 10 2 m/s
3. A passenger train of length 60m travels at a speed of 80 km/hr. Another freight train of length 120 m travels at
a speed of 30 km/hr. The ratio of times taken by the passenger train to completely cross the freight train when:
(i) they are moving in the same direction, and (ii) in the opposite directions is: [JEE (M) 2019]
5 25
(A) (B)
2 11
3 11
(C) (D)
2 5
4. A man in a car at location Q on a straight highway is moving with speed v. He decides to reach a point P
in a field at a distance d from the highway (point m) as shown in the figure. Speed of the car in the field
is half to that on the highway. What should be the distance RM, so that the time taken to reach P is
minimum?
[JEE (M) 2018]

d d
(A) (B)
2 3
d
(C) (D) d
2
5. The co-ordinates of a moving particle at any time t are given by x =  t and y =  t . The speed of the
3 3

particle at time t is given by [2003]

(A) 3t  +  (B) 3t  + 
2 2 2 2 2

(C) t  +  2 + 2
2 2 2
(D)

86
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

6. An engine of a train, moving with uniform acceleration, passes the signal post with velocity u and the
last compartment with velocity v. The velocity with which middle point of the train passes the signal
post is : [JEE (M) 2021]
v2 − u 2 v −u
(A) (B)
2 2
v2 + u 2 u+v
(C) (D)
2 2
7. A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate  for some time after which it decelerates at a constant rate
 to come to rest. If the total time elapsed is t seconds, the total distance travelled is: [JEE (M) 2021]
4αβ 2 2αβ 2
(A) t (B) t
(α + β) (α + β)
αβ αβ
(C) t2 (D) t2
2 (α + β) 4 (α + β)
8. A frictionless wire AB is fixed on a sphere of radius R. A very small spherical ball slips on this wire.
The time taken by this ball to slip from A to B is [JEE (M) 2019]

2 gR cos 
(A) (B) 2 gR .
g cos  g
R gR
(C) 2 (D)
g g cos 

9. A particle is moving unidirectionally on a horizontal plane under the action of a constant power supplying
energy source. The displacement (s) - time (t) graph that describes the motion of the particle is
[JEE (M) 2021]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

87
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

10. A tennis ball is released from a height h and after freely falling on a wooden floor it rebounds and reaches
h
height . The velocity versus height of the ball during its motion may be represented graphically by
2
[JEE (M) 2021]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
11. The speed versus time graph for a particle is shown in the figure. The distance travelled (in m) by the
particle during the time interval t = 0 to t = 5 s will be _________________. [JEE (M) 2021]

12. The velocity (v) and time (t) graph of a body in a straight line motion is shown in the figure. The point S
is at 4.333 seconds. The total distance covered by the body in 6s is [JEE (M) 2021]

37
(A) m (B) 11 m
3
49
(C) 12 m (D) m
4

88
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

13. If the velocity-time graph has the shape AMB, what would be the shape of the corresponding acceleration
time graph? [JEE (M) 2021]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
14. The velocity-displacement graph describing the motion of a bicycle is shown in the figure.
[JEE (M) 2021]

The acceleration-displacement graph of the bicycle's motion is best described by :

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

89
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

15. The position, velocity and acceleration of a particle moving with a constant acceleration can be represented
by: [JEE (M) 2021]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
16. The velocity-displacement graph of a particle is shown in the figure. [JEE (M) 2021]

The acceleration-displacement graph of the same particle is represented by :

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
17. A particle starts from the origin at time t = 0 and moves along the positive x-axis. The graph of velocity with
respect to time is shown in figure. What is the position of the particle at time t = 5s? [JEE (M) 2019]

(A) 6 m (B) 9 m
(C) 3 m (D) 10 m

90
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

18. The velocity - time graphs of a car and a scooter are shown in the figure. (i) The difference between the
distance travelled by the car and the scooter in 15 s and (ii) the time at which the car will catch up with
the scooter are, respectively. [JEE (M) 2018]

(A) 112.5 m and 15 s (B) 337.5 m and 25 s

(C) 225.5 m and 10 s (D) 112.5 m and 22.5 s
19. All the graphs below are intended to represent the same motion. One of them does it incorrectly. Pick it
up. [JEE (M) 2018]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

20. A body is thrown vertically upwards. Which one of the following graphs correctly represent the velocity
vs time? [JEE (M) 2017]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
21. A body is at rest at x = 0. At t = 0, it starts moving in the positive x-direction with a constant
acceleration. At the same instant another body passes through x = 0 moving in the positive x-direction
with a constant speed. The position of the first body is given by x1(t) after time t and that of the second
body x2(t) after the same time interval. Which of the following graphs correctly describes ( x1 − x2 ) as
a function of time t? [2008]

(A) (B)

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

(C) (D)
22. The figure shows the position-time (x-t) graph of one-dimensional motion of a body of mass 0.4kg. The
magnitude of each impulse is

(A) 0.2 Ns (B) 0.4 Ns

(C) 0.8 Ns (D) 1.6 Ns

23. The velocity of a particle is v = v0 + gt + Ft2. Its position is z = 0 at t = 0; then its displacement after time
(t = 1) is : [JEE (M) 2021]
g F
(A) v0 +g + F (B) v0 + +
2 3
g
(C) v0 + +F (D) v0 +2g +3F
2
24. A scooter accelerates from rest for time t1 at constant rate a1 and then retards at constant rate ag for time
t1
t2 and comes to rest. The correct value of will be [JEE (M) 2021]
t2
a1 + a2 a2
(A) (B)
a2 a1
a1 + a2 a1
(C) (D)
a1 a2
25. A particle is moving along the x axis with its coordinate with time t given by x(t) = 10 + 8t – 3t2. Another
particle is moving along the y-axis with its coordinate as a function of time given by y(t) = 5 – 8t3. At t =
1s, the speed of the second particle as measured in the frame of the first particle is given as v. Then v (in
m/s) is [JEE (M) 2020]
26. The distance x covered by a particle in one dimensional motion varies with time t as x2 = at2 + 2bt + c. If
the acceleration of the particle depends on x–n as x–n, where nis an integer, the value of n is
[JEE (M) 2020]
dv
27. An object moving with a speed of 6.25 ms–1, is decelerated at a rate given by = −2.5 v , where v is
dt
the instantaneous speed. The time taken by the object to come to rest would be: [2011]
(A) 1 s (B) 2 s
(C) 4 s (D) 8 s

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

28. Preeti reached the metro station and found that the escalator was not working. She walked up the stationary
escalator in time t1. On other days, if she remains stationary on the moving escalator, then the escalator takes
her up in time t2. The time taken by her to walk up on the moving escalator will be [JEE (M) 2017]
t1t2 t1t2
(A) (B)
t2 − t1 t2 + t1
t1 + t2
(C) t1 − t2 (D)
2

29. A rubber ball is released from a height of 5 m above the floor. It bounces back repeatedly, always rising
81
to of the height through which it falls. Find the average speed of the ball. (Take g = 10 ms–2)
100
[JEE (M) 2021]
–1 –1
(A) 3.0 ms (B) 3.50 ms
–1
(C) 2.0 ms (D) 2.50 ms–1
30. A stone is dropped from the top of a building. When it crosses a point 5 m below the top, another stone
starts to fall from a point 25 m below the top, Both stones reach the bottom of building simultaneously.
The height of the building is: [JEE (M) 2021]
(A) 45 m (B) 35m
(C) 25 m (D) 50m
31. A helicopter rises from rest on the ground vertically upwards with a constant acceleration g. A food
packet is dropped from the helicopter when it is at a height h. The time taken by the packet to reach the
ground is close to [g is the acceleration due to gravity] [JEE (M) 2020]
h h
(A) t = 3.4   (B) t = 1.8
g g

2h 2 h
(C) t = (D) t =  
3g 3 g
32. A particle is dropped from height h = 100m, from surface of a planet. If in last 12. sec of its journey it
covers 19m. Then value of acceleration due to gravity that planet is : [JEE (M) 2020]

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

33. Two stones are thrown up simultaneously from the edge of a cliff 240m high with initial speed of 10
m/s and 40 m/s respectively. Which of the following graph best represents the time variation of relative
position of the second stone with respect to the first? Assume stones do not rebound after hitting the
ground and neglect air resistance, take (g = 10 m/s2) [JEE (M) 2015]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)
34. A ball is released from the top of a tower of height h metre. It takes T second to reach the ground. What
T
is the position of the ball in second? [2004]
3
h 7h
(A) metre from the ground (B) metre from the ground
9 9
8h 17 h
(C) metre from the ground (D) metre from the ground
9 18
35. A parachutist after bailing out falls 50m without friction. When parachute opens, it decelerates at 2 m/s 2.
He reaches the ground with a speed of 3 m/s. At what approximate height, did he bail out?
(A) 243 m (B) 293 m
(C) 132 m (D) 182 m

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

95
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

1. A toy car wit charge q moves on a frictionless horizontal plane surface under the influence of a uniform

electric field E . Due to the force qE , its velocity increases from 0 to 6 m/s in one second duration. At
that instant the direction of the field is reversed. The car continues to move for two more seconds under
the influence of this field. The average velocity and the average speed of the toy car between 0 to 3
seconds are respectively [NEET 2018]
(A) 2 m/s, 4 m/s (B) 1 m/s, 3 m/s
(C) 1.5 m/s, 3 m/s (D) 1 m/s, 3.5 m/s
2. A particle covers half of its total distance with speed v1 and the rest half distance with speed v2 . Its

average speed during the complete journey is [2011 M]

v1v2 2v1v2
(A) (B)
v1 + v2 v1 + v2

2v12v22 v1 + v2
(C) 2 (D)
v1 + v22 2

3. A particle starts its motion from rest under the action of a constant force. If the distance covered i9n first
10 seconds is S1 and that covered in the first 20 seconds is S 2 , then: [2009]

(A) S2 = 3S1 (B) S2 = 4S1

(C) S2 = S1 (D) S2 = 2S1

4 −2
4. The distance travelled by a particle starting from rest and moving with an acceleration ms , in the
3
third second is: [2008]
(A) 6 m (B) 4 m
10 19
(C) m (D) m
3 3
5. A particle moves in a straight line with a constant acceleration. It changes its velocity from 10 ms –1 to
20 ms–1 while passing through a distance 135 m in t second. The value of t is: [2008]
(A) 10 (B) 1.8
(C) 12 (D) 9

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

6. A particle shows distance- time curve as given in this figure. The maximum instantaneous velocity of the
particle is around the point: [2008]

(A) B (B) C
(C) D (D) A

7. If the velocity of a particle is v = At + Bt , where A and B are constants, then the distance travelled by
2

it between 1s and 2s is: [2016]

3
(A) A + 4B (B) 3 A + 7 B
2
3 7 A B
(C) A+ B (D) +
2 3 2 3
8. A particle of unit mass undergoes one dimensional motion such that its velocity varies according to
−2n
v(x) = bx where b and n are constants and x is the position of the particle. The acceleration of the
particle as a function of x, is given by: [2015]
2 −4 n −1 2 −2 n +1
(A) −2nb x (B) −2b x
2 −4 n +1 2 −2 n −1
(C) −2nb e (D) −2nb x
9. The displacement ‘x’ (in meter) of a particle of mass ‘m’ (in kg) moving in one dimension under the

action of a force, is related to time ‘t’ (in sec) by t = x + 3 . The displacement of the particle when its
velocity is zero, will be [NEET Kar. 2013]
(A) 2m (B) 4m
(C) zero (D) 6m
10. The motion of particle along a straight line is described by equation: [2012]

x = 8 + 12t − t 3
Where x is in metre and t in second. The retardation of the particle when its velocity becomes zero, is :
(A) 24 ms–2 (B) zero
(C) 6 ms–2 (D) 12 ms–2

97
PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

−1
11. A particle moves a distance x in time t according to equation x = (t + 5) . The acceleration of particle is
proportional to: [2010]
(A) (velocity)3/2 (B) (distance)2
(C) (distance)–2 (D) (velocity)2/3
− t
12. The displacement x of a particle varies with time t as x = ae + be t , where a, b,  and  are positive
constants. the velocity of the particle will [2005]
(A) be independent of  and  (B) drop to zero when  =
(C) go on decreasing with time (D) go on increasing with time

13. The displacement of a particle is represented by the following equation: s = 3t + 7t + 5t + 8 Where s

3 2

is in metre and t in second. The acceleration of the particle at t = 1 second. The acceleration of the
particle at t = 1, is [2000]
(A) 14 m/s2 (B) 18 m/s2
(C) 32 m/s2 (D) zero

14. Preeti reached the metro station and found that the escalator was not working. She walked up the stationary
escalator in time t1 . On other days, if she remains stationary on the moving escalator, then the escalator takes

her up in time t2 the time taken by her to walk up on the moving escalator will be: [NEET 2017]

t1t2 t1t2
(A) (B)
t2 − t1 t2 + t1
t1 + t2
(C) t1 − t2 (D)
2
15. A bus is moving with a speed of 10 ms–1 on a straight road. A scooterist wishes to overtake the bus in
100s. if the bus is at a distance of 1 km from the scooterist, with what speed should the scooterist chase
the bus? [2009]
(A) 40 ms–1 (B) 25 ms–1
(C) 10 ms–1 (D) 20 ms–1

16. The position x of a particle with respect to time t along x-axis is given by x = 9t − t where x is in
2 3

metres and t in second. What will be the position of this particle when it achieves maximum speed along
the +ve x direction? [2007]
(A) 54 m (B) 81 m
(C) 24 m (D) 32 m

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MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

 t
17. A particle moving along x –axis has acceleration f, at time t, given by f = f 0 1 −  , where f 0 and T
 T
are constants. the particle at t = 0 has zero velocity. In the time interval between t = 0 and the instant
when f = 0, the particle’s velocity (vx ) is [2007]

1
(A) f 0T 2 (B) f 0T 2
2
1
(C) f 0T (D) f 0T
2
18. A particle moves along a straight line OX. At a time t (in seconds) the distance x (in metres of the particle

from O is given by x = 40 + 12t − t . How long would the particle travel before coming to rest?
3

[2006]
(A) 40 m (B) 56 m
(C) 16 m (D) 24 m

19. A ball is thrown vertically downward with a velocity of 20 m/s from the top of a tower. It hits the ground
after some time with a velocity of 80 m/s. The height of the tower is : (g = 10 m/s2) [NEET 2020]
(A) 340 m (B) 320 m
(C) 300 m (D) 360 m
20. A stone falls freely under gravity. It covers distances h1 , h2 and h3 in the first 5 seconds the next 5 seconds

and the next 5 seconds respectively. The relation between h1 , h2 and h3 is [2013]

h2 h3
(A) h1 = = (B) h2 = 3h1 and h3 = 3h2
3 5
(C) h1 = h2 = h3 (D) h1 = 2h2 = 3h3
−2
21. A boy standing at the top of a tower of 20 m height drops a stone. Assuming g = 10ms , the velocity
with which it hits the ground is [2011]
(A) 10.0 m/s (B) 20.0 m/s
(C) 40.0 m/s (D) 5.0 m/s
22. A ball is dropped from a high rise platform at t=0 starting from rest. After 6 seconds another ball is
thrown downwards from the same platform with a speed v. The two balls meet at t = 18s what is the
value of v?
[2010]
(A) 75 m/s (B) 55 m/s
(C) 40 m/s (D) 60 m/s

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PHYSICS MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE

23. A man of 50 kg mass is standing in a gravity free space at a height of 10 m above the floor. He throws a
stone of 0.5 kg mass downwards with a speed 2m/s. When the stone reaches the floor, the distance of the
man above the floor will be: [2010]
(A) 9.9 m (B) 10.1 m
(C) 10 m (D) 20 m
24. Two bodies A (of mass 1 kg) and B (of mass 3 kg), are dropped from heights of 16 m and 25 m
respectively. The ratio of the time taken by them to reach the ground is [2006]
(A) 12/5 (B) 5/12
(C) 4/5 (D) 5/4
25. A ball is thrown vertically upward. It has a speed of 10 m/sec when it has reached one half of its
maximum height. How high does the ball rise? Take g = 10 m/s2 [2005, 2001]
(A) 10 m (B) 5 m
(C) 15 m (D) 20 m
26. If a ball is thrown vertically upwards with speed u, the distance covered during the last t seconds of its
ascent is [2003]
(A) (u + gt )t (B) ut

1 2 1 2
(C) gt (D) ut − gt
2 2
27. A man throws balls with the same speed vertically upwards one after the other at an interval of 2 seconds.
What should be the speed of the throw so that more than two balls are in the sky at any time? [Given

g = 9.8m/s2 ] [2003]
(A) Only with speed 19.6 m/s (B) More than 19.6 m/s
(C) At least 9.8 m/s (D) Any speed less than 19.6 m/s

100
MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE PHYSICS

101