Unit # 2 KINEMATICS NOTES

1. MCQ’S
2. SHORT RESPONSE QUESTIONS
3. LONG RESPONSE QUESTIONS
4. NUMERICALS
🔹 Multiple Choice Questions

1. Study of motion without discussing the cause of motion is called:

a) Dynamics
b) Kinematics ✅
c) Heat
d) Motion

2. If a body does not change its position with respect to some observer then it is in a state
of:
a) Motion
b) Uniform motion
c) Rest ✅
d) Relative motion

3. Rest and motion are _____ states:

a) Absolute
b) Constant
c) Variable
d) Relative ✅

4. Which one of the following is a vector quantity?

a) Speed
b) Displacement ✅
c) Volume
d) Work

5. The spinning motion of a body about its axis is known as:

a) Vibratory motion
b) Translatory motion
c) Rotatory motion ✅
d) None of these

6. The total length of path between two points is known as:

a) Distance ✅
b) Acceleration
c) Speed
d) Velocity
7. The area under a speed–time graph represents:
a) Speed
b) Volume
c) Acceleration
d) Distance ✅

8. SI unit of acceleration is:

a) m/s
b) km/h
c) km/s²
d) m/s² ✅

9. If the velocity of the body is decreasing then its acceleration will be:
a) Positive
b) Negative ✅
c) Zero
d) Variable

10. The rate of change of velocity is known as:

a) Distance
b) Speed
c) Velocity
d) Acceleration ✅

11. In uniform acceleration, which of the following graphs will be a straight line?
a) Distance vs. time
b) Speed vs. time ✅
c) Displacement vs. time
d) Acceleration vs. time

12. The graph of velocity vs time for an object under uniform acceleration is a:
a) Horizontal line
b) Curve
c) Straight line ✅
d) Zig-zag line
13. Which of the following represents scalar quantity?
a) Displacement
b) Velocity
c) Acceleration
d) Distance ✅

14. Which of the following is the correct SI unit of displacement?

a) m/s
b) km
c) m ✅
d) s

15. A car is moving at a uniform speed. Its distance-time graph will be:
a) A straight line from origin ✅
b) A curved line
c) A horizontal line
d) A vertical line

16. Which of the following is a correct equation of motion?

a) v = u + 2as
b) s = ut + ½at² ✅
c) v² = ut + 2as
d) a = v – ut

17. The value of acceleration due to gravity near Earth is approximately:

a) 9.8 m/s
b) 10 m/s
c) 9.8 m/s² ✅
d) 8.9 m/s²

18. Which graph represents an object moving with increasing speed?

a) Distance-time graph with upward curve ✅
 b) Horizontal distance-time graph
c) Velocity-time graph with horizontal line
d) Distance-time graph with downward slope

19. An object thrown upward has zero velocity at:

a) The start
b) The highest point ✅
c) Midway
d) Just before falling

20. The rate of change of displacement is called:

a) Acceleration
b) Speed
c) Velocity ✅
d) Motion

21. Displacement is always:

a) Greater than distance
b) Equal to or less than distance ✅
c) A scalar
d) Equal to speed

22. A car starts from rest and gains speed uniformly. The graph of distance vs time will
be:
a) Straight line
b) Curve opening upward ✅
c) Horizontal line
d) None

23. When an object slows down uniformly, the acceleration is:

a) Positive
b) Negative ✅
 c) Zero
d) Increasing

24. Which of the following quantities changes in uniform circular motion?

a) Speed
b) Velocity ✅
c) Time
d) Mass

25. Which one is not a type of translatory motion?

a) Linear
b) Circular
c) Random
d) Rotatory ✅

26. Which of the following cannot be negative?

a) Displacement
b) Velocity
c) Distance ✅
d) Acceleration

27. If a car travels 60 km in 2 hours, its average speed is:

a) 30 km/h ✅
b) 60 km/h
c) 120 km/h
d) 0 km/h

28. When a graph of velocity vs time has a slope, it indicates:

a) Velocity
b) Displacement
c) Acceleration ✅
d) Speed
 29. During free fall, an object accelerates at:
a) 0 m/s²
b) 9.8 m/s² ✅
c) 1.6 m/s²
d) Constant speed

30. When the slope of speed – time graph decreases what does it mean..?
a. Increasing speed
b. Decreasing acceleration
c. Decreasing velocity
d. Increasing acceleration

Short response questions

Q1: Ferris Wheel Motion

Q: In a park, children are enjoying a ride on Ferris wheel. What kind of motion the big wheel has
and what kind of motion the riders have?
A:
The Ferris wheel has rotational motion because it turns around a central axis.
The riders also experience circular motion as they move in a circle with the wheel.
However, they are in a non-uniform circular motion because their direction keeps changing.

Q2: Displacement Zero, Distance Not Zero

Q: A boy moves for some time. Give two situations in which his displacement is zero but
covered distance is not zero.
A:

1. If a boy walks around a circular track and returns to the starting point.
2. If he moves 10 m forward and then 10 m back to the same place.
In both cases, the displacement is zero, but the distance is not zero.

Q3: Velocity of Whirling Stone

Q: A stone tied to a string is whirling in circle. What is direction of its velocity at any instant?
A:
The direction of velocity of the stone is always tangent to the circle at that point.
This is because velocity is a vector and always points in the direction of motion.
It keeps changing due to circular motion.

Q4: Acceleration Without Speeding Up or Slowing Down

Q: Is it possible to accelerate an object without speeding it up or slowing it down?

A:
Yes, in uniform circular motion, an object moves with constant speed but changing direction.
Since velocity depends on both speed and direction, change in direction causes acceleration.
So, object accelerates even if speed remains the same.
Q5: Acceleration Direction in a Moving Car

Q: Can a car moving towards right have direction of acceleration towards left?
A:
Yes, when a car moves right but slows down, the acceleration is towards the left.
This is called deceleration or negative acceleration.
Acceleration acts in the opposite direction to motion.

Q6: Daily Life Examples of Acceleration

a. Acceleration is in the direction of motion:

A ball rolling downhill speeds up due to gravity.

b. Acceleration is against the direction of motion:

A moving bicycle slows down when brakes are applied.

c. Acceleration is zero and body is in motion:

A car moving at constant speed on a straight road.

Q7: Interpretation of Distance-Time Graph

Q: What does the given distance-time graph tell us about the speed of motorcyclist?
A:
The graph is a straight line, showing the motorcycle is moving at constant speed.
The slope of the graph gives speed, and since slope is constant, speed is uniform.
Velocity-time graph would be a horizontal line above the time-axis.

Q8: Car Controls and Acceleration

Q: Which controls in the car can produce acceleration or deceleration in it?

A:

 The accelerator increases speed (acceleration).

 The brake slows the car (deceleration).
 The steering wheel changes direction (also a type of acceleration).
Q9: Free Fall of Stones

Q: If two stones of 10 kg and 1 kg are dropped from a 1 km high tower, which one will hit the
ground with greater velocity?
A:
Both stones will hit the ground at the same velocity and same time.
This is because acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²) is independent of mass.
(Assuming air resistance is neglected.)

Q10: Two Balls Released

Q: A 100 g ball is just released (from rest) and another is thrown downward with velocity of 10
m/s. Which will reach ground first?
A:
The ball thrown with initial velocity (10 m/s) will reach the ground first.
The other ball starts from rest and takes more time to accelerate.
Initial speed affects time of fall.

SLO based questions(short questions)

Q1. Define scalar and vector quantities with examples.
✅ Answer:
Scalar quantities are those that have only magnitude but no direction, such as distance, speed,
and mass.
Vector quantities, on the other hand, have both magnitude and direction. Examples include
displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
For example, "5 meters" is a scalar, while "5 meters east" is a vector.
Q2. What is the difference between speed and velocity?
✅ Answer:
Speed is a scalar quantity that tells us how fast an object is moving, without indicating direction.
Velocity is a vector quantity that not only gives the rate of motion but also includes the
direction.
So, a car moving at 60 km/h is speed, while 60 km/h north is velocity.

Q3. What is uniform motion? Give an example.

✅ Answer:
Uniform motion occurs when a body travels equal distances in equal intervals of time,
regardless of how short those intervals are.
An example is a car moving on a straight road at a constant speed of 40 km/h.

Q4. Define acceleration and give its SI unit.

✅ Answer:
Acceleration is defined as the rate at which velocity changes with time.
If an object’s velocity increases or decreases, it is said to be accelerating.
The SI unit of acceleration is meter per second squared (m/s²).

Q5. What is retardation? Give an example.

✅ Answer:
Retardation is a type of acceleration where the velocity of a body decreases over time. It is
also called negative acceleration.
An example is when a moving bus applies brakes and slows down gradually.

Q6. What do you mean by variable velocity?

✅ Answer:
Variable velocity means that an object’s velocity changes over time.
This change can be due to a change in speed, a change in direction, or both.
For instance, a car moving around a circular track at constant speed still has variable velocity
because the direction changes continuously.
Q7. What does the slope of a velocity-time graph represent?
✅ Answer:
In a velocity-time graph, the slope of the graph line represents the acceleration of the object.
A steep upward slope shows greater acceleration, while a downward slope indicates deceleration.
A horizontal line means constant velocity (zero acceleration).

Q8. State three uses of velocity-time graphs.

✅ Answer:
Velocity-time graphs help us to:

1. Determine the acceleration or deceleration of a moving body.

2. Calculate displacement by measuring the area under the graph.
3. Identify the type of motion—whether it’s uniform, accelerated, or decelerated.

Q9. Can a body have zero velocity and non-zero acceleration?

✅ Answer:
Yes, it is possible for a body to have zero velocity but non-zero acceleration at a specific
moment.
For example, when a ball is thrown vertically upward, its velocity becomes zero at the highest
point, but acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² downward) still acts on it.

Graphical Analysis of Motion

Q10. What does a straight sloping line on a distance-time graph indicate about the motion of the
body?
✅ Answer:
A straight sloping line on a distance-time graph represents that the body is moving with uniform
(constant) speed.
This means the object covers the same amount of distance in every equal interval of time, which
is a sign of steady motion.

Q11. What type of motion is represented by a horizontal line on a distance-time graph?

✅ Answer:
A horizontal line on the distance-time graph shows that the object is not changing its position
over time.
In other words, the object is at rest, and no motion is taking place.

Q12. How can you determine the speed of an object from a distance-time graph?
✅ Answer:
The speed of an object can be calculated by finding the slope (gradient) of the line in a distance-
time graph.
The slope is determined using the formula:
Speed = Change in Distance / Change in Time
A steeper slope means higher speed.

Q13. What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent?

✅ Answer:
The area under a velocity-time graph gives the displacement of the object.
This is because multiplying velocity (y-axis) by time (x-axis) gives distance (or displacement in
case of vectors).
This method is useful for both uniform and non-uniform motions.

Q14. A velocity-time graph shows a line sloping downward. What does it represent?
✅ Answer:
When the line on a velocity-time graph slopes downward, it shows that the object’s velocity is
decreasing over time.
This indicates deceleration or retardation, meaning the object is slowing down as time passes.
 LONG RESPONSE QUESTIONS
Q1. Differentiate between rest and motion. With the help of an
example, show that rest and motion are relative to the observer?

Rest:
An object is said to be at rest if it does not change its position with respect
to its surroundings over time. For example, a book lying on a table is at rest
because its position relative to the table remains unchanged.

Motion:
An object is in motion if it changes its position with respect to its
surroundings over time. For example, a car moving on a road is in motion
because its position relative to trees or buildings changes continuously.

Relative Nature of Rest and Motion:

Rest and motion are not absolute but depend on the observer's frame of
reference.

Example:

 A passenger sitting inside a moving train is at rest relative to another

passenger sitting beside them because their positions do not change relative
to each other.

 However, the same passenger is in motion relative to a person standing on

the platform because the train is moving past the platform.

 Similarly, the Earth is in motion around the Sun, but for us standing on Earth,
it appears stationary.
 Conclusion:
An object can be at rest for one observer and in motion for another, proving
that rest and motion are relative concepts.

2. What are different types of motion? Define each type of motion with examples
from daily life.

1. Translatory Motion:
o Movement in a straight or curved path where all parts of the object move uniformly.

o Examples:
 A car moving on a straight road (linear motion).

 A ball rolling down a slope (curvilinear motion).

2. Rotatory Motion:
o Movement of an object around a fixed axis.

o Examples:
 A ceiling fan rotating.

 The spinning of the Earth on its axis.

3. Oscillatory Motion:
o Repeated to-and-fro movement about a mean position.

o Examples:
 A pendulum swinging.
 A child on a swing.

4. Vibratory Motion:
o Rapid back-and-forth movement of particles.

o Examples:
 A guitar string vibrating.

 The prongs of a tuning fork.

5. Circular Motion:
o Movement of an object along a circular path.

o Examples:
 A stone tied to a string and whirled around.

 The Moon orbiting the Earth.

Q3. What are scalars and vectors? Give examples. How are vectors represented
symbolically and graphically?

Scalar Quantities:

 Physical quantities that have only magnitude (no direction).

 Examples:
o Mass (e.g., 5 kg)

o Speed (e.g., 20 m/s)

o Time (e.g., 10 seconds)

 Vector Quantities:

 Physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction.

 Examples:
o Displacement (e.g., 5 m East)

o Velocity (e.g., 30 m/s North)

o Force (e.g., 10 N downward)

Representation of Vectors:

1. Symbolic Representation:
o Vectors are written with an arrow (→) or bold letters (v).

o Example: F = Force vector.

2. Graphical Representation:
o Drawn as an arrow where:
 Length = Magnitude (e.g., 1 cm = 10 m/s).

 Direction = Arrowhead points in the direction of the vector.

Q4. Define the term position. Differentiate between distance and displacement.

Position:
The location of an object relative to a reference point (origin). For example, if a car is 5 km east
of a school, its position is +5 km from the reference point (school).

Distance vs. Displacement:

 Distance Displacement

Total path length traveled (scalar). Shortest distance from start to end (vector).

Always positive. Can be positive, negative, or zero.

Depends on the path taken. Independent of the path.

Example:
If a person walks 3 km East and then 4 km North:

 Distance = 3 + 4 = 7 km (total path).

 Displacement = 5 km Northeast (shortest straight-line distance).

Q5. Differentiate between speed and velocity. Also define average speed, uniform
and variable speeds, average velocity, uniform and variable velocities.

Speed (Scalar) Velocity (Vector)

Distance per unit

Displacement per unit time.
time.

No direction. Includes direction.

Additional Definitions:

1. Average Speed:
o Total distance traveled divided by total time taken.
o Formula:
Average Speed=Total DistanceTotal TimeAverage Speed=Total TimeTotal Distanc
e

2. Uniform Speed:
o Constant speed (no change in magnitude over time).

o Example: A car moving at 60 km/h steadily.

3. Variable Speed:
o Speed changes over time.

o Example: A car accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h.

4. Average Velocity:
o Total displacement divided by total time.

o Formula:
Average Velocity=Total DisplacementTotal TimeAverage Velocity=Total TimeTota
l Displacement

5. Uniform Velocity:
o Constant speed and direction.

o Example: A car moving at 50 km/h North without turning.

6. Variable Velocity:
o Changes in speed or direction.

o Example: A car turning left while slowing down.

 Q6. What are freely falling bodies? What is gravitational acceleration? Write down
sign conventions for gravitational acceleration? Write three equations of motion
of a freely falling body?

Freely Falling Bodies:

Objects moving under the influence of gravity alone (no air resistance). Example: A dropped
ball.

Gravitational Acceleration (g):

 Acceleration due to Earth’s gravity (g ≈ 9.8 m/s² downward).

 Near the surface, all objects fall with the same acceleration (ignoring air resistance).

Sign Convention:

 Upward motion: -g (if upward is taken as positive).

 Downward motion: +g.

Equations of Motion for Free Fall:

1. vf=vi+gtvf=vi+gt

2. h=vit+12gt2h=vit+21gt2

3. 2gh=vf2−vi22gh=vf2−vi2

Q7. Draw distance-time graphs for rest, uniform speed, increasing speed, and
decreasing speed.

1. Rest:
o Graph: A horizontal straight line (slope = 0).
o Explanation: No change in position over time.

2. Uniform Speed:
o Graph: A straight line with constant slope.

o Explanation: Equal distance covered in equal intervals.

3. Increasing Speed (Acceleration):

o Graph: A curve with increasing slope.

o Explanation: More distance covered in later time intervals.

4. Decreasing Speed (Deceleration):

o Graph: A curve with decreasing slope.

o Explanation: Less distance covered in later time intervals.

Q8. Draw speed-time graphs for zero acceleration, uniform acceleration, uniform
deceleration. Also show that area under speed-time graph represents distance
covered by the body.

1. Zero Acceleration (Constant Speed):

o Graph: A horizontal straight line.

o Explanation: Speed remains unchanged.

2. Uniform Acceleration:
o Graph: A straight line with positive slope.

o Explanation: Speed increases uniformly.

3. Uniform Deceleration:
o Graph: A straight line with negative slope.

o Explanation: Speed decreases uniformly.

Area Under Graph = Distance:

 For uniform motion: Area = Speed × Time = Distance.

 For changing speed: Divide into rectangles & triangles to calculate total area.

** NOTE** Draw visual graph in your notebook by yourself for question 7

and 8…