Motion

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. What do you understand by the motion of an object?
Ans. An object is said to be in motion if its position changes with time.
Q.2. What is a reference point?
Ans. A fixed point with respect to which the position of a moving object is measured.
Q.3. Is it possible that the train in which you are sitting appears to move while it is
at rest?
Ans. Yes. The train at rest in which we are sitting appears to move, when we look
directly at another train moving parallel to the track on which our train is
standing.
Q.4. Define the term "distance".
Ans. The length of actual path travelled by an object in the given time is called the
distance travelled by the object.
Q.5. Is distance a scalar or a vector quantity?
Ans. Distance is a scalar quantity.
Q.6. Define the term "displacement”.
Ans. The shortest distance between the initial and final positions of the object in a
particular direction
Q.7. Is displacement of an object a scalar or a vector quantity?
Ans. Displacement is a vector quantity.
Q.8. Under what condition is distance and the magnitude of the displacement
equal?
Ans. Distance and magnitude of the displacement are equal if an object moves along
a straight line in one direction.
Q.9. What do you mean by uniform motion?
Ans. The motion of an object is uniform motion if it travels equal distances in equal
intervals of time along a straight line.
Q.10. What is non uniform motion?

Ans. The motion of an object is non-uniform if it travels unequal distances in equal

intervals of time, or if it travels equal distances in unequal intervals of time.
Q.11. Give one example of non-uniform motion.

Ans. A bus moving on a hilly road or on a zig-zag road. A child running randomly in a
park. Bouncing a Ball Randomly. Motion of a Butterfly. Motion of an Asteroid.
Q.12. What is the shape of the path of a body when it is in uniform motion

Ans. Straight line.

Q.13. Define the term "speed".

Ans. The distance travelled by an object per unit time is known as speed of the
object.
Q.14. State SI unit of speed.

Ans. meter/second (ms-1).

Q.15. Is speed a scalar or a vector quantity?

Ans. Speed is a scalar quantity.

Q.16. Define uniform speed.

Ans. The speed of an object is said to be uniform speed if it travels equal distances in
equal intervals of time.
Q.17. Define average speed.

Ans An average speed of the total distance travelled by an object to the total time
. taken Average speed is the ratio by it.
Q.18. What does speedometer of an automobile measure?

Ans. Speedometer of an automobile measures its instantaneous speed.

Q.19. Define the term "velocity".

Ans. Velocity is defined as the ratio of the displacement of an object to the time
taken by it.
Q.20. What do you understand by a uniform velocity? Or When is a body said to
have uniform velocity?
Ans. Velocity of an object is uniform if it has equal displacements in equal intervals of
time.
Q.21. What do you understand by a non-uniform velocity? Or When is a body said to
have non-uniform velocity?
Ans. Velocity of an object is non-uniform if it has unequal displacements in equal
intervals of time or if it has equal displacements in unequal intervals of time.
Q.22. Define average velocity.

Ans. Average velocity is the ratio of the total displacement of an object to the total
time taken by it.
Q.23. Is velocity a scalar or a vector quantity?

Ans. Velocity is a vector quantity.

Q.24. An object starts with initial velocity u and attains final velocity v. The velocity
is changing at a uniform rate. What is the formula for calculating average
speed in this situation?
Ans. Avg. Velocity = (u+v)/2
Q.25. A physical quantity measured is -10 m s1, Is it a speed or velocity?

Ans. It is velocity because velocity can be positive or negative. On the other hand,
speed is always positive.
Q.26. What is the numerical ratio of average velocity to average speed of an object
when it is moving along a straight path?
Ans. In this case, both average velocity and average speed of the object are equal, so
ratio is one.
Q.27. The sound of thunder is heard after seeing the lightning. Explain, why?

Ans. This is because speed of light is more than the speed of sound
Q.28. Define acceleration of a body.

Ans. Acceleration is defined as the change in velocity of a body per unit time,
Q.29. State SI unit of acceleration.

Ans. ms-2
Q.30. Is acceleration a scalar or a vector quantity?

Ans. It is a vector quantity.

Q.31. Why does (second)2 occur in the unit of acceleration ?

Ans. Acceleration =change in velocity/time

= change in displacement/(time)2
So, unit of acceleration = meter//(time)2
Q.32. Name the physical quantity that corresponds to the rate of change of velocity.

Ans. Acceleration.
Q.33. What do you mean by positive acceleration?

Ans. When the change in velocity of a body takes place in the direction of motion of
the body, then the acceleration is positive
Q.34. Give one example of positive acceleration

Ans. The acceleration of a body is positive, when it falls from certain height.
Q.35. What do you mean by negative acceleration?

Ans. When the change in velocity of a body takes place in a direction opposite to the
direction of motion of the body then the acceleration is negative.
Q.36. Give one example of retardation or negative acceleration.

Ans. When the velocity of a train decreases before entering the platform.
Q.37. When do you say that a body has uniform acceleration? Or Define uniform
acceleration
Ans. When the velocity of a body changes by an equal amount in equal intervals of
time, then the body is in uniform acceleration.
Q.38. When do you say that a body has non-uniform acceleration?

Ans. When the velocity of a body changes by unequal amount in equal intervals of
time, then the body is in non-uniform acceleration.
Q.39. Give an example of a motion in which the acceleration is in the direction of
motion
Ans. When a body (say a ball) falls from the roof of a house, then the acceleration of
the body is in the direction of motion
Q.40. Give an example of a motion in which the acceleration is against the direction
of motion.
Ans. When a body is thrown upward, then the acceleration is against the direction of
motion of the body.
Q.41. What is the acceleration of a body moving with uniform velocity in a straight
 line?
Ans. Acceleration = change in velocity/time taken
Since velocity is uniform, so change in velocity 0. Hence, acceleration of body =
0.

Q.42. Can a body exist in a state of absolute rest or of absolute motion? Explain with
example.
Ans. A state of rest or state of motion is not absolute but they are relative terms. A
body at rest in one frame of reference may be in motion in other frame of
reference. For example, a passenger sitting in a moving bus is at rest with respect
to the bus or other co-passengers. However, the same passenger is in motion with
respect to a person standing on a road side. Thus, rest and motion are relative
terms.
Two trains A and B start moving at the same time. The distances travelled by
them in given intervals of time are given below. State which train has uniform
motion and which train has non-uniform motion.
Time Distance travelled by Distance travelled
train A (in km) by train B (in km)
6.00 pm 0 0
6.15 pm 10 15
6.30 pm 20 24
6.45 pm 30 32
7.00 pm 40 38
7.15 pm 50 42
7.30 pm 60 47
Since train A travels equal distance (10 km) in equal intervals of time (i.e. in every
15 minutes), so the motion train A is uniform motion. On the other hand, train B
travels unequal distances in equal intervals of time (i.e. in every 15 minutes), so
the motion of train B is non-uniform motion.
Q.43. Distinguish between distance and displacement.

Ans. Distance Displacement

Distance is the length of the actual Displacement is the shortest distance
path travelled by an object in a given between the initial and final positions
interval of time. of a moving object in a particular
direction.
Distance travelled by an object The displacement of an object between
depends upon the shape of the path initial and final positions of the object
followed by the object in going from does not depend upon shape of the
initial position to the final position. path followed by it.
Distance travelled by an object in a Displacement of an object in a given
given interval of time is always interval of time may be positive,
positive. negative or zero.
Distance is a scalar quantity. Displacement is a vector quantity.
Q.44. Mention two differences between speed and velocity.
Ans. Speed Velocity
Distance travelled by an object per The distance travelled by an object in a
unit time is known as its speed. particular direction (i.e. displacement)
per unit time is known as its velocity.
Average speed of a moving object Velocity tells how fast an object moves
cannot be zero. Speed tells how fast and in which direction it moves.
an object moves.
Speed is a scalar quantity. Velocity is a vector quantity.
Speed of an object is always positive. Velocity of an object can be positive or
negative. Average velocity of a moving
object can be zero.
Q.45. Under what condition, the average speed is equal to the magnitude of the
average velocity. Justify your answer.
Ans. Average speed =(Total distance travelled)/( Total time taken)
And
magnitude of average velocity =( Magnitude of the displacement)/(Total time
taken)
When an object moves along a straight line, distance travelled by the object is
equal to the displacement of the object in the given time interval. Thus, average
speed is equal to the magnitude of the average velocity if an object moves in one
direction along a straight line.
Q.46. A body can have zero average velocity but not zero average speed. Explain.

Ans. Average speed= Total distance travelled by the body/Total time taken
Since, the total distance travelled by a moving body increases with the time, so
average speed of a moving body cannot be zero.
Average velocity =Total displacement of the body/Total time taken
Since total displacement of a moving body can be zero, so the average velocity of a
moving body can be zero.
Q.47. Give one example each to differentiate between uniform acceleration and non-
uniform acceleration.
Ans. Object has uniform acceleration if its velocity changes by an equal amount in equal
intervals of time. For example, motion of an object falling freely from the top of a
building.
On the other hand if velocity of an object changes by an unequal amount in equal
intervals of time, then it has non- uniform acceleration. For example, the motion
of a bus on a hilly track or on a circular track.
Q.48. Differentiate acceleration from velocity.

Ans. Acceleration Velocity

Acceleration of an object is defined as Velocity of an object is defined as the
the change in velocity of the object per change in displacement of the object
unit time. per unit time.
2
SI unit of acceleration is m/s . SI unit of velocity is m/s1.
Q.49. An object P is moving with a constant velocity for 5 minutes. Another object Q is
moving with changing velocity for 5 minutes. Out of these two objects, which
one has acceleration? Explain.
Ans. Acceleration = change in velocity/time taken
Since, the velocity of object P is not changing or change in velocity of the object is
zero, therefore, object P has no acceleration. On the other hand, there is change in
velocity of the object Q, so it has acceleration.
Distance and Displacement
The magnitude of the length covered by a
moving object is called distance. It has no
direction.
Displacement is the shortest distance
between two points or the distance
between the starting and final positions
with respect to time. It has magnitude as
well as direction.
Displacement can be zero, but distance
cannot.
Average Speed/Instantaneous Speed
Average Speed Instantaneous Speed
It is defined as the total It is defined as the speed at a
distance travelled particular
divided by the total time instant of time.
elapsed.
It is constant It is not constant
Measured by calculating the It is measured by a speedometer
speed for an entire journey
Example: A car travelling with a Example: A car travelling at a
speed of 60 kmph. Thus, the certain
average speed of the car is 60 speed at an instant of time can
km an hour be given by a speedometer.

Uniform motion and Non-uniform motion

When an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time it is
in uniform motion.
Examples of Uniform Motion
 ● Movement of the ceiling fan’s blades.
 ● Motion of earth around the sun
 ● Pendulum with equivalent amplitude on either side
When an object covers unequal distances in equal intervals of time it
is said to be in non-uniform motion.
 ● Bouncing ball
 ● Running horse
 ● Moving train
Define different types of motion?
There are three types of motion:
1. Linear or Translational motion. A body has linear motion if it moves along a
straight line or a curved path. The motion of a body along a straight line is called
rectilinear motion. The motion of a body along a curved path is called curvilinear
motion.
Examples of linear motion
(i) Motion of a moving car on a straight road
(ii) Motion of a ball dropped from the roof of a building.
2. Circular (or rotational) motion. A body has circular motion if it moves around a
 fixed point. A vertical line passing through the fixed point around which the body
moves is known as axis of rotation.
Examples of circular motion
(i) Motion of an electric fan.
(i) Motion of merry-go-round
(ii) Motion of a spinning top
3. Vibratory motion. A body has vibratory motion if it moves to and fro about a
fixed point (called mean position or equilibrium position).
Examples of vibratory motion
(i) Motion of a pendulum of a wall clock.
(ii) Motion of a child swinging in a swing.
(iii) Motion of a simple pendulum

NUMERICALS
Q.1. The minute hand of a clock is 7 cm long. Calculate the distance covered and the
displacement of minute hand of the clock from 9.00 AM to 9.30 AM.
Or
The minute hand of a clock is 7 cm long. Calculate the distance covered and the
displacement of minute hand of the clock in half an hour.
Q.2. An athlete completes a round of a circular track of diameter 200 m in 20 s.
Calculate i) the distance travelled by the athlete and (ii) the magnitude of the
displacement of the athlete at the end of 1 minute and 10 seconds.
Q.3. After studying the motion of a ball rolling on a straight line as shown in figure:

(i) Find its displacement and distance covered when it rolls from A to B
then to C [i.e., A to B to C] and
(ii) Finally comes back to A (i.e., A to A (Take A as the reference point).
Q.4. A boy moves 3 m towards east. He then turns and moves 4 m towards north.
Calculate
(a) distance travelled by the boy and
(b) the displacement of the boy.
Q.5. A cyclist travels a distance of 4 km from A to B and then moves a distance of 3 km
at right angle to AB. Find his resultant displacement and total distance travelled.
Q.6. An athlete runs along a circular track of radius 100 m. Calculate the displacement
of the athlete and the distance travelled by him, when he covers (3/4) th of the
track.
Q.7. Ram travels on a straight road. He goes from position A to position B.
The distance between A and B is 4 km. Now from position B he turns back and
travels a distance of 2 km to reach the position C. Find (i) the total distance
travelled by Ram during the whole journey and (ii) magnitude of his displacement.
Q.8. 2. An athlete completes one round of a circular track of diameter 200 m in 30 s.
Find (i) the distance travelled by the athlete and (ii) the magnitude of the
displacement of the athlete at the end of 30 s.
Q.9. A particle is travelling in a circle of diameter 15 m. Calculate the distance covered
and displacement when it completes two rounds.
Q.10. A taxi driver noted the reading on the odometer fitted in the vehicle as 1052 km
when he started the journey. After 30 minutes drive, he noted that the odometer
reading was 1088 km. Find the average speed of the taxi.
Q.11. A boy is running on a straight road. He runs 500 m towards north in 2 minutes 10
seconds and then turns back and runs 200 m in 1-00 minute. Calculate
(i) His average speed and magnitude of average velocity during first 2 minutes 10
seconds and (ii) his average speed and magnitude of average velocity during the
whole Journey.
Q.12. A train travels the first 30 km of 120 km track with a uniform speed of 30 km/h.
What should be the speed of the train to cover the remaining distance of the track
so that its average speed is 60 km/h for the entire trip?
Q.13. A driver applies the brakes and slows down the velocity of the bus from 80 km/h
to 60 km/h in 5 s. Calculate the acceleration of the bus.
Q.14. A bus starts from rest and attains a speed of 36 km h in 10 minutes while moving
with uniform acceleration. Calculate the acceleration of the bus.
Q.15. A car starts from rest and attains a velocity of 10 m/s in 40 s. The driver applies
brakes and slows down the car to 5 m/ s in 10 s. Find the acceleration of the car in
both the cases.
Q.16. A bus starts from rest and attains 40 km h-1 velocity after 10 seconds. Calculate
the acceleration of the bus in (i) km h-2 and (ii) m s-2, [Ans. (i) 14400 km h-2 (ii) 1-
11 m s2]
Q.17. A bus moving with a velocity of 60 km h-1 is brought to rest in 20 seconds by
 applying brakes. Find its acceleration. [Ans. - 0.83 m s-2]
Q.18. A car is retarded by applying brakes at the rate of 2 m s-2. It is finally stopped in 10
s. Find its initial velocity. [Ans. 20 m s-1]
Q.19. A train moving with velocity of 54 km h-1 is accelerated so that its velocity
becomes 72 km h-1 in 15 seconds. Find the acceleration of the train.
[Ans. 0.33 m s-2]