Physical Quantities & Measurement –
Practice Questions
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) – 10 Qs
1. The SI unit of density is:
(a) g cm⁻³
(b) kg m⁻³
(c) g m⁻³
(d) kg cm⁻³
2. A body of density 800 kg m⁻³ is placed in water. It will:
(a) Sink
(b) Float
(c) Remain suspended
(d) Dissolve
3. Relative density of silver is 10.5. This means:
(a) 1 cm³ of silver weighs 10.5 g
(b) Density of silver = 10.5 g cm⁻³
(c) Density of silver = 10.5 kg m⁻³
(d) Silver is 10.5 times lighter than water
4. Which of the following will float on water? (Density of water = 1000 kg m⁻³)
(a) Ice (920 kg m⁻³)
(b) Aluminium (2700 kg m⁻³)
(c) Iron (7800 kg m⁻³)
(d) Mercury (13,600 kg m⁻³)
5. Relative density has:
(a) No units
(b) Units of kg m⁻³
(c) Units of g cm⁻³
(d) Units of N
6. The density of sea water is greater than river water because it contains:
(a) More dissolved salts
(b) More oxygen
(c) More suspended impurities
(d) None of these
7. A body floats if its:
(a) Density < density of liquid
(b) Density > density of liquid
(c) Mass < volume
(d) Weight = 0
8. A ship floats in sea water because:
(a) It is very light
(b) Shape increases upthrust
(c) Density of material is less than water
(d) Engine provides upward thrust
9. If temperature increases, density of a liquid generally:
(a) Increases
(b) Decreases
(c) Remains constant
(d) First increases then decreases
10. Relative density of iron is 7.8. This means density of iron is:
(a) 7.8 g m⁻³
(b) 780 kg m⁻³
(c) 7.8 g cm⁻³
(d) 7800 g cm⁻³
B. Assertion and Reason Questions – 10 Qs
1. Assertion (A): Ice floats on water.
Reason (R): Density of ice is less than that of water.
2. Assertion (A): A balloon filled with helium rises up in air.
Reason (R): Weight of displaced air is more than the weight of the balloon.
3. Assertion (A): Ships float though made of iron.
Reason (R): The average density of the ship is less than water.
4. Assertion (A): Relative density has no units.
Reason (R): It is a ratio of two densities in the same units.
5. Assertion (A): An iron needle sinks in water.
Reason (R): Upthrust acting on needle is less than its weight.
6. Assertion (A): It is easier to swim in sea water than in river water.
Reason (R): Buoyant force is more in sea water due to dissolved salts.
7. Assertion (A): Cork always floats on water.
Reason (R): Density of cork is greater than water.
8. Assertion (A): A submarine can dive and float on water.
Reason (R): It controls its density by filling tanks with water or air.
9. Assertion (A): A body floats when buoyant force equals its weight.
Reason (R): Net force on the body is then zero.
10. Assertion (A): A piece of wood floats in kerosene but sinks in mercury.
Reason (R): Mercury is denser than wood.
C. Short Answer (2 Marks) – 10 Qs
1. Define density and give its SI unit.
2. What is relative density? Write its formula.
3. Why does a piece of iron sink in water while a ship made of iron floats?
4. Explain why icebergs are dangerous for ships.
5. Why does a cork piece float on water surface?
6. How is density of a liquid determined using a density bottle?
7. An egg sinks in fresh water but floats in salt solution. Why?
8. Why does a hydrogen-filled balloon rise in air?
9. State two differences between density and relative density.
10. Why is it easier to lift a stone under water than in air?
D. Case Based Questions (CBQ) – 10 Qs
Passage: A wooden block of density 800 kg m⁻³ is placed in three liquids A, B, and C with
densities 500 kg m⁻³, 1000 kg m⁻³, and 1200 kg m⁻³ respectively.
1. In which liquid will the block float fully submerged?
2. In which liquid will the block float partially?
3. In which liquid will the block sink?
4. What force is responsible for floating?
5. If volume of block is 0.01 m³, find mass of block.
6. Calculate weight of block.
7. What will be the upthrust in liquid B?
8. Why does upthrust not depend on depth?
9. Write relation between upthrust and weight for floating.
E. Numericals – 10 Qs
1. The density of aluminium is 2.7 g cm⁻³. Convert it into SI unit.
2. A solid of mass 540 g has volume 200 cm³. Find density.
3. A cube of side 10 cm has mass 1.2 kg. Find density.
4. A piece of metal weighs 50 g in air and 40 g in water. Find its relative density.
5. A body of density 0.8 g cm⁻³ floats in water. What fraction of its volume will be immersed?
6. A stone weighs 200 g in air and 150 g in water. Find upthrust.
7. A block of wood of mass 600 g and density 0.6 g cm⁻³. Find volume of block.
8. Density of mercury is 13.6 g cm⁻³. Express in kg m⁻³.
9. A body floats with 3/4th of its volume submerged. Find density of body if liquid density = 1200
kg m⁻³.
10. The mass of a density bottle = 30 g. With water it weighs 80 g, with liquid it weighs 70 g.
Find density of liquid.
FORCE AND PRESSURE
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – 10 Qs
1. The SI unit of pressure is:
(a) Newton (N) (b) Pascal (Pa) (c) Joule (J) (d) Watt (W)
2. Which of these increases pressure?
(a) Increasing force (b) Increasing area (c) Decreasing force (d) None
3. Why do camels have broad feet?
(a) To look bigger
(b) To increase pressure
(c) To reduce pressure
(d) To walk fast
4. Pressure in liquids:
(a) Decreases with depth
(b) Increases with depth
(c) Same everywhere
(d) None of these
5. Which is used below railway tracks to reduce pressure?
(a) Concrete (b) Sleepers (c) Soil (d) Stones
6. A knife cuts better when it is:
(a) Sharp (b) Blunt (c) Rusty (d) Bent
7. Thrust is a:
(a) Force (b) Pressure (c) Energy (d) Moment
8. 1 Pascal =
(a) 1 N/m (b) 1 N/m² (c) 10 N/m² (d) 100 N/cm²
9. Atmospheric pressure:
(a) Increases with height
(b) Decreases with height
(c) Remains constant
(d) Depends on depth
10. The turning effect of force is called:
(a) Pressure (b) Thrust (c) Moment (d) Energy
B. 2-Mark Questions – 10 Qs
1. Define thrust.
2. State the SI unit of pressure.
3. Write two factors affecting pressure in liquids.
4. Why do elephants have broad feet?
5. Why is it easier to cut vegetables with a sharp knife?
6. Why is the bottom of a dam made thicker?
7. What happens to atmospheric pressure as altitude increases?
8. State two applications of atmospheric pressure.
9. Why is it easier to open a door by pushing at its edge?
10. Define moment of force.
C. Assertion & Reason – 10 Qs
(A = Both true, R correct explanation; B = Both true, R not correct; C = A true, R false; D = Both
false)
1. A: A dam is broad at the base.
R: Pressure in liquids increases with depth.
2. A: Sharp knives cut better.
R: Pressure decreases if area decreases.
3. A: Water level is the same in connected vessels.
R: Pressure in liquids is equal at the same depth.
4. A: Balloon collapses when air is removed.
R: Air inside exerts pressure on balloon walls.
5. A: A spanner has a long handle.
R: Moment of force increases with distance.
6. A: Sleepers are used below rails.
R: They increase the pressure.
7. A: We do not feel atmospheric pressure.
R: Internal body pressure balances it.
8. A: The base of a container is made wide.
R: Pressure decreases when area increases.
9. A: A pin pierces cloth easily.
R: Pressure is inversely proportional to area.
10. A: A fluid exerts pressure in all directions.
R: Molecules of a fluid move freely.
D. Case-Based Questions – 10 Qs
Case 1: Dam Construction
1. Why are dams made broader at the bottom?
2. How does water pressure change with depth?
3. What would happen if dams were equally thick everywhere?
Case 2: Knife Cutting
4. Why does a sharp knife cut better?
5. How does pressure relate to area of contact?
6. Explain with formula: Pressure = Force/Area.
Case 3: Brick Problem
7. A brick is placed in three different ways. Why does pressure vary?
8. In which position will pressure be maximum?
9. What remains constant in all three cases?
10. Why is thrust the same even if pressure changes?
E. 3-Mark Questions – 10 Qs
1. Why do camels have broad feet?
2. Why do elephants not sink into soft soil?
3. Explain why water does not come out of a dropper until pressed.
4. Explain the crushing tin can experiment.
5. Why is the base of a multistorey building wide?
6. Explain how liquid exerts pressure sideways.
7. State three factors on which pressure in liquids depends.
8. Why do we feel ear pain at great depths in water?
9. Explain why divers wear specially designed suits.
10. Give three daily-life examples of thrust and pressure.
F. Numericals (2 Marks) – 10 Qs
1. Find the moment of force of 20 N about an axis of rotation at 0.5 m distance.
2. A normal force of 200 N acts on area 0.002 m². Find pressure.
3. A force of 25 N acts at 0.25 m from pivot. Find moment.
4. Find force required at rim of wheel (radius 0.5 m) to produce moment of 20 Nm.
5. A thrust of 500 N acts on 0.1 m². Find pressure.
6. Pressure at a depth in water is 2000 Pa. If area = 0.02 m², find thrust.
7. Calculate pressure if force = 150 N, area = 0.05 m².
8. A spanner of length 0.2 m requires a moment of 4 Nm. Find force applied.
9. A 10 N force acts perpendicular to door at 0.6 m. Find moment.
10. Find pressure if thrust = 100 N, area = 25 cm².
G. Numericals (3 Marks) – 10 Qs
1. A spanner of length 10 cm is used with 5 N force. Find moment.
2. A wheel of 1 m diameter is rotated with moment of 20 Nm. Find minimum force at rim.
3. A container of 60 kg and base area 500 cm² rests on a table. Find pressure.
4. A normal force of 400 N acts on 0.08 m². Find pressure.
5. Thrust = 300 N, area = 0.06 m². Find pressure.
6. A liquid of density 1000 kg/m³ at depth 2 m. Find pressure due to liquid column (g=10).
7. A 25 N force acts at 0.4 m. Find moment.
8. A force of 50 N acts on 10 cm² area. Find pressure in Pascal.
9. A dam wall 5 m below water surface. Find pressure due to water (ρ=1000, g=10).
10. A 30 N force acts at 0.25 m. Find moment of force.
H. Numericals (5 Marks) – 10 Qs
1. A brick of mass 2.5 kg and dimensions 20 × 10 × 5 cm. Find pressure in three orientations.
2. A boy weighing 60 kgf stands on one foot of 25 × 10 cm. Find pressure on floor.
3. A wooden block of 200 N rests on 0.02 m². Find pressure. Then place block on 0.01 m² and
compare.
4. A container of mass 50 kg, base area 0.25 m². Find pressure. If filled with water 100 L, find
new pressure.
5. A wheel of radius 0.4 m is rotated by force 25 N at rim. Find moment.
6. A thrust of 1000 N acts on area 0.25 m². Find pressure. If area doubled, find new pressure.
7. A steel tank has water 5 m deep. Find pressure at bottom and thrust if area = 1 m².
8. A cubical block of side 10 cm weighs 20 N. Find pressure when placed on one face, then on
an edge.
9. A normal force of 600 N acts on area 0.3 m². Find pressure in Pascal and kgf/cm².
10. A rectangular slab 2 m × 1 m × 0.5 m weighs 200 N. Find pressure exerted on ground in all
orientations.
Energy – Practice Questions
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – 10
1. Work is said to be done when:
a) Force is applied
b) Object is displaced
c) Force and displacement are in the same direction
d) All of these
Answer: d
2. The S.I. unit of work is:
a) Joule
b) Newton
c) Watt
d) Erg
Answer: a
3. Which of the following is not a form of mechanical energy?
a) Kinetic energy
b) Potential energy
c) Heat energy
d) Elastic energy
Answer: c
4. Potential energy depends on:
a) Mass only
b) Height only
c) Mass and height both
d) Force applied
Answer: c
5. A body of mass 2 kg is lifted to 5 m. Potential energy gained = ?
a) 10 J
b) 50 J
c) 100 J
d) 200 J
Answer: c
6. Kinetic energy of a body of mass m moving with velocity v is:
a) mv
b) mv²
c) ½ mv²
d) 2mv
Answer: c
7. Work done is zero when:
a) Force and displacement are perpendicular
b) Displacement is zero
c) Force is zero
d) All of the above
Answer: d
8. The commercial unit of energy is:
a) Joule
b) Watt
c) Kilowatt-hour
d) Newton-meter
Answer: c
9. Power is defined as:
a) Work × Time
b) Work ÷ Time
c) Force × Time
d) Energy × Time
Answer: b
10. If speed of a body is doubled, its kinetic energy becomes:
a) Double
b) Half
c) Four times
d) Same
Answer: c
B. Assertion and Reason (A&R) – 10
(Choose: A) Both Assertion and Reason are true, Reason is correct explanation.
B) Both true, but Reason not explanation.
C) Assertion true, Reason false.
D) Assertion false, Reason true.)
1. A: Work done is zero if displacement is zero.
R: Work depends only on force applied.
Answer: C
2. A: A stretched rubber band possesses potential energy.
R: Energy stored is due to its motion.
Answer: C
3. A: Kinetic energy depends on velocity.
R: KE = ½ mv².
Answer: A
4. A: Potential energy increases when a body is lifted.
R: PE = mgh.
Answer: A
5. A: Power is the rate of doing work.
R: Unit of power is joule.
Answer: C
6. A: Work done can be negative.
R: Work is negative when force and displacement are in opposite direction.
Answer: A
7. A: A horse tied to a pole and moving in a circle does work.
R: Displacement is along circular path.
Answer: D
8. A: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed.
R: Energy can only change from one form to another.
Answer: A
9. A: A ball thrown upwards has maximum KE at the top.
R: At topmost point velocity is zero.
Answer: C
10. A: A moving car has kinetic energy.
R: Kinetic energy depends on mass and velocity of the body.
Answer: A
C. 2-Mark Questions – 10
1. Define work. State its SI unit.
2. Write the expression for kinetic energy and explain the terms.
3. Write two factors on which potential energy of a body depends.
4. A boy lifts a load of 20 N through a height of 2 m. Find the work done.
5. Write two conditions necessary for work to be done.
6. State the law of conservation of energy.
7. What is meant by negative work? Give an example.
8. Differentiate between potential and kinetic energy (any two points).
9. Define 1 joule of work.
10. Write any two examples where potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
D. 3-Mark Questions – 10
1. Derive the expression for kinetic energy.
2. Derive the expression for potential energy.
3. Explain with an example the transformation of energy in a simple pendulum.
4. A man pushes a wall with a force of 100 N, but wall does not move. What is the work done?
Explain.
5. Write three differences between work and power.
6. Explain why no work is done when a coolie walks on a road carrying luggage on his head.
7. Write three examples of transformation of energy in daily life.
8. A 2 kg body is lifted to a height of 5 m. Find the potential energy stored.
9. A truck doubles its speed. How does its kinetic energy change?
10. Write three differences between commercial unit of energy and SI unit of energy.
E. Case-Based Questions (CBQs) – 10
Passage Example:
A student lifts a 5 kg bucket of water from the ground to a height of 2 m and then places it on a
shelf. Later the bucket accidentally falls to the ground.
Questions:
1. Calculate the potential energy of the bucket when kept on the shelf.
2. What energy does the bucket possess while falling down?
3. State the law involved when the bucket hits the ground and water splashes.
4. Identify two forms of energy transformation in this situation.
5. If the same bucket is lifted to 4 m, how will the potential energy change?
(Similar CBQs can be framed on: pendulum, bow and arrow, water dam, moving car,
hydroelectric plant, pump, athlete running, roller coaster, etc.)
F. Numericals – 10
1. A force of 30 N moves a body 5 m in its direction. Find the work done.
Ans: 150 J
2. A man lifts 20 kg to a height of 2.5 m. g = 10 m/s². Find work done.
Ans: 500 J
3. A body acted upon by 10 kgf moves 5 m. Work done? (1 kgf = 10 N).
Ans: 500 J
4. Find PE of 2.5 kg mass kept at 15 m height. g = 10.
Ans: 375 J
5. A pump lifts 200 kg water to 20 m in 10 s. Find power.
Ans: 4000 W
6. A truck of mass 2000 kg increases speed from 10 m/s to 20 m/s. Find KE change.
Ans: 3 × 10⁵ J
7. A ball of mass 0.5 kg has KE of 8 J. Find its velocity.
Ans: 5.66 m/s
8. A bullet of 10 g fired with speed 400 m/s. Find KE.
Ans: 800 J
9. A body of 60 kg moving at 5 m/s. Find KE.
Ans: 750 J
10. It takes 20 s for a 60 W bulb to consume energy. Calculate energy consumed.
Ans: 1200 J
CH : LIGHT ENERGY
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. The speed of light in water is approximately —-----------
2. When light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, it:
a) Bends away from the normal
b) Bends towards the normal
c) Passes undeviated
d) Gets reflected
3. Which mirror always produces a virtual and diminished image?
a) Concave mirror
b) Plane mirror
c) Convex mirror
d) None of these
4. The focal length of a spherical mirror is:
a) Equal to its radius of curvature
b) Twice its radius of curvature
c) Half its radius of curvature
d) Quarter of its radius of curvature
5. Dispersion of light occurs due to:
a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Diffraction
d) Interference
Section B: Assertion and Reason (A & R)
1. Assertion (A): The speed of light decreases when it enters from air to water.
Reason (R): Water is optically denser than air.
2. Assertion (A): A convex mirror always forms an erect image.
Reason (R): Convex mirrors converge parallel rays of light.
3. Assertion (A): The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.
Reason (R): Incident ray, reflected ray and normal lie in the same plane.
Section C: 2-Mark Questions
1. Define refraction of light.
2. Name two uses of a concave mirror and Convex Mirror each.
3. Which is optically denser, water or air? Give a reason.
4. Draw a ray diagram showing refraction of light from air to water and vice versa.
5. State the two laws of reflection.
Section D: 3-Mark Questions
1. Describe the formation of a virtual, erect, and enlarged image by a concave mirror. Draw the
diagram.
2. Explain the refraction of light through a prism with a ray diagram.
3. Draw the ray diagram to show the apparent depth of a vessel filled with water.
4. How is a real image formed by a concave mirror when the object is beyond C? Describe its
nature, size, and position.
5. Draw and explain the reflection of a ray passing through the center of curvature of a concave
mirror.
Section E: Case-Based Questions (CBQ)
1. A pencil is placed obliquely in an empty glass beaker. When water is poured into the beaker,
the pencil appears bent at the water surface.
(i) Name the phenomenon responsible for this observation.
(ii) Draw a ray diagram showing the apparent bending of the pencil.
(iii) Explain why the pencil appears bent.
2. A driver is looking into the rear-view mirror of a car.
(i) What type of mirror is used?
(ii) State the characteristics of the image formed.
(iii) Why is this type of mirror used?
Section F: Figure/Diagram-Based Questions
1. Draw a concave mirror and show:
Pole (P)
Centre of curvature (C)
Focus (F)
Principal axis
2. Draw a convex mirror with the same labels as above.
3. Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of:
Real, inverted image of an object beyond C (concave mirror)
Virtual, erect image of an object between pole and focus (concave mirror)
Diminished, virtual image of an object (convex mirror)
4. Draw a prism and show the dispersion of white light into VIBGYOR.
5. Show the path of light rays, angle of deviation through a glass prism.
6. Draw a ray diagram of concave and convex mirror where the image is virtual and erect