Kinematics Quiz

Grade 11 · Science · Quiz

10 questions testing mastery of kinematic equations, graph interpretation, and projectile motion.

Questions

1. What is the difference between distance and displacement?

   1. They are the same thing
   2. Distance is a vector; displacement is a scalar
   3. Displacement is the change in position (vector); distance is total path length (scalar)
   4. Distance is always larger than displacement
   Show answer

   Answer: Displacement is the change in position (vector); distance is total path length (scalar)

   Displacement has direction and depends only on start/end points; distance is always positive and includes the entire path.

2. A car traveling at 20 m/s brakes to rest over 4.0 s. What is the acceleration?

   1. −5.0 m/s²
   2. +5.0 m/s²
   3. −80 m/s²
   4. +80 m/s²
   Show answer

   Answer: −5.0 m/s²

   a = Δv/Δt = (0 − 20)/4.0 = −5.0 m/s². Negative indicates deceleration in the direction of motion.

3. A rock is dropped from a 45 m cliff. How long does it take to hit the ground? (g = 10 m/s²)

   1. 2.1 s
   2. 3.0 s
   3. 4.5 s
   4. 6.7 s
   Show answer

   Answer: 3.0 s

   Δx = ½gt² → 45 = ½(10)t² → t² = 9 → t = 3.0 s.

4. On a position-time graph, a horizontal line indicates the object is:

   1. Accelerating
   2. Moving at constant velocity
   3. At rest
   4. Decelerating
   Show answer

   Answer: At rest

   A horizontal line on an x-t graph has zero slope, meaning zero velocity — the object is stationary.

5. Using v² = v₀² + 2aΔx, what is the final velocity of an object starting at 5.0 m/s, accelerating at 2.0 m/s² over 10 m?

   1. 7.0 m/s
   2. 9.0 m/s
   3. 25 m/s
   4. 45 m/s
   Show answer

   Answer: 7.0 m/s

   v² = v₀² + 2aΔx = 5² + 2(2.0)(10) = 25 + 40 = 65; v = √65 ≈ 8.1 m/s.

6. In projectile motion, the vertical acceleration is:

   1. 0 m/s²
   2. 9.8 m/s² upward
   3. 9.8 m/s² downward
   4. Depends on the launch angle
   Show answer

   Answer: 9.8 m/s² downward

   Gravity provides a constant downward acceleration of 9.8 m/s² regardless of horizontal motion or launch angle.

7. At what launch angle does a projectile achieve maximum range?

   1. 30°
   2. 45°
   3. 60°
   4. 90°
   Show answer

   Answer: 45°

   Range = (v₀²sin2θ)/g, maximized when sin2θ = 1, i.e., 2θ = 90°, θ = 45°.

8. The area under a velocity-time graph represents:

   1. Acceleration
   2. Displacement
   3. Speed
   4. Force
   Show answer

   Answer: Displacement

   Area = v × t = displacement (for constant v). For varying v, the area under the v-t curve gives total displacement.

9. An object moving at 10 m/s experiences acceleration of −2 m/s². How long until it stops?

   1. 2 s
   2. 5 s
   3. 10 s
   4. 20 s
   Show answer

   Answer: 5 s

   v = v₀ + at → 0 = 10 + (−2)t → t = 5 s.

10. A ball is thrown horizontally at 15 m/s from a 20 m high cliff. What is its horizontal range? (g = 10 m/s²)

    1. 10 m
    2. 20 m
    3. 30 m
    4. 45 m
    Show answer

    Answer: 30 m

    Time to fall: 20 = ½(10)t² → t = 2 s. Range = 15 × 2 = 30 m.

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