Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration

Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration MDCAT MCQs with answers

19 past paper MCQs on Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration, from the Force and Motion unit of MDCAT Physics. The year each question appeared is shown where known; tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.

Read the notes first Practise the unit as a quiz

1.Which of the following is the correct definition of variable velocity? (MDCAT 2022)

  1. unequal distances are covered in equal intervals of time
  2. equal displacements are made in unequal intervals of time
  3. unequal displacements are made in equal intervals of time
  4. equal displacements are made in equal intervals of time
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Correct answer: (c) unequal displacements are made in equal intervals of time

Velocity is displacement per unit time, so it varies when the displacement in equal times is unequal.

2.Which of the following is the correct definition of variable velocity? (MDCAT 2023)

  1. unequal distances are covered in equal intervals of time
  2. equal displacements are made in unequal intervals of time
  3. unequal displacements are made in equal intervals of time
  4. equal displacements are made in equal intervals of time
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Correct answer: (c) unequal displacements are made in equal intervals of time

Velocity is displacement per unit time, so it varies when the displacement in equal times is unequal.

3.A man is in a car that is moving with a uniform velocity. His velocity with respect to the car is: (MDCAT 2023)

  1. $10\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$
  2. $36\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$
  3. zero
  4. infinite
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Correct answer: (c) zero

He does not move relative to the car, so his velocity in the frame of the car is zero.

4.The instantaneous velocity along the curved path is: (MDCAT 2024)

  1. along the tangent
  2. perpendicular to the slope
  3. parallel to the radius
  4. antiparallel to the radius
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Correct answer: (a) along the tangent

The instantaneous velocity is always directed along the tangent to the path at that point.

5.The value of the ratio of displacement to distance is: (UHS MDCAT 2017)

  1. always more than one
  2. always less than one
  3. equal to or more than one
  4. equal to or less than one
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Correct answer: (d) equal to or less than one

The displacement is the straight line between the two points, so it can equal the distance but can never exceed it.

6.A body moves along a semicircular path of radius 10 m from one end of the diameter to the other. The ratio of distance to displacement is: (SIBA MDCAT 2025)

  1. π : 1
  2. 1 : π
  3. π : 2
  4. 2 : π
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Correct answer: (c) π : 2

The path is $\pi r$ and the displacement is the diameter $2r$, so the ratio is $\pi:2$.

7.A person moves 600 m towards north then 300 m towards south. Its displacement to distance ratio is: (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. 1:3
  2. 1:2
  3. 2:3
  4. 3:1
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Correct answer: (a) 1:3

The displacement is $300\,\mathrm{m}$ and the distance walked is $900\,\mathrm{m}$, a ratio of $1:3$.

8.The instantaneous velocity along the curved path is ; (UHS MDCAT 2024)

  1. Along the tangent
  2. Perpendicular to the slope
  3. Parallel to the radius
  4. Anti-parallel to the radius
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Correct answer: (a) Along the tangent

The velocity at any instant points along the tangent to the path.

9.Two car traveling on straight road in opposite direction with speed 70 kmh-1 and 60 kmh-1, their relative velocity will be: (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)

  1. 10 kmh-1
  2. 130 kmh-1
  3. 65 kmh-1
  4. 5 kmh-1
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Correct answer: (b) 130 kmh-1

Moving towards each other, the speeds add: $70+60$ is $130\,\mathrm{km\,h^{-1}}$.

10.A man is in a car that is moving with the velocity of 36km/hr.His speed with respect to the car (UHS MDCAT 2023)

  1. 10m/s
  2. 36m/s
  3. Zero
  4. Infinite
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Correct answer: (c) Zero

He moves with the car, so relative to it his speed is zero.

11.Q.77 The time rate of change of velocity is called: (NUMS MDCAT 2022)

  1. Force
  2. Acceleration
  3. Power
  4. Energy
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Correct answer: (b) Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity is the acceleration.

12.Two buses moving at 100 km/h and 80 km/h respectively cross each other while moving in opposite direction. Velocity of one bus relative to other bus is: (NUMS MDCAT 2022)

  1. 100 km/h
  2. 20 km/h
  3. 80 km/h
  4. 180 km/h
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Correct answer: (d) 180 km/h

Moving towards each other, the speeds add: $100+80$ is $180\,\mathrm{km\,h^{-1}}$.

13.Displacement of sun with respect to earth is? (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. r
  2. 2πr
  3. 2r
  4. r2
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Correct answer: (a) r

The displacement is the straight line between them, that is the distance $r$.

14.Instantaneous velocity is: (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. Always positive
  2. Always negative
  3. Positive and negative
  4. Not enough info
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Correct answer: (c) Positive and negative

Velocity is a vector along a line, so its sign shows which way the body is going.

15.If displacement = 15 m and time t = 10 seconds, then average velocity is: (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. 12.5 m/s
  2. 1.5 m/s
  3. 2.5 m /s
  4. 3 m/s
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Correct answer: (b) 1.5 m/s

$15/10$ is $1.5\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$.

16.The displacement has __________. (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. Magnitude only
  2. Direction only
  3. Magnitude and direction
  4. No unit is required
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Correct answer: (c) Magnitude and direction

Displacement has both size and direction, so it is a vector.

17.Consider a car is travelling for one hour. Which of the following trips have the same average velocity? (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. Car travels 20 km due east and car travels 70 km due east
  2. Car travels 40 km due east, then turns around and travels 20 km due west and a car that travels 20 km due east
  3. Car travels 70 km due east and a car that travels 40 km due east, then turns around and travels 20 km due west
  4. Car travels 30 km due west, then turns around and travels 30 km due east and a car that travels 40 km due east, then turns around and travels 20 km due west
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Correct answer: (b) Car travels 40 km due east, then turns around and travels 20 km due west and a car that travels 20 km due east

Average velocity is displacement over time, and both those trips end $20\,\mathrm{km}$ east of the start.

18.Consider a car is travelling for one hour. In which of the following cases is the average velocity zero? (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. The car travels 20 km due east
  2. The car travels 60 km due east, then turns around and travels 40 km due west
  3. The car travels 70 km due east
  4. The car travels 30 km due west, then turns around and travels 30 km due east
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Correct answer: (d) The car travels 30 km due west, then turns around and travels 30 km due east

Going out and back returns the car to its start, so the displacement, and with it the average velocity, is zero.

19.Under what condition an object will have zero displacement but non zero distance? (PMC MDCAT 2020)

  1. Linear motion
  2. Circular motion
  3. Random motion
  4. Oscillation
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Correct answer: (b) Circular motion

A complete circle brings the body back to its start, so the displacement is zero but the path is not.

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