14 past paper MCQs on Projectile Motion, 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.
1.A stone thrown horizontally from the top of a tall building follows a path that is: (MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (d) parabolic
The horizontal velocity is constant and the vertical motion is uniformly accelerated, and the two together give a parabola.
2.The two-dimensional motion under constant acceleration due to gravity is called: (MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (c) projectile motion
A projectile moves in a vertical plane with the constant downward acceleration $g$.
3.A ball is thrown into the air with certain velocity v making an angle θ with horizontal. If air resistance is neglected, then at maximum height its velocity is: (UHS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (d) Minimum but not zero
The vertical component is spent at the top, but the horizontal component is carried right through.
4.A projectile is launched in air with certain angle; its velocity is maximum at: (UHS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (a) Point of projection
The projectile is slowest at the top and fastest where it started, before gravity has taken any of the vertical component.
5.Which of the following statement about projectile motion is CORRECT? (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) At the highest point, the vertical velocity of the projectile is zero, but the horizontal velocity remains unchanged
Gravity acts only downwards, so it empties the vertical component at the top and leaves the horizontal one alone.
6.126.The two dimensional motion under constant acceleration due to gravity is called: (UHS MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (c) Projectile motion
Motion in two dimensions under gravity alone is projectile motion.
7.The vertical and horizontal component of the projectile motion are (KMU MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (c) Independent of each other
Gravity acts only vertically, so the horizontal motion runs on unaffected.
8.A ball is kicked horizontally from the top of a 10m high cliff with an initial speed of 15m/s. After 2 seconds, which of the following statement describes the ball's horizontal and vertical components? (KMU MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (a) The horizontal velocity is 15m/s while vertical velocity is 20m/s downwards
The horizontal component stays at $15\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$, and the vertical one grows to $gt=20\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$.
9.At highest point in a projectile motion, the velocity will be: (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (d) Vx = constant Vy = 0
Gravity empties the vertical component at the top and leaves the horizontal one untouched.
10.At what point during the motion of projectile its vertical component of velocity is zero? (NUMS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Highest point
The vertical component is spent at the highest point of the path.
11.In a projectile motion, velocity at maximum height is: (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) ucosθ
The vertical component is spent at the top, leaving the horizontal component $u\cos\theta$.
12.In the absence of air resistance, an object thrown into the air at an angle of 20 degrees to the ground. It will experience: (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (a) Constant vertical acceleration
Gravity is the only force, so the vertical acceleration is $g$ throughout and the horizontal one is nil.
13.Which of the following quantities has no effect on simple projectile motion? (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (c) Mass
The path depends on the launch velocity and on $g$ alone, so the mass makes no difference.
14.For projectile motion, in the absence of air resistance: (UHS MDCAT 2019)
Correct answer: (a) Horizontal acceleration is zero
Gravity acts only downwards, so nothing accelerates the projectile horizontally.