Physics MCQs
Topic Notes: Physics
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
21
Calculate the mass of a body if its momentum is 50 kg·m/s and its velocity is 5 m/s.
Answer:
10 Kg
Momentum (p) is defined as the product of mass (m) and velocity (v), expressed as p = mv. To find the mass, we rearrange the formula to m = p / v. Substituting the given values: m = 50 kg·m/s / 5 m/s = 10 kg.
22
If an object experiences a change in momentum of 10 kg·m/s over a time interval of 0.02 seconds, what is the magnitude of the force acting on the object?
Answer:
500 N
According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, force is defined as the rate of change of momentum. Mathematically, F = Δp / Δt. Given the change in momentum (Δp) is 10 kg·m/s and the time interval (Δt) is 0.02 seconds, the force is calculated as 10 / 0.02 = 500 N.
23
Which of the following physical quantities shares the same dimensions as linear momentum?
Answer:
Impulse
Impulse is defined as the change in momentum (J = Δp = FΔt). Since impulse is the product of force and time, and momentum is the product of mass and velocity, they share the same dimensions of [M L T^-1].
24
Assertion (A): A person on a frictionless surface can move by whistling. Reason (R): If no external force acts on a system, its total momentum remains constant.
Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
Whistling expels air, creating a small momentum change in the opposite direction, allowing movement on a frictionless surface. The law of conservation of momentum states that if the net external force is zero, the system's momentum is conserved. While both statements are physically correct, the act of whistling is a specific application of momentum conservation rather than the definition of the principle itself, making (R) a supporting fact rather than the direct causal explanation.
25
Calculate the linear momentum of a body with a mass of 50 kg traveling at a velocity of 20 m/s.
Answer:
1000 kg ms-1
Linear momentum (p) is defined as the product of an object's mass (m) and its velocity (v). Using the formula p = m * v, we calculate p = 50 kg * 20 m/s = 1000 kg m/s. Therefore, the momentum is 1000 kg m/s.
26
Calculate the momentum of an object with a mass of 80 kg moving at a velocity of 60 m/s.
Answer:
4800 kgms-1
Linear momentum (p) is defined as the product of an object's mass (m) and its velocity (v), expressed as p = mv. Given m = 80 kg and v = 60 m/s, the momentum p = 80 kg * 60 m/s = 4800 kg·m/s. In scientific notation, this is written as 4800 kg·m·s⁻¹ or 4800 kgms⁻¹.
27
According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, what physical quantity is equivalent to the time rate of change of momentum?
Answer:
Force
Newton's Second Law states that the net external force acting on an object is directly proportional to the rate of change of its linear momentum. Mathematically, this is expressed as F = dp/dt. Since momentum is the product of mass and velocity, the rate of change of momentum represents the force required to accelerate or decelerate the object.
28
Why are modern vehicle bumpers designed to collapse or deform during a collision?
Answer:
Yes, since they help to absorb the impact of a collision and keep the occupants safe
Collapsible bumpers act as crumple zones that increase the duration of the impact. According to the impulse-momentum theorem, increasing the time of impact reduces the average force exerted on the vehicle and its occupants, thereby significantly enhancing passenger safety during a crash.
29
The time rate of change of linear momentum is equivalent to which physical quantity?
Answer:
force
According to Newton's second law of motion, the net force acting on an object is equal to the rate of change of its momentum with respect to time (F = dp/dt). While impulse is the change in momentum (FΔt = Δp), the instantaneous rate of change of momentum is specifically defined as the force applied to the system.
30
What is the mathematical definition of linear momentum?
Answer:
mass × velocity
Linear momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and it describes the quantity of motion an object possesses.