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
1
What is the nature of the work done by the force of friction on a moving object?
Answer:
always negative
Friction is a non-conservative force that acts in the direction opposite to the displacement of a moving object. Since the angle between the force vector and the displacement vector is 180 degrees, the cosine of the angle is -1, resulting in negative work. This process effectively removes mechanical energy from the system, typically converting it into thermal energy.
2
What is the name of the force that resists the relative motion of two surfaces in contact?
Answer:
friction
Friction is the resistive force that acts between two surfaces in contact when they move or tend to move relative to each other. It always acts in the direction opposite to the intended or actual motion, playing a crucial role in daily mechanics by allowing movement and providing stability.
3
Which physical force is primarily responsible for a rolling ball gradually losing its kinetic energy and coming to a complete stop on a horizontal surface?
Answer:
Friction
A ball rolling along the ground gradually slows down and finally comes to rest. It is the force of friction between the surface of the ball and the ground that brings the moving ball to rest. Friction acts in the direction opposite to the motion, converting the kinetic energy of the ball into thermal energy, thereby causing deceleration until the object reaches a state of rest.
4
What is the fundamental cause of friction between two surfaces in contact?
Answer:
Irregularities
Friction arises from the microscopic irregularities, bumps, and ridges present on all surfaces. When two surfaces are in contact, these irregularities interlock. Moving one surface over the other requires force to overcome this interlocking, which manifests as the resistive force known as friction.
5
On which type of surface do tires generally experience the least rolling resistance?
Answer:
smooth surface
Rolling resistance is primarily caused by the deformation of the tire and the surface it rolls upon. A smooth, hard surface minimizes the energy lost to deformation and friction compared to a rough or soft surface. Therefore, tires roll more efficiently and with less resistance on smooth surfaces.
6
What is the specific term for the force that opposes the relative motion between two surfaces in contact?
Answer:
friction
Friction is the resistive force that acts parallel to the surfaces in contact, opposing the motion or tendency of motion of one body over another. It arises due to the microscopic irregularities of the surfaces interacting with each other.
7
In which direction does the frictional force act relative to an object's motion?
Answer:
The opposite direction of the motion
Frictional force is a resistive force that arises at the interface of two surfaces in contact. By definition, it acts tangentially to the contact surface and is directed in such a way that it opposes the relative motion or the tendency of motion between the two surfaces. Therefore, it always acts in the direction opposite to the object's velocity vector relative to the surface.
8
Which Greek letter is standardly used to represent the coefficient of friction?
Answer:
μ
In physics, the coefficient of friction, which describes the ratio of the force of friction between two bodies and the force pressing them together, is conventionally denoted by the Greek letter mu (μ). This dimensionless quantity characterizes the interaction between surfaces.
9
Why is walking on ice significantly more difficult than walking on a standard road surface?
Answer:
Ice has a lesser friction than the road
Walking requires friction between the foot and the surface to provide the necessary reaction force for forward motion. Ice has a very low coefficient of friction compared to a road, making it difficult to generate the required traction, which leads to slipping.
10
Why is it physically easier to roll a barrel filled with coal tar rather than dragging it across a surface?
Answer:
the rolling friction is much less than the sliding friction
Rolling friction is significantly lower than sliding friction because the contact area between the rolling object and the surface is minimized at any given instant. When an object slides, the entire contact surface experiences resistive forces. By rolling, the barrel avoids the continuous shearing of surface irregularities that occurs during sliding, making it much more energy-efficient to move.