Physics Marathon Q Bank Part 1

1. Water drops fall from a tap on the floor 5 m below at regular intervals of time, the first
drop striking the floor when the fifth drop begins to fall. The height at which the third
drop will be from ground (at the instant when the first drop strikes the ground), will be
(g = 10 ms −2)
a) 1.25 m b) 2.15 m c) 2.75 m d) 3.75 m

2. . The position 𝑥 of a particle varies with time (𝑡) as 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑡 2 − 𝑏𝑡 3 . The

acceleration at time 𝑡 of the particle will be equal to zero, where 𝑡 is equal to
2𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
a) b) c) d) Zero
3𝑏 𝑏 3𝑏

3. .
Two balls are dropped from the top of a high tower with a time interval of 𝑡0 second, where
𝑡0 is smaller than the time taken by the first ball to reach the floor, which is perfectly inelastic.
The distance 𝑠 between the two balls, plotted against the time lapse 𝑡 from the instant of
dropping the second ball is best represented by

a) b) c) d)

4. A body sliding on a smooth inclined plane requires 4 s to reach the bottom, starting from
rest at the top. How much time does it take to cover one-fourth the distance starting from
rest at the top?
a) 1 s b) 2 s c) 4 s d) 16 s

5. A ball is thrown from the top of a tower in vertically upward direction. Velocity at a point ℎ
metre below the point of projection is twice of the velocity at a point ℎ metre about the
point of projection. Find the maximum height reached by the ball above the top of tower
a) 2ℎ b) 3ℎ c) (5/3)ℎ d) (4/3)ℎ

6. From the velocity-time graph, given in Fig of a particle moving in a straight line, one can
conclude that
 a) Its average velocity during the 12 s interval is 24/7 ms −1
b) Its velocity for the first 3 s is uniform and is equal to 4 ms −1
c) The body has a constant acceleration between 𝑡 = 3 s and 𝑡 = 8 s
d) The body has a uniform retardation from 𝑡 = 8 s to 𝑡 = 12 s

7. If a particle travels 𝑛 equal distance with speeds 𝑣1 , 𝑣2 , … , 𝑣𝑛 , then the average speed 𝑉̅ of
the particle will be such that
𝑣 +𝑣 +...+𝑣𝑛 𝑛𝑣1 𝑣2 +𝑣𝑛
a) 𝑉̅ = 1 2 b) 𝑉̅ =
𝑛 𝑣1 +𝑣2 +𝑣3 +...+𝑣𝑛
1 1 1 1 1
c) ̅
= ( + +. . . + ) d) 𝑉̅ = √𝑣12 + 𝑣12 +. . . +𝑣𝑛2
𝑉 𝑛 𝑣1 𝑣2 𝑣𝑛

8. A body is thrown vertically upwards from 𝐴, the top of a tower. It reaches the ground in
time 𝑡1 . If it is thrown vertically downwards from 𝐴 with the same speed, it reaches the
ground in time 𝑡2 . If it is allowed to fall freely from 𝐴, then the time it takes to reach the
ground is given by
𝑡1 +𝑡2 𝑡1 −𝑡2 𝑡1
a) 𝑡 = b) 𝑡 = c) 𝑡 = √𝑡1 𝑡2 d) 𝑡 = √
2 2 𝑡2

9. A car accelerates from rest at a constant rate 𝑎 for some time, after which it decelerates at a
constant rate 𝛽 and comes to rest. If the total time elapsed is 𝑡, then the maximum velocity
acquired by the car is
𝛼𝑡+𝛽2 𝛼 2 −𝛽2
(𝛼+𝛽)𝑡 𝛼𝛽𝑡
a) ( 𝑎𝛽 ) 𝑡 b) ( 𝑎𝛽 ) 𝑡 c) d)
𝛼𝛽 𝛼+𝛽

10. The given graph shows the variation of velocity with displacement. Which one of the graph
given below correctly represents the variation of acceleration with displacement?

a) b)
 c) d)

11. A particle slides from rest from the topmost point of a vertical circle of radius 𝑟 along a
smooth chord making an angle 𝜃 with the vertical. The time of descent is
a) Least for 𝜃 = 0 b) Maximum for 𝜃 = 0 c) Least for 𝜃 = 45° d)
Independent of 𝜃

12. A particle of mass 𝑚 moves on the 𝑥-𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 as follows: it starts from rest at 𝑡 = 0 from the
point 𝑥 = 0 and comes to rest at 𝑡 = 1 at the point 𝑥 = 1. No other information is available
about its motion at intermediate time (0< 𝑡 < 1). If 𝛼 denotes the instantaneous
acceleration of the particle, then
a) 𝛼 cannot remain positive for all 𝑡 in the interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1
b) |𝛼 | cannot exceed 2 at any point in its path
c) |𝛼 |must be ≥ 4 at some point or points in its path
d) 𝛼must change sign during the motion but no other assertion can be made with the
information given

13. A river is flowing from west to east at a speed of 5 m/min. A man on the south bank of the
river, capable of swimming at 10 m/min in still water, wants to swim across the river in the
shortest time. Finally he will move in a direction
a) tan−1 (2)E of N b) tan−1 (2)N of E c) 30° E of N d) 60° E of
N

14. The trajectory of a projectile in a vertical plane is 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑥 2 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are

constants and 𝑥 and 𝑦 are, respectively, horizontal and vertical distance of the projectile
from the point of projection. The maximum height attained by the particle and the angle of
projection from the horizontal are
𝑏2 𝑎2 𝑎2
a) , tan−1 (𝑏) b) , tan−1(2𝑏) c) , tan−1(𝑎) d)
2𝑎 𝑏 4𝑏
2𝑎2
, tan−1 (𝑎)
𝑏

15. A particle is projected from the ground with an initial speed of 𝑣 at an angle 𝜃 with
horizontal. The average velocity of the particle between its point of projection and highest
point of trajectory is
𝑣 𝑣 𝑣
a) √1 + 2 cos 2 θ b) √1 + 2 cos 2 θ c) √1 + 3 cos 2 θ d) 𝑣 cos θ
2 2 2

16. A piece of wire is bent in the shape of a parabola 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥 2 (𝑦-axis vertical) with a bead of
mass 𝑚 on it. The bead can side on the wire without friction. It stays at the lowest point of
 the parabola when the wire is at rest. The wire is now accelerated parallel to the 𝑥-axis
with a constant acceleration 𝑎. The distance of the new equilibrium position of the bead,
where the bead can stay at rest with respect to the wire, from the 𝑦-axis is

a) 𝑎/𝑔𝑘 b) 𝑎/2𝑔𝑘 c) 2𝑎/𝑔𝑘 d) 𝑎/4𝑔𝑘

17. Twelve persons are initially at the twelve corners of a regular polygon of twelve sides of
side 𝑎. Each person now moves with a uniform speed 𝑣 in such a manner that 1 is always
directed towards 2, 2 towards 3, 3 towards 4, and so on. The time after which they meet is
𝑣 2𝑎 2𝑎 2𝑎
a) b) c) d)
𝑎 𝑣 𝑣(2+√3) 𝑣(2−√3)

18. The maximum height reached by projectile is 4 m. The horizontal range is 12 m. The
velocity of projection in ms −1 is (g is acceleration due to gravity)
1 1
a) 5√g/2 b) 3√g/2 c) √g/2 d) √g/2
3 5

19. A particle moves in a circular path with decreasing speed. Choose the correct statement.
a) Angular momentum remains constant
b) Acceleration (a) is towards the center
c) Particle moves in a spiral path with decreasing radius
d) The direction of angular momentum remains constant

20. Two balls 𝐴 and 𝐵 are thrown with speed 𝑢and 𝑢/2, respectively. Both the balls cover the
same horizontal distance before returning to the plane of projection. If the angle of
projection of ball 𝐵 is 15° with the horizontal, then the angle of projection of 𝐴 is
1 1 1 1 1
a) sin−1 ( ) b) sin−1 ( ) c) sin−1 ( ) d)
8 2 8 3 8
1 1
sin−1 ( )
4 8

21. For the system shown in the figure, 𝑚1 > 𝑚2 > 𝑚3 > 𝑚4 . Initially, the system is at rest in
equilibrium condition. If the string joining 𝑚4 and ground is cut, then just after the string is
cut
Statement I: 𝑚1 , 𝑚23 , 𝑚3 remain stationary
Statement II: the value of acceleration of all the four blocks can be determined
Statement III: Only 𝑚4 remains stationary
Statement IV: Only 𝑚4 accelerates
Now, choose the correct options
a) All the statements are correct b) Only I, II and IV are correct
c) Only I and II are correct d) Only II and IV are correct

22. System shown in figure is in equilibrium and at rest. The spring and string are massless,
now the string is cut. The acceleration of mass 2 𝑚 and 𝑚 just after the string is cut will be

a) 𝑔/2 upward, 𝑔 downward b) 𝑔 upward, 𝑔/2 downward

c) 𝑔 upward, 2𝑔 downward d) 2𝑔 upward, 𝑔 downward

23. A particle is released one by one from the top of two inclined rough surfaces of height ℎ
each. The angles of inclination of the two planes are 30°and60°, respectively. All other
factors (e.g., coefficient of friction, mass of block, etc.) are same in both the cases. Let 𝐾1
and 𝐾2 be the kinetic energies of the particle at the bottom of the plane in the two cases.
Then
a) 𝐾1 = 𝐾2 b) 𝐾1 > 𝐾2 c) 𝐾1 < 𝐾2 d) Data
insufficient

24. The kinetic energy 𝐾 of a particle moving along a circle of radius 𝑅 depends upon the
distance 𝑠as𝐾 = 𝑎𝑠2 . The force acting on the particle is
1/2
𝑠2 𝑠2
a) 2𝑎 b) 2𝑎𝑠 [1 + ] c) 2𝑎𝑠 d) 2𝑎
𝑅 𝑅2
25. The given plot shows the variation of 𝑈, the potential energy of intersection between two
particles, with the distance separating team, 𝑟

1. 𝐵 and 𝐷 are equilibrium points

2. 𝐶 is a point of stable equilibrium
3. The force of interaction between the two particles is attractive between points 𝐶 and 𝐵,
and repulsive between points 𝐷 and 𝐸 on the curve
4. The force of intersection between the particles is repulsive between points 𝐶 and 𝐴
Which of the above statement are correct?
a) 1 and 3 b) 1 and 4 c) 2 and 4 d) 2 and3

26. Three objects 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶 are kept in a straight line on a frictionless horizontal surface.
These have masses 𝑚, 2𝑚 and 𝑚 respectively. The object 𝐴 moves towards 𝐵 with a speed
9 𝑚/𝑠 and makes an elastic collision with it. Thereafter, 𝐵 makes completely inelastic
collision with 𝐶. All motions occur on the same straight line. Find the final speed (in 𝑚/𝑠)
of the object 𝐶

a) 3 𝑚/𝑠 b) 4 𝑚/𝑠 c) 5 𝑚/𝑠 d) 1 𝑚/𝑠

27. A particle of mass 𝑚 is moving in a circular path of constant radius 𝑟 such that its
centripetal acceleration 𝑎𝑐 is varying with time 𝑡 as 𝑎𝑐 = 𝑘 2 𝑟𝑡 2 , where 𝑘 is a constant. The
power delivered to the particle by the forces acting on it is
a) Zero b) 𝑚𝑘 2 𝑟 2 𝑡 2 c) 𝑚𝑘 2 𝑟 2 𝑡 d) 𝑚𝑘 2 𝑟𝑡

28. Figure shows a plot of the potential energy as a function of 𝑥 for a particle moving along the
𝑥-axis

Which of the following statement (s) is/are true?

a) 𝑎, 𝑐 and 𝑑 are points of equilibrium
b) 𝑎 is a point of stable equilibrium
c) 𝑏 is a stable equilibrium point
d) All of the above
29. Figure shows a plot of the potential energy as a function of 𝑥 for a particle moving along the
𝑥-axis

Which of the following statement (s) is/are true?

a) 𝑎, 𝑐 and 𝑑 are points of equilibrium
b) 𝑎 is a point of stable equilibrium
c) 𝑏 is a stable equilibrium point
d) All of the above

30
. Figure shows a planet in an elliptical orbit around the Sun 𝑆. Where is the kinetic energy of
the planet maximum?

a) 𝑃1 b) 𝑃2 c) 𝑃3 d) 𝑃4

31 . The gravitational force between two objects is proportional to 1/𝑅 (and not as 1/𝑅 2 )
. where 𝑅 is separation between them, then a particle in circular orbit under such a force
would have its orbital speed 𝑣 proportional to
1 1
a) 2 b) 𝑅 0 c) 𝑅1 d)
𝑅 𝑅

32 A tunnel is dug along a diameter of the earth. If 𝑀𝑒 and 𝑅𝑒 are the mass and radius,
. respectively, of the earth, then the force on a particle of mass 𝑚 placed in the tunnel at a
.. distance 𝑟 from the centre is
𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑚 𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑚 𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑚𝑅𝑒3 𝐺𝑀𝑒 𝑚
a) 3 𝑟 b) 3 c) d) 𝑟
𝑅𝑒 𝑅𝑒 𝑟 𝑟 𝑅𝑒2

33. A body is fired with a velocity of magnitude √g𝑅 < 𝑉 < √2g𝑅 at an angle of 30° with the
radius vector of the earth. If at the highest point, the speed of the body is 𝑉/4, the maximum
height attained by the body is equal to
𝑉2 d) None of these
a) b) 𝑅 c) √2𝑅
8g