Physics · Science General

Newtonian Mechanics and Forces

1,559 Questions

Newtonian mechanics studies the motion of objects and the physical laws governing them. This hub covers friction, gravitational force, inertia, and vector quantities. Mastering these fundamental physics concepts is essential for various government competitive exams.

Laws of motionFriction and inertiaVector and scalar quantitiesGravitational accelerationArchimedes principle

Newtonian Mechanics and Forces Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not an example to prove that moving air exerts pressure?

a. When one flies a kite, the air is always blowing from the direction in which one's back is facing. b. While riding a bicycle, if the wind is blowing opposite to the direction of bicycle, it is easier to drive. c. While rowing a sail boat, it is always easier to row it in the direction of wind.

  1. Only a

  2. Both a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Both b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this is not an example to prove that moving air exerts pressure. While riding a bicycle, if the wind is blowing opposite to the direction of bicycle, it is difficult to drive. It is because the moving air from the opposite direction exerts a good amount of pressure.

Multiple choice

What happens if a stream of air is blown through a tube under one of the pans of a physical balance in equilibrium?

  1. The pan will go up

  2. The pan will not be affected

  3. The pan will go down

  4. The pan will oscillate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When air is blown through a tube under a pan of a physical balance, the increased velocity of air creates lower pressure (Bernoulli's principle). This pressure difference pushes the pan downward. The pan doesn't go up or oscillate - it experiences a net downward force.

Multiple choice

What is the passage about?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.
Since tires are the contact point of a vehicle with the road, they provide a lot of inputs about the road surface. They are also the final execution point of the driver’s commands to the vehicle. Tire characteristics, not surprisingly, are a hot point of discussion for tire and vehicle manufacturers. The tires are connected to various linkages like springs, dampers, suspension systems and drive train to provide stability and surface adhesion. Not only that, they provide feedback to the driver about directional movement and also about the various forces acting upon the vehicle at a point in time. The forces can range from centrifugal force of going around a sharp curve at high speed, or the level of traction being maintained at that point in time. The suspension of a vehicle, the next link in the chain, is designed to allow the wheels to meet the ever changing requirements of the surface conditions and the other external conjoined factors but, due to a host of other considerations both directly related to the vehicle and otherwise, the end results are often less than ideal. Other influencing factors include body vibration, engine and body noise levels, and side-to-side sway. Upon going over a bump, the un-damped suspension of a vehicle will experience a series of oscillations that will play out according to the natural frequency of the system. Irrespective of however much the noise levels and the vibrations transmitted from the engine, moving parts, wind resistance and the feedback from the surface are damped, the natural frequency of the frame of the vehicle will stay in play.

  1. Relation and role of tires with respect to road conditions.

  2. Role of suspension in the handling of a vehicle.

  3. Various factors that influence noise levels in a moving vehicle.

  4. Interplay of various factors in determining ride quality of a vehicle.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; all the factors come together to define the overall ride experience.

Multiple choice

The passage suggests which of the following about vehicle control? I. Speed and direction of a moving vehicle determine the ride quality. II. Change in centre of gravity resulting from centrifugal force is one of key determinants of road holding abilities. III. Proper dampening can totally eliminate unpleasant vibrations.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.
Since tires are the contact point of a vehicle with the road, they provide a lot of inputs about the road surface. They are also the final execution point of the driver’s commands to the vehicle. Tire characteristics, not surprisingly, are a hot point of discussion for tire and vehicle manufacturers. The tires are connected to various linkages like springs, dampers, suspension systems and drive train to provide stability and surface adhesion. Not only that, they provide feedback to the driver about directional movement and also about the various forces acting upon the vehicle at a point in time. The forces can range from centrifugal force of going around a sharp curve at high speed, or the level of traction being maintained at that point in time. The suspension of a vehicle, the next link in the chain, is designed to allow the wheels to meet the ever changing requirements of the surface conditions and the other external conjoined factors but, due to a host of other considerations both directly related to the vehicle and otherwise, the end results are often less than ideal. Other influencing factors include body vibration, engine and body noise levels, and side-to-side sway. Upon going over a bump, the un-damped suspension of a vehicle will experience a series of oscillations that will play out according to the natural frequency of the system. Irrespective of however much the noise levels and the vibrations transmitted from the engine, moving parts, wind resistance and the feedback from the surface are damped, the natural frequency of the frame of the vehicle will stay in play.

  1. Both I & II

  2. Both II & III

  3. Only I

  4. Only II

  5. Only III
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; centrifugal force that comes in play on curves is one of key components of road holding abilities.

Multiple choice

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I List II (Physical Phenomenon) (Associated Physical property) (a) Rolling motion 1. Surface tension (b) Soap bubble 2. Gravitation (c) Bending of beams 3. Elasticity (d) Satellite motion 4. Moment of inertia Codes :

  1. (a) 4 (b) 1 (c) 3 (d) 2

  2. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 1 (d) 3

  3. (a) 3 (b) 1 (c) 4 (d) 2

  4. (a) 2 (b) 1 (c) 3 (d) 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rolling motion depends on moment of inertia (4) which resists rotational acceleration. Soap bubbles form due to surface tension (1) minimizing surface area. Bending of beams relates to elasticity (3) - material's ability to return to original shape. Satellite motion is governed by gravitation (2). Option A correctly matches all phenomena.

Multiple choice

The jet plane engine works on the principle of

  1. Linear momentum

  2. Mass

  3. Angular Momentum

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Jet engines work on Newton's third law (action-reaction) which is based on conservation of linear momentum. The engine expels mass (high-velocity exhaust gases) backward, generating forward thrust. This is fundamentally about linear momentum change.

Multiple choice

When a cart is pulled by a horse, the force that causes the horse to move forward is _____.

  1. the force that the horse exerts on the ground

  2. the force that the cart exerts on the horse

  3. the force that the ground exerts on the horse

  4. the force that the horse exerts on the cart
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

According to Newton's third law, when the horse pushes backward against the ground, the ground exerts an equal and opposite forward force on the horse. This reaction force is what actually propels the horse forward.

Multiple choice

When a running bus stops suddenly, the passengers are jerked forward because ________.

  1. of the force exerted on the passengers from behind

  2. of the inertia of rest

  3. passengers are not holding the rod in bus properly

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When the bus stops suddenly, passengers continue moving forward due to inertia of motion - the tendency of moving objects to remain in motion. No force pushes them from behind; rather, their bodies maintain their state of motion while the bus decelerates. This is Newton's first law.

Multiple choice

The working of a rocket is based on _____.

  1. law of conservation of energy

  2. law of conservation of momentum

  3. law of conservation of mass

  4. law of gravitation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rocket propulsion works on Newton's third law and conservation of momentum. As rocket engine expels gases backward at high velocity, the rocket gains equal forward momentum. This momentum exchange allows rockets to work even in vacuum where there's nothing to push against.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a vector quantity?

  1. Force

  2. Mass

  3. Acceleration

  4. Weight
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mass is a scalar quantity because it only has magnitude and no direction. Force, acceleration, and weight are all vector quantities as they have both magnitude and direction - weight always points toward Earth's center, force acts in the direction of application, and acceleration follows the direction of the net force.

Multiple choice

Physicists believe that the limit of the forward swing of a pendulum, is dictated as much by momentum as by gravity, unfailingly bring it back to equilibrium.

  1. is dictated as much by momentum as by gravity unfailingly bring it back to equilibrium

  2. dictated as much by momentum as by gravity, unfailingly bring it back to equilibrium

  3. dictated as much by momentum as gravity unfailingly brings the pendulum back to equilibrium

  4. dictated as much by momentum as by gravity, unfailingly brings the pendulum back to equilibrium

  5. is responsible for bringing it back to equilibrium due to the action of momentum and gravity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes the error of pronoun ambiguity by referring to 'pendulum' and not its swing as coming back to equilibrium.

Multiple choice

Which of the following motions of object is called oscillatory motion?

  1. Back and Forth

  2. Circular motion

  3. Uniform motion

  4. Non-uniform motion

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Oscillatory motion is defined as repetitive back-and-forth movement around a central point or equilibrium position. Option A correctly identifies this as 'Back and Forth'. The other options describe different types of motion: circular (B), uniform (C), and non-uniform (D).