Newton's Laws of Motion

1. A block of mass M is pulled along a horizontal frictionless

surface by a rope of mass m. If a force P is applied at the
free end of the rope, the force exerted by the rope on the
block is
(A) MPm
+m
(B) Pm
M–m
(C) P (D) PM
M+m

Answer: [D]
m
M P
Rope

P = (M + m) a
P
a=
(M + m)
PM
F M=
= a
(M + m)

2. Three blocks of masses m1, m2 and m3 are placed on a

horizontal frictionless surface. A force of 40 N pulls the
system then calculate the value of T, if
=m1 10kg,
= m2 6=
kg, m3 4 kg
m1 m2
T m3
40N
10 kg 6 kg 4 kg

(A) 40 N (B) 20 N (C) 10 N (D) 5 N

Answer: [B]
F 40
=a = = 2m / s2
m1 + m2 + m3 10 + 6 + 4

40 – =
T 10 × 2

1
 T = 20 N

3. In the figure given below, if all surface are assumed to be

smooth and the force F = 100N. If acceleration of block B
of mass 20kg is 'a' and tension in string connecting block A
of mass 20 kg is T then just after when the force F is
applied
A 30o

F B

(A) T = 0 and a = 5m / s2 (B) T = 100 N and a = 0

(C) T = 200 N and a = 5m / s2 (D) None
Answer: [A]
As no force on A
F
T 0 & a
∴ = =B
mB

4. A block of mass m is kept on a moving block of mass M in

such a way that M moves but m remains at rest with respect
to M. Then
(A) momentum of m must not be zero in any frame
(B) kinetic energy of m must not be zero in any frame
(C) kinetic energy and momentum may be zero in a frame
(D) none of the above

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Answer: [C]
A block of mass m is kept on a moving block of mass M in
such a way that M moves but m remains at rest with respect
to M. Then kinetic energy and momentum may be zero in a
frame.

5. The force required to just prevent a body from sliding down the
plane is one third of the force required to just move it up the plane.
If the coefficient of friction is , then the angle of inclination 
is given by
a)  = tan–1(3)
b)  = tan–1()
c) = tan–1(2)
d) = tan–1(4)
Answer: [c]
Explanation:
Force required to prevent from slide
1
F1 = F2
3
Force required to just move up

F1 = mg sin – mg cos

F2 = mg sin + mg cos
1
F1 = F2
3
3(mg sin – mg cos) = mg sin + mg cos
2mg sin = 4mg cos
tan = 2
=θ tan −1 (2µ)

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6. A block of mass 'm' is slipping down a rough inclined
wedge, kept at rest on a horizontal table, with constant
velocity. Force on wedge by table –

m
M
θ

(A) is less than (m + M) g

(B) is equal to (m + M) g
(C) is equal to (M + m cos2θ)g
(D) will make some non-zero angle with vertical direction
Answer: [B]
Free body diagram of “wedge + mass” system-
N

(m + M)g

∴ N = (m + M)g

7. All surface are frictionless and pulley & strings are light.
Acceleration of block of mass 'm' is -

4
 (A) 2
5
g (B) 4g
5
(C) 4g
7
(D) 2g
7

Answer: [B]

Let a, acceleration of block of mass m

m:
N→ a

mg

T = ma … (i)
4m:
2T

3a
4

4mg

3a
4 mg – 2T = 4m . (ii)
4
4g
∴ a=
5

8. A block of mass 'm' is slipping down a rough inclined plane

with constant speed. The force on block by plane is -

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 (A) mg
(B) mg
2

(C) Depends upon coefficient of friction

(D) Depends upon angle of inclination
Answer: [D]
  
Net force on block F= mg + F
net BW

As block is slipping with constant speed


Fnet = 0
 
⇒ FBW = −mg

⇒ FBW =
mg

9. In the given arrangement, strings and pulleys are light and

all surface are frictionless. Assuming at t = 0, system is
released from rest, find the speed of block A at t = 2 sec –

A
4m

B C
m m

D
2m

(A) 8 m/s (B) 9 m/s

C) 10 m/s (D) None of these

6
Answer: [C]
The system can be redraw as
A
4m

4m
4mg g
∴ a= = = 5 m / s2
8m 2
∴ v = u + at = 2 × 5 = 10 m / s

10. Three weights W, 2W and 3W are connected to identical

springs suspended from rigid horizontal rod. The assembly
of the rod and the weights fall freely. The positions of the
weights from the rod are such that
(A) 3W will be farthest
(B) W will be farthest
(C) all will be at the same distance
(D) 2W will be farthest
Answer: [C]
At the time of free fall apparent weight is zero for all
objects.

11. Consider the following statements about the blocks shown

in the diagram that are being pushed by a constant force on
a frictionless table
F 3kg 2kg
1kg

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 (a) All blocks move with the same acceleration
(b) The net force on each block is the same. Which of these
statements are/is correct
(A) A only (B) B only
(C) Both A and B (D) Neither A nor B
Answer: [A]
By applying by a constant force on a frictionless table, all
blocks move with the same acceleration. The net force on
each block is different.

12. Consider the following statement. When jumping from

some height, you should bend your knees as you come to
rest instead of keeping your legs stiff. Which of the
following relations can be useful in explaining the
statement?
 
(A) ∆P1 =– ∆P2 (B) ∆E = – ∆(PE + KE) = 0
   
(C) F∆t = m∆ v (D) ∆ x ∝ ∆F

where symbols have their usual meaning.

Answer: [C]
 
F∆t = m∆ v

 m∆ v
⇒ F=
t

By doing so time of change in momentum increases and

impulsive force on knees decreases.
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13. A block of mass 'm' is slipping down a rough inclined plane
with constant speed. The force on block by plane is

(A) mg
(B) mg
2

(C) Depends upon coefficient of friction

(D) Depends upon angle of inclination

Answer: [D]
Net force on block
→ → →
Fnet
= mg+ FBW

As block is slipping with constant speed

→
Fnet = 0
→ →
⇒ FBW =
− mg

⇒ FBW =
mg

14. The linear momentum of a particle varies with time t as

p =a + bt + ct 2

Which of the following statements is correct?

(A) Force varies with time in a quadratic manner
(B) Force is time-dependent
(C) The velocity of the particle is proportional to time

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 (D) The displacement of the particle is proportional to t.
Answer: [B]
dp
F= = b + 2ct
dt

15. The force exerted by the floor of an elevator on the foot of

a person standing there is more than the weight of the
person if the elevator is
(a) going up and slowing down
(b) going up and speeding up
(c) going down and slowing down
(d) going down and speeding up
(A) a, b (B) b, c
(C) a, c (D) b, d
Answer: [B]
Going up and speeding up and going down and slowing
down.

16. A bullet moving with a velocity of 100 m/s can just

penetrate two planks of equal thickness. The number of
such planks penetrated by the same bullet, when the
velocity is doubled, will be
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 10
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Answer: [C]
Let the thickness of each plank = x
then from third equation of motion,
0 = u2 – 2a ( 2x )
⇒ u2 =
4ax (i)
If velocity is doubled, let n planks are required then,
2
0 = ( 2u ) – 2a ( hx )
4u2 4(4ax)
⇒ n= = =8
2ax 2ax

17. In the given arrangement, n number of equal masses are

connected by strings of negligible masses. The tension in
the string connected to nth mass is –
n 4 3 2 1
m m m m m

(A) mMg
nm + M
(B) mMg
nmM
(C) mg (D) mng
Answer: [A]
Acceleration of system a = M Mg
+ nm
Tension in the last string,
mMg
T m
= = a
M + nm

18. A trolley T of mass 5 kg on a horizontal smooth surface is

pulled by a load of 2 kg through a uniform rope ABC of
length 2 m and mass 1 kg. As the load falls from BC = 0 to
BC = 2 m, its acceleration (in m / s2 ) changes from
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 (A) 20
6
to 30
5
(B) 20
8
to 30
8
(C) 20
5
to 30
6
(D) none of
these
Answer: [B]
When BC ==
0, a =
2g
2 + 1+ 5 8
20
m / s2

When BC = 2 m ; = a' =
(2 + 1)g 30
2 + 1+ 5 8
m / s2

19. A rider on horse back falls when horse starts running all of
a sudden because -
(A) Rider is taken back
(B) Rider is suddenly afraid of falling
(C) Inertia of rest keeps the upper part of body at rest
whereas lower part of the body moves forwards with the
horse
(D) None of these above
Answer: [C]
It is inertia of rest or motion. Inertia of rest keeps the upper
part of body at rest whereas lower part of the body moves
forwards with the horse.

20. A machine gun fires a bullet of mass 40 g with a velocity

1200 m/s. The man holding it can exert a maximum force
of 144 N on the gun. How many bullets can he fire per
second at the most?
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 (A) One (B) Four (C) Two (D) Three
Answer: [D]
 F = nmv
F 144
∴ n= = = 3
mv (40 × 10 −3 ) × 1200

21. When a particle moves in a vertical circle,

(A) it has constant radial and tangential accelerations
(B) it has variable tangential and radial accelerations
(C) it has only constant radial acceleration
(D) it has only constant tangential acceleration
Answer: [B]
When the particle is moving in a vertical circle the force
towards the centre and along the tangent vary from point to
point and so its radial and tangential accelerations vary.

22. If the force on a rocket moving with a velocity of 300 m/s

is 210 N, then rate of combustion of fuel is
(a) 0.7 kg/s (b) 1.4 kg/s (c) 7 kg/s (d) 10.7 kg/s
Answer: [a]
Force on rocket, F = v dm
dt

∴ Rate of combustion of fuel is dm F 210

dt
= = = 0.7kg / s
v 300

23. A woman of 50 kg mass is standing in an elevator.

Suddenly, the cable of the elevator breaks and the elevator
13
 begins to fall freely. The force exerted by the floor of the
elevator on the woman is
(A) 0 kg f (B) 50 kg f
(C) 100 kg f (D) 50 × 9.8 kg f

Answer: [A]
For a freely falling body apparent weight is zero.

24. Three blocks of masses m , m and m are connected by

1 2 3

massless strings as shown in Fig. on a frictionless table. If

= m 10
1= kg, m 6 kg and m = 4 kg, then tension T will be:
2 3 2

(a) 10 N (b) 20 N (c) 32 N (d) 40 N

Answer: [c]
The three blocks will move with a common acceleration a
given by;
F 40
=a = = 2 ms-2
m1 + m2 + m3 10 + 6 + 4

∴ Tension, T2 =
(m1 + m2 )a =(10 + 6)2 = 32N

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25. A disc revolves in a horizontal plane at a steady rate of 3
rad/s. A coin, when placed on the disc at 20 cm from the
axis of rotation, just starts to slip. The coefficient of friction
(g = π2m/s2) is
(A) 0.5 (B) 0.3 (C) 0.20 (D) 0.72
Answer: [D]
The centripetal force = µ mg = mω2r
ω2 r 4 π 2 n 2 r
or µ = = =4 × 9 × 0.02 = 0.72
g π2

26. Two bodies of mass 4 kg and 6 kg are attached to the ends

of a string passing over a pulley (see fig.). The 4 kg mass is
attached to the table top by another string. The tension in
this string T1 is equal to (take g = 10 m / s2 )

T
4kg T
T1 6kg

(A) 20 N (B) 25 N (C) 10.6 N (D) 10 N

Answer: [A]
T
6kg T = 6 × g = 60 N
6g
T
4kg
T – T1 – 4g = 0
T1 4g

=T1 T=
– 40 N 20 N

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27. Assuming that the block is always remains horizontal,
hence the acceleration of B is

12 m/s2
A

(A) 6 m / s2 (B) 2 m / s2

(C) 4 m / s2 (D) none of these

Answer: [B]
a A = 6aB
a A 12m / s2
a=
B = = 2 m / s2
6 6

28. In the arrangement shown in figure pulley A and B are

massless and the thread is inextensible. Mass of pulley C I
is equal to m. If friction in all the pulleys is negligible, then
:
B

(A) Tension in thread is equal to 1/2 mg

(B) Acceleration of pulley C is equal to g/2 (downwards)
(C) Acceleration of pulley A is equal to g/2 (upward)

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 (D) Acceleration of pulley A is equal to 2 g (upwards)
Answer: [D]
Acceleration of pulley A is equal to 2 g (upwards).

29. A man is standing on a weighing machine placed in a lift.

When Stationary, his weight is recorded as 40 kg. If the lift
is moved upwards with an acceleration of 2 ms–2 , then the
weight recorded in the machine will be (g = 10 ms –2 )

(A) 32 kg (B) 40 kg (C) 42 kg (D) 48 kg

Answer: [D]
N = m (g + a) or N = 40 (10 + 2)
or N = 480 newton or N = 48 kg–wt.

30. The mass of a lift is 500 kg. What will be the tension in its
cable when it is moving down under the effect of gravity only? (g
= 10 m/s2)
a) 5000 N
b) 50 N
c) 1000 N
d) 0 N
Answer: [d]
Explanation:
=T m( g − a ) [Downward motion]
a=g
=T m (g − g)
T =0

17
31. A block of mass 10 kg is suspended through two light
spring balances as shown in the figure

10 kg

(A) both the scales will read 10 kg

(B) both the scales will read 5 kg
(C) the upper scale will read 10 kg and lower zero
(D) the readings may be anything but their sum will be 10
kg
Answer: [A]
Since the spring balances are massless, readings of both
springs will be same.

32. In the given diagram, with what force must the man pull the
rope to hold the plank in position? Weight of the man is 60
kgf. Neglect the weights of plank, rope and pulley.

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 (A) 15 kgf (B) 30 kgf (C) 60 kgf (D) 120 kgf
Answer: [A]

Let pulling force is F

then (F + F + 2F)= mg ⇒ F=
mg
4

33. A mass 1 kg is suspended by a thread. It is (i) lifted up

with an acceleration 4.9 ms . (ii) lowered down with an
–2

acceleration 4.9 ms–2 . The ratio of tensions in the thread is

(A) 3 : 1 (B) 1 : 3 (C) 1 : 2 (D) 2 : 1
Answer: [A]
T1 =
m(g + a0 ) and T2 =
m(g – a0 )

T1 m(g + a0 ) 3
∴= =
T2 m(g – a0 ) 1

34. A body is moving with a speed of 1ms and a force F is –1

needed to stop it in a distance x. If the speed of the body is

3 ms , the force needed to stop it in the same distance x will
–1

be
(A) 1.5F (B) 3F (C) 6F (D) 9F

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Answer: [D]
s
=
u2 mu2
=
2a 2F
i.e. Retarding force ∝ u2

2 2
F u  3
∴ 2=  2  =   ⇒ F2= 9F1
F1  u1   1 

35. Bullets of 0.03 kg mass each hit a plate at the rate of 200
bullets per second, with a velocity of 50 m/s and reflect
back with a velocity of 30 ms . The average force acting on
–1

the plate in Newton is

(A) 120 (B) 180 (C) 300 (D) 480
Answer: [D]
P m(v1 + v =
 ∆= 2) 0.03(50 + 30)
= 2.4 Ns
∴ F = 2.4 × 200 = 480 N

36. The tension in the string in the pulley system shown in the
figure is

6kg
10kg

(A) 75 N (B) 80 N (C) 7.5 N (D) 30 N

Answer: [A]
2m1m2 2 × 6 × 10
=T = ,g =× 10 75 N
m1 + m2 16

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37. An elevator in which a man is standing is moving upwards
with a speed of 10m/s. If the man drops a coin from a
height of 2.45 meter, it reaches the floor of the elevator
after a time :
(g = 9.8 m / s2 )

(A) 2s (B) 1
s (C) 2s (D) 1
2
s
2

Answer: [B]
Since elevator in moving with constant velocity, thus a = 0
2h 2 × 2.45 1
t
∴ = = = s
g 9.8 2

38. A bus moves over a straight level road with a constant

acceleration a. A boy in the bus in the bus drops a ball
outside. The acceleration of the ball with respect to the bus
and the earth are respectively
(A) a and g (B) a + g and g–a

(C) a2 + g2 and g (D) a2 + g2 and a

Answer: [C]
Acceleration of ball w.r.t. bus,
= a +g 2 2

Acceleration of ball w.r.t. earth = g

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39. The horizontal acceleration that should be given to a
smooth inclined plane of angle sin (1/ ) to keep an object –1

stationary on the plane relative to the inclined plane is

(A) g /  − 1 (B) g  − 1
2
(C)  − 1/ g (D) g /  + 1
2 2 2

Answer: [A]
a = g tan θ ⇒ given that θ = sin–1(1/)
1 1 1 g
 ⇒ sin θ = ⇒ ∴ a = g ⋅ =
 2
 −1 2
 −1
θ
2 − 1

40. A small sphere is suspended by a string from the ceiling of

a car. If the car begins to move with a constant acceleration
a, the tension generated in the string is:
(A) T = T (B) T > T
0 (C) T < T (D) T = 0
0 0

(where T0 is the tension in the string when the car is at rest

or moving with uniform velocity)
Answer: [B]
∴ T= m a2 + g2

∴ T > mg or T > T0 [ T0 =
mg]

41. A particle moves on a rough horizontal ground with some

initial velocity say v . If 3/4th of its kinetic energy is lost in
0

friction in time t0. Then coefficient of friction between the

particle and the ground is
v v 3v
(A) 2gt 0
(B) 4gt (C) 4gt (D) gtv
0 0 0

0 0 0 0

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Answer: [A]
th energy is lost i.e. KE is left. Hence new velocity
3 1
4 4

becomes v0
2
under the retardation µg in time
v0 v0
t 0 ,= vl0 – µg t 0 ⇒=µ
2 2gt 0

42. A rocket of mass 120 kg is fired in the gravity free space.

It ejects gases with velocity 600 m/s at the rate of 1 kg/s.
What will be the initial acceleration of the rocket ?
(A) 1 m/s2 (B) 5 m/s2
(C) 10 m/s2 (D) 15 m/s2
Answer: [B]
Θ Thrust force on the rocket,
F = v dm
dt
= 600 × 1 = 600 N
∴ Acceleration of rocket, a = F
N
= 600
120
= 5 m/s2

43. When 1 N force acts on 1 kg body that is able to move

freely, the body receives
(A) A speed of 1 m/s (B) An acceleration of 1m / s 2

(C) An acceleration of 980 cm / s (D) An acceleration of

2

1cm / s2

Answer: [B]
According to the second law of motion
F = ma

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 Given F = 1 N , m = 1 kg. So a = 1m / s2

44. A string of length L is fixed at one end and carries mass M

at the other end. It is rotated around vertical axis as shown in
figure. Net force on mass M
θ
T

a) T
b) T sin
2
c) T − mv
R
2
d) T sin θ + mv
R
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
F T sin θ
=
θ
T T cosθ
θ

T sinθ
Mg

45. In given figure, 80 N force is acting on massless pulley.

String is light and attached with blocks of masses 2 kg and 4
kg. Find work done by gravity on 2 kg block in 2 second if
system starts from rest.
80 N

2
4

a) – 400 J
b) + 400 J
c) – 600 J
d) + 800 J
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Answer: [a]
Explanation:
40

20

40 – 20 = 2a
a = 10 m/s2
s = ut + 1 at 2

2
1
s= ×10 × ( 2 )
2

2
= 20 m
Wg = – mgs
= – 2 × 10 × 20
= – 400 joule

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