WCULA PHYS 261 Midterm
Exam | Questions and Answers
| 2026/2027 Update | 100%
Correct.
Section 1: Kinematics (Q1–Q15)
1. Which quantity is a vector?
A. Speed
B. Distance
C. Displacement
D. Time
Displacement has both magnitude and direction; the others are scalars.
2. A car travels 100 m in 5 s. Its average speed is:
A. 5 m/s
B. 10 m/s
C. 20 m/s
D. 500 m/s
v = d/t = 100/5 = 20 m/s.
3. Acceleration is the rate of change of:
A. Position
B. Velocity
C. Force
D. Momentum
a = Δv/Δt.
,4. An object dropped from rest falls for 3 s (g = 10 m/s²). Its speed is:
A. 10 m/s
B. 20 m/s
C. 30 m/s
D. 45 m/s
v = gt = 10 × 3 = 30 m/s.
5. The slope of a position–time graph gives:
A. Acceleration
B. Velocity
C. Displacement
D. Force
Slope = Δx/Δt = velocity.
6. The area under a velocity–time graph gives:
A. Acceleration
B. Force
C. Displacement
D. Jerk
Area = v × t = displacement.
7. A ball thrown straight up at its highest point has:
A. Zero velocity, nonzero acceleration
B. Zero velocity, zero acceleration
C. Max velocity, zero acceleration
D. Max velocity, max acceleration
At the top v = 0, but gravity still acts (a = g).
8. Projectile motion horizontally has constant:
A. Velocity
B. Horizontal velocity
C. Vertical velocity
D. Speed
No horizontal acceleration, so horizontal velocity is constant.
, 9. Two objects dropped from the same height in a vacuum land:
A. Heavier first
B. Lighter first
C. Simultaneously
D. Depends on shape
Without air resistance, all objects fall at g.
10. Which is NOT a vector?
A. Acceleration
B. Force
C. Mass
D. Velocity
Mass has magnitude only.
11. A runner completes a 400 m lap in 50 s. Average velocity is:
A. 8 m/s
B. 0 m/s
C. 4 m/s
D. 400 m/s
Displacement = 0 for a full lap, so average velocity = 0.
12. Uniform acceleration means:
A. Constant velocity
B. Constant acceleration
C. Zero acceleration
D. Changing direction
"Uniform" = constant.
13. The equation v² = v₀² + 2aΔx is missing which variable?
A. Time
B. Velocity
C. Acceleration
D. Displacement
This kinematic equation has no t.
Exam | Questions and Answers
| 2026/2027 Update | 100%
Correct.
Section 1: Kinematics (Q1–Q15)
1. Which quantity is a vector?
A. Speed
B. Distance
C. Displacement
D. Time
Displacement has both magnitude and direction; the others are scalars.
2. A car travels 100 m in 5 s. Its average speed is:
A. 5 m/s
B. 10 m/s
C. 20 m/s
D. 500 m/s
v = d/t = 100/5 = 20 m/s.
3. Acceleration is the rate of change of:
A. Position
B. Velocity
C. Force
D. Momentum
a = Δv/Δt.
,4. An object dropped from rest falls for 3 s (g = 10 m/s²). Its speed is:
A. 10 m/s
B. 20 m/s
C. 30 m/s
D. 45 m/s
v = gt = 10 × 3 = 30 m/s.
5. The slope of a position–time graph gives:
A. Acceleration
B. Velocity
C. Displacement
D. Force
Slope = Δx/Δt = velocity.
6. The area under a velocity–time graph gives:
A. Acceleration
B. Force
C. Displacement
D. Jerk
Area = v × t = displacement.
7. A ball thrown straight up at its highest point has:
A. Zero velocity, nonzero acceleration
B. Zero velocity, zero acceleration
C. Max velocity, zero acceleration
D. Max velocity, max acceleration
At the top v = 0, but gravity still acts (a = g).
8. Projectile motion horizontally has constant:
A. Velocity
B. Horizontal velocity
C. Vertical velocity
D. Speed
No horizontal acceleration, so horizontal velocity is constant.
, 9. Two objects dropped from the same height in a vacuum land:
A. Heavier first
B. Lighter first
C. Simultaneously
D. Depends on shape
Without air resistance, all objects fall at g.
10. Which is NOT a vector?
A. Acceleration
B. Force
C. Mass
D. Velocity
Mass has magnitude only.
11. A runner completes a 400 m lap in 50 s. Average velocity is:
A. 8 m/s
B. 0 m/s
C. 4 m/s
D. 400 m/s
Displacement = 0 for a full lap, so average velocity = 0.
12. Uniform acceleration means:
A. Constant velocity
B. Constant acceleration
C. Zero acceleration
D. Changing direction
"Uniform" = constant.
13. The equation v² = v₀² + 2aΔx is missing which variable?
A. Time
B. Velocity
C. Acceleration
D. Displacement
This kinematic equation has no t.
