PHYS 165 Module 3 Exam: Physics
Portage Learning | 2026/2027 Academic Year | 25 Questions
1D Kinematics, Motion in a Straight Line, and Free Fall
Abstract
This document constitutes the official PHYS 165 Module 3 Examination for the 2026/2027 academic
year, administered through Portage Learning. The examination encompasses 25 questions distributed
across four foundational domains of one-dimensional kinematics and motion analysis. The first domain
addresses displacement, velocity, and speed, evaluating the student's capacity to distinguish between
vector and scalar quantities, compute average and instantaneous velocities, and interpret the
significance of displacement versus total distance traveled. The second domain focuses on acceleration
and the kinematic equations, requiring the application of the four standard uniformly-accelerated-
motion equations to solve for unknown quantities including final velocity, displacement, and elapsed
time under constant acceleration. The third domain examines graphical analysis of motion, testing the
interpretation of position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs, including the
determination of displacement from the area under a velocity-time curve and acceleration from the
slope of a velocity-time curve. The fourth domain covers free fall and acceleration due to gravity,
emphasizing the behavior of objects under the influence of Earth's gravitational field (g = 9.80 m/s^2),
including objects dropped from rest, thrown vertically upward, and the symmetry of ascent and descent
trajectories. Each question is accompanied by a detailed rationale, an analysis of incorrect distractors,
and a reference to the relevant course material or standard physics textbook. This examination assesses
the critical application of mathematical principles and proven methodologies to understand the physics
of one-dimensional motion.
Content Area Overview
Content Area Questions Key Topics Weight
Displacement, Velocity & 1-7 Scalar vs. vector quantities, displacement vs. 28%
Speed distance, average velocity, instantaneous
velocity, speed calculations, coordinate
systems
Acceleration & Kinematic 8-13 Constant acceleration, four kinematic 24%
Equations equations, problem-solving strategy, variable
isolation, units and dimensional analysis
Graphical Analysis of Motion 14-19 Position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs, 24%
acceleration-time graphs, slope interpretation,
area under curve analysis, curved graph
interpretation
Free Fall & Acceleration Due 20-25 Gravitational acceleration (g), objects dropped 24%
to Gravity from rest, vertically launched objects, ascent-
descent symmetry, multi-step free-fall
problems, sign conventions
, Examination Questions
Domain: Displacement, Velocity & Speed
1. A car travels 40 km due north and then 30 km due south. What is the displacement of the
car?
A) 70 km north
B) 10 km north
C) 10 km south
D) 70 km south
Correct Answer: B - 10 km north
Rationale: Displacement is a vector quantity measured from the initial position to the final position.
The car moves 40 km north (+40 km) and then 30 km south (-30 km), yielding a net displacement of 40
- 30 = 10 km north. Displacement depends only on the starting and ending positions, not the total path
traversed.
Why Wrong: Option A adds the magnitudes, confusing displacement (vector) with distance (scalar).
Option C reverses the direction of the net result. Option D adds magnitudes and reverses direction,
reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding of vector addition.
Reference: Portage Learning PHYS 165 Module 3, Section 1: Displacement and Distance; Halliday &
Resnick, Fundamentals of Physics, Chapter 2.
2. Which of the following quantities is a scalar quantity?
A) Displacement
B) Velocity
C) Acceleration
D) Speed
Correct Answer: D - Speed
Rationale: Speed is defined as the magnitude of velocity without any directional component, making it
a scalar quantity. Scalar quantities are fully described by magnitude alone, whereas vector quantities
require both magnitude and direction. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration all carry directional
information and are therefore classified as vectors.
Why Wrong: Option A is a vector because it specifies both distance and direction from initial to final
position. Option B is a vector because it includes both the rate of change of position and its direction.
Option C is a vector because it describes the rate of change of velocity with an associated direction.
Reference: Portage Learning PHYS 165 Module 3, Section 1: Scalars and Vectors; Young & Freedman,
University Physics, Chapter 2.
3. A runner completes one full lap around a 400-meter circular track in 50 seconds. What
is the runner's average velocity for the entire lap?
A) 8.0 m/s
B) 0 m/s
C) 4.0 m/s
D) 12.6 m/s
Correct Answer: B - 0 m/s
Rationale: Average velocity is defined as total displacement divided by total time. After completing
one full lap, the runner returns to the starting point, so the displacement is zero. Therefore, the average
velocity is zero regardless of how fast the runner moved. Average speed, by contrast, would be 400 m /
50 s = 8.0 m/s, but velocity considers direction.
Why Wrong: Option A computes average speed, not average velocity, by dividing total distance by total
time. Option C is an arbitrary half-value with no physical basis. Option D appears to use an incorrect
circumference or angular velocity formula unrelated to the problem.
Portage Learning | 2026/2027 Academic Year | 25 Questions
1D Kinematics, Motion in a Straight Line, and Free Fall
Abstract
This document constitutes the official PHYS 165 Module 3 Examination for the 2026/2027 academic
year, administered through Portage Learning. The examination encompasses 25 questions distributed
across four foundational domains of one-dimensional kinematics and motion analysis. The first domain
addresses displacement, velocity, and speed, evaluating the student's capacity to distinguish between
vector and scalar quantities, compute average and instantaneous velocities, and interpret the
significance of displacement versus total distance traveled. The second domain focuses on acceleration
and the kinematic equations, requiring the application of the four standard uniformly-accelerated-
motion equations to solve for unknown quantities including final velocity, displacement, and elapsed
time under constant acceleration. The third domain examines graphical analysis of motion, testing the
interpretation of position-time, velocity-time, and acceleration-time graphs, including the
determination of displacement from the area under a velocity-time curve and acceleration from the
slope of a velocity-time curve. The fourth domain covers free fall and acceleration due to gravity,
emphasizing the behavior of objects under the influence of Earth's gravitational field (g = 9.80 m/s^2),
including objects dropped from rest, thrown vertically upward, and the symmetry of ascent and descent
trajectories. Each question is accompanied by a detailed rationale, an analysis of incorrect distractors,
and a reference to the relevant course material or standard physics textbook. This examination assesses
the critical application of mathematical principles and proven methodologies to understand the physics
of one-dimensional motion.
Content Area Overview
Content Area Questions Key Topics Weight
Displacement, Velocity & 1-7 Scalar vs. vector quantities, displacement vs. 28%
Speed distance, average velocity, instantaneous
velocity, speed calculations, coordinate
systems
Acceleration & Kinematic 8-13 Constant acceleration, four kinematic 24%
Equations equations, problem-solving strategy, variable
isolation, units and dimensional analysis
Graphical Analysis of Motion 14-19 Position-time graphs, velocity-time graphs, 24%
acceleration-time graphs, slope interpretation,
area under curve analysis, curved graph
interpretation
Free Fall & Acceleration Due 20-25 Gravitational acceleration (g), objects dropped 24%
to Gravity from rest, vertically launched objects, ascent-
descent symmetry, multi-step free-fall
problems, sign conventions
, Examination Questions
Domain: Displacement, Velocity & Speed
1. A car travels 40 km due north and then 30 km due south. What is the displacement of the
car?
A) 70 km north
B) 10 km north
C) 10 km south
D) 70 km south
Correct Answer: B - 10 km north
Rationale: Displacement is a vector quantity measured from the initial position to the final position.
The car moves 40 km north (+40 km) and then 30 km south (-30 km), yielding a net displacement of 40
- 30 = 10 km north. Displacement depends only on the starting and ending positions, not the total path
traversed.
Why Wrong: Option A adds the magnitudes, confusing displacement (vector) with distance (scalar).
Option C reverses the direction of the net result. Option D adds magnitudes and reverses direction,
reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding of vector addition.
Reference: Portage Learning PHYS 165 Module 3, Section 1: Displacement and Distance; Halliday &
Resnick, Fundamentals of Physics, Chapter 2.
2. Which of the following quantities is a scalar quantity?
A) Displacement
B) Velocity
C) Acceleration
D) Speed
Correct Answer: D - Speed
Rationale: Speed is defined as the magnitude of velocity without any directional component, making it
a scalar quantity. Scalar quantities are fully described by magnitude alone, whereas vector quantities
require both magnitude and direction. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration all carry directional
information and are therefore classified as vectors.
Why Wrong: Option A is a vector because it specifies both distance and direction from initial to final
position. Option B is a vector because it includes both the rate of change of position and its direction.
Option C is a vector because it describes the rate of change of velocity with an associated direction.
Reference: Portage Learning PHYS 165 Module 3, Section 1: Scalars and Vectors; Young & Freedman,
University Physics, Chapter 2.
3. A runner completes one full lap around a 400-meter circular track in 50 seconds. What
is the runner's average velocity for the entire lap?
A) 8.0 m/s
B) 0 m/s
C) 4.0 m/s
D) 12.6 m/s
Correct Answer: B - 0 m/s
Rationale: Average velocity is defined as total displacement divided by total time. After completing
one full lap, the runner returns to the starting point, so the displacement is zero. Therefore, the average
velocity is zero regardless of how fast the runner moved. Average speed, by contrast, would be 400 m /
50 s = 8.0 m/s, but velocity considers direction.
Why Wrong: Option A computes average speed, not average velocity, by dividing total distance by total
time. Option C is an arbitrary half-value with no physical basis. Option D appears to use an incorrect
circumference or angular velocity formula unrelated to the problem.
