Are you ready to Take “TNPSC Physics Motion Test 2”? This Test focuses on one of the most important topics in the TNPSC Physics Syllabus. It covers distance and displacement, scalar and vector quantities, SI units, path length, the shortest distance between two points, magnitude of displacement, straight-line and circular motion, and concept-based questions from the general science Section. If you are looking for a TNPSC physics online test, this Test is a useful way to revise key concepts and improve your TNPSC exam preparation.
Note: A detailed explanation is provided for each question after you click the Submit button, helping you understand the concept clearly and avoid common mistakes.
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All Questions Detailed Explanations – TNPSC Physics Motion Test 2
The detailed explanations below cover all questions from TNPSC Physics Motion Test 2, including distance and displacement, scalar and vector quantities, SI units, path length, and straight-line and circular motion. These TNPSC Physics and general science explanations will help strengthen your TNPSC exam preparation.
Question 1: Distance is defined as the
Answer: Total length of the actual path travelled by an object.
Distance is the total length of the path travelled by an object during its motion. It considers the complete route taken, regardless of the direction of movement.
Key points
- Distance is the total path length travelled.
- It is a scalar quantity.
- Direction is not considered while measuring distance.
Real-life example: If a person walks around a park and returns to the starting point, the distance is the total length of the path walked.
Question 2: Displacement is the
Answer: Shortest distance between the initial and final positions of an object.
Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between the starting and ending positions of an object. It also includes the direction of motion, so it is a vector quantity.
Key points
- Displacement is the shortest path between two positions.
- It is a vector quantity.
- It depends only on the initial and final positions.
Real-life example: If you move 200 m east from your home, your displacement is 200 m east.
Question 3: Which of the following is a scalar quantity?
Answer: Distance.
Distance is a scalar quantity because it has only magnitude and no direction. Scalar quantities are completely described by a numerical value and a unit.
Key points
- Distance has only magnitude.
- It does not have direction.
- Speed, time, and mass are also scalar quantities.
Real-life example: A car travels 50 km. This describes only the length of the journey, not the direction.
Question 4: Which of the following is a vector quantity?
Answer: Displacement.
Displacement is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. A vector quantity is completely described only when both are specified.
Key points
- Displacement has magnitude and direction.
- Velocity, acceleration, and force are also vector quantities.
- Direction is an essential part of displacement.
Real-life example: Moving 10 m north is a vector quantity because the direction is clearly mentioned.
Question 5: A person walks 5 m east and then 5 m west. The total distance travelled is
Answer: 10 m.
Distance is calculated by adding the lengths of all paths travelled. Since the person walks 5 m east and then 5 m west, the total distance travelled is 10 m.
Key points
- Distance is the sum of all path lengths.
- Direction does not affect distance.
- Distance is always positive.
Real-life example: Walking 2 km to a shop and 2 km back home gives a total distance of 4 km.
Question 6: A person walks 5 m east and then 5 m west. The displacement is
Answer: 0 m.
Displacement is the shortest distance between the starting and ending positions. Since the person returns to the starting point, the initial and final positions are the same, so the displacement is zero.
Key points
- Displacement depends only on the starting and ending positions.
- Returning to the starting point gives zero displacement.
- Displacement can be zero even when distance is not zero.
Real-life example: Walking to a shop and returning home gives zero displacement.
Question 7: The SI unit of both distance and displacement is
Answer: Metre.
Both distance and displacement measure length, so their SI unit is the metre (m). Different units such as kilometre or centimetre can be converted into metres.
Key points
- SI unit of length is metre.
- Distance and displacement are measured in the same unit.
- 1 km = 1000 m.
Real-life example: A road sign showing 500 m uses the SI unit of length.
Question 8: Displacement can never be
Answer: Greater than distance travelled in magnitude.
The magnitude of displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions. The actual distance travelled is always equal to or greater than this shortest distance.
Key points
- Displacement cannot exceed distance.
- Distance is always greater than or equal to displacement.
- The shortest path is never longer than the actual path.
Real-life example: Taking a longer road between two places increases distance, but displacement remains the straight-line separation.
Question 9: The magnitude of displacement is always
Answer: Less than or equal to distance.
Displacement represents the shortest distance between the initial and final positions. Therefore, its magnitude can be equal to distance in straight-line motion or less than distance in other paths.
Key points
- Displacement is the shortest path.
- Distance is the actual path length.
- Equality occurs in straight-line motion without changing direction.
Real-life example: Walking directly from one point to another makes distance and displacement equal.
Question 10: When an object moves along a straight line without changing direction, the distance travelled is
Answer: Equal to displacement in magnitude.
If an object moves in a straight line without reversing its direction, the actual path travelled is the same as the shortest path between the starting and ending points.
Key points
- Straight-line motion without changing direction gives equal values.
- Distance and displacement have the same magnitude in this case.
- The direction remains constant.
Real-life example: A train moving 20 km east without turning has distance and displacement of 20 km.
Question 11: Which quantity depends on the actual path travelled?
Answer: Distance.
Distance is measured along the actual path followed by an object. A longer or curved path increases the distance travelled.
Key points
- Distance depends on the route taken.
- It is a scalar quantity.
- Different paths can give different distances.
Real-life example: Two roads connecting the same places can have different distances.
Question 12: Which quantity depends only on the initial and final positions?
Answer: Displacement.
Displacement is determined only by the starting and ending positions of an object. The path taken between these points does not affect displacement.
Key points
- Displacement ignores the actual route.
- It depends only on two positions.
- It is a vector quantity.
Real-life example: Different routes to the same destination can have the same displacement.
Question 13: A body completes one full circular path and returns to the starting point. The displacement is
Answer: Zero.
After one complete revolution, the object returns to its starting position. Since the initial and final positions are the same, the displacement is zero.
Key points
- Complete circular motion can have zero displacement.
- Distance travelled is not zero.
- Displacement depends only on the final position relative to the starting position.
Real-life example: A runner completing one full lap returns to the starting point.
Question 14: The distance travelled in one full circular revolution is
Answer: Circumference of the circle.
In one complete revolution, the object travels along the entire circular path. The length of this path is the circumference of the circle.
Key points
- Distance is measured along the circular path.
- Circumference = 2πr.
- Distance is not zero in circular motion.
Real-life example: A bicycle wheel covers one circumference in one complete rotation.
Question 15: Which of the following statements is correct?
Answer: Distance has only magnitude.
Distance is a scalar quantity because it is described only by magnitude and unit. It does not include direction.
Key points
- Distance is scalar.
- Displacement is vector.
- Scalar quantities do not have direction.
Real-life example: Travelling 15 km describes only the length of the journey.
Question 16: Which of the following can have a direction?
Answer: Displacement.
Displacement has both magnitude and direction, so direction is an essential part of its description.
Key points
- Displacement is a vector quantity.
- Direction distinguishes displacement from distance.
- East, west, north, and south can describe displacement.
Real-life example: Moving 8 m south includes both magnitude and direction.
Question 17: If the initial and final positions of an object are the same, the displacement is
Answer: Zero.
Displacement measures the change in position. When the initial and final positions are identical, there is no change in position.
Key points
- Same starting and ending points give zero displacement.
- Distance may still be positive.
- This is common in round-trip motion.
Real-life example: A person returning home after a walk has zero displacement.
Question 18: Which graph-related quantity represents the change in position from the starting point?
Answer: Displacement.
Displacement represents how far and in which direction an object is from its starting point. It shows the change in position relative to the initial position.
Key points
- Displacement measures change in position.
- It is a vector quantity.
- Graphs often represent displacement with respect to time.
Real-life example: A position-time graph shows displacement from the starting point.
Question 19: A traveller moves 3 km north and then 4 km east. The distance travelled is
Answer: 7 km.
Distance is the total length of the path travelled. The traveller moves 3 km and then 4 km, so the total distance is 7 km.
Key points
- Distance is obtained by adding path lengths.
- Direction does not affect distance.
- Total path length is considered.
Real-life example: Walking 3 km and then another 4 km gives a total distance of 7 km.
Question 20: Which of the following is the best example of displacement?
Answer: Straight-line separation between the starting and ending points of a journey.
Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions, along with direction. It does not depend on the actual route taken.
Key points
- Displacement is the shortest path.
- It depends only on the starting and ending points.
- It is a vector quantity.
Real-life example: The straight-line distance between your home and school represents displacement.
Quick revision
- Distance is the total length of the actual path travelled by an object.
- Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions.
- Distance is a scalar quantity; displacement is a vector quantity.
- The SI unit of both distance and displacement is metre (m).
- Distance depends on the actual path travelled.
- Displacement depends only on the initial and final positions.
- The magnitude of displacement is always less than or equal to the distance travelled.
- Displacement can be zero, but it can never be greater than the distance travelled.
- In straight-line motion without changing direction, distance and displacement are equal in magnitude.
- In a round trip or one full circular revolution, displacement is zero.
- The distance travelled in one full circular revolution is the circumference of the circle.
- Distance has only magnitude, while displacement has magnitude and direction.
- When the initial and final positions are the same, displacement is zero.
- For motion involving different directions, distance is obtained by adding the path lengths, while displacement is the straight-line separation between the starting and ending points.
- The best example of displacement is the straight-line separation between the starting and ending points of a journey.
Reference Material – For Topic “Motion”
For a better understanding of TNPSC Physics Motion, refer to the NCERT Class 9 Science chapter “Describing Motion Around Us.” This chapter explains distance and displacement, scalar and vector quantities, SI units, and different types of motion, making it a useful reference for TNPSC Physics, general science, and TNPSC exam preparation.
