Relative Motion & Velocity Mastery: 30 Essential MCQs to Strengthen Your Physics Fundamentals

Understanding relative motion, velocity, acceleration, and vector concepts is crucial for students preparing for competitive exams like JEE, NEET, KEAM, and board-level physics. This blog post brings together 30 carefully selected multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering relative velocity, motion in a straight line, rain-man problems, train crossing, graph analysis, and center-of-mass acceleration.
These MCQs help build strong conceptual clarity while improving problem-solving speed.

In addition, this post includes the important keywords students often search for:
Relative velocity MCQs, motion in one dimension questions, train problems physics, rain-man relative motion, velocity-time graphs, acceleration problems, motion under constant power, average velocity problems, center of mass acceleration, kinematics MCQs with solutions.

Table of Contents

30 MCQs With Options + Correct Answers

1. Two trains moving in opposite directions…

If wind speed is u and relative speed ratio is 1 : 2, speed of each train is:
a) 2u
b) 3u
c) 4u
d) 5u
Answer: a

2. Speed of A relative to B

A thrown up with speed u, B dropped from height h. Relative speed at time t:
a) u
b) 2u
c) u – gt
d) gt
Answer: a

3. Passenger train crossing freight train

Passenger: 60 m at 80 km/h
Freight: 120 m at 30 km/h
Ratio of crossing times (same direction : opposite direction):
a) 5/2
b) 5/11
c) 2/5
d) 2/11
Answer: c

4. Person in Train A seen from Train B

A → 36 km/h
B → 72 km/h
Person walks 1.8 km/h opposite to A
a) 29.5 m/s
b) 30.5 m/s
c) 31.5 m/s
d) 28.5 m/s
Answer: c

5. Velocity of midpoint of train

Engine passes with velocity u, last compartment with velocity v.
a) (v² + u²)/2
b) (v – u)/2
c) (u + v)/2
d) (v² – u²)/2
Answer: a

6. Coil & bar magnet: induced emf curve

a) (a)
b) (b)
c) (c)
d) (d)
Answer: b

7. Velocity of A relative to B at t = 1 s

A: 1 m/s along x
B: y = t³ (c = 1)
a) √10
b) 10
c) √35
d) 3
Answer: a

8. Correct v–t graph where v is linear in t

a) Plot A
b) Plot B
c) Plot C
d) Plot D
Answer: a

9. Train A overtaking B with acceleration

After 50 s, guard of B brushes past driver of A.
a) 1000 m
b) 1150 m
c) 1250 m
d) 1300 m
Answer: d

10. Bullet fired from police van

Van: 30 km/h
Thief: 192 km/h
Bullet muzzle speed: 150 m/s
a) 105 m/s
b) 120 m/s
c) 90 m/s
d) 110 m/s
Answer: b

11. Distance from semicircle velocity graph

a) 19 m
b) 7 m
c) 3.2 m
d) 4.75 m
Answer: a

12. Ranking acceleration periods

a) Θ₂ > Θ₁ > Θ₃
b) Θ₂ > Θ₃ > Θ₁
c) Θ₃ > Θ₂ > Θ₁
d) Θ₁ > Θ₂ > Θ₃
Answer: d

13. Rain-man problem: running at 5 km/h

Rain vertical when running
When standing, rain at 60°
a) √5
b) 2
c) √3
d) 5/√3
Answer: d

14. Reaction time braking problem

Car: 36 km/h, reaction time 0.9 s, a = 5 m/s²
a) 19 m
b) 9 m
c) 10 m
d) 28 m
Answer: a

15. Average velocity = 0.34 m/s, Δv = 0.18

a) 0.02 m/s²
b) 0.04 m/s²
c) 0.03 m/s²
d) 0.01 m/s²
Answer: b

16. Center of mass acceleration

Two identical particles: one at rest, one accelerates with a
a) a/2
b) a
c) 2a
d) 4a
Answer: a

17. Vehicle travels AB with midpoint C

t(AC) = 2 × t(CB)
a) 6u
b) 4u
c) 8u
d) 7u
Answer: c

18. Bullet penetration through targets

Velocity = 30√2 m/s
Penetrates 5 m normally
Through 2 m target, exit speed:
a) 10√2
b) 20
c) 30
d) 20√2
Answer: c

19. Umbrella at 30° problem

Running at 10 km/h
a) 20
b) 10√3
c) 20√3
d) 10
Answer: a

20. Average acceleration (east to north)

Change from (15 m/s East) → (15 m/s North)
a) 3 NE
b) 3√2 NE
c) 3 NW
d) 3√2 NW
Answer: a

21. Boy walking east — average velocity

a) 8
b) 6
c) 8/3
d) 2
Answer: b

22. Uniform acceleration: 24 m then 64 m

a) 3
b) 5
c) 1
d) 4
Answer: c

23. a = 6t + 5; displacement in 2 seconds

a) 20 m
b) 18 m
c) 16 m
d) 25 m
Answer: b

24. Realistic velocity-time graph

a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
Answer: b

25. x(t) = 4t³ − 3t² + 2

At t = 2, acceleration & velocity
a) 16 & 22
b) 42 & 36
c) 48 & 36
d) 12 & 25
Answer: b

26. Particle along x: x = 40 + 12t − t³

Distance before coming to rest
a) 24 m
b) 40 m
c) 56 m
d) 16 m
Answer: c

27. Ratio of average velocity to average speed

a) Always < 1
b) Always = 1
c) Always > 1
d) ≤ 1
Answer: d

28. Two persons walking around a square

Side = 60 m; speeds 4 m/s & 2 m/s
a) 30 s
b) 40 s
c) 10 s
d) 20 s
Answer: b

29. Area under acceleration–time graph equals

a) Distance
b) Change in velocity
c) Force
d) Work
Answer: b

30. Boat travels triangular route

50 km east → 120 km north → back to start
Average velocity:
a) 0
b) 16.7
c) 17
d) 33.33
Answer: b

Conclusion

Mastering concepts like relative motion, acceleration, velocity-time graphs, train-crossing problems, and rain-man problems gives students a strong foundation in kinematics. These 30 MCQs present real exam-style challenges that help improve speed, accuracy, and conceptual understanding. With regular practice, students can confidently tackle physics questions in JEE, NEET, KEAM, and board exams.

Amal Augustine

Amal Augustine is the founder of ExQuizMe, a dynamic learning and quiz platform built to make education engaging, competitive, and fun. A passionate learner and an academic achiever, Amal completed his schooling at Government HSS Manjapra, graduating with 92.5% in Computer Science. He later earned his degree from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, one of India’s most prestigious arts and science institutions.

Currently, Amal is pursuing his Master’s degree at National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, where he continues to deepen his interest in research and technology. Throughout his school and college years, he won 50+ national-level interschool and collegiate quiz competitions, was

Beyond academics, Amal Augustine is an avid reader of science journals, a dedicated research student, and a technology enthusiast who loves programming and exploring the world of Computer Science. Through ExQuizMe, he aims to make learning accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for students across the globe.