• Amal Augustine
• December 9, 2025

The Ultimate & Best Guide to Vertical Motion Physics Problems: Free Fall, Upward & Downward Motion MCQs

Vertical motion physics problems is essential for mastering kinematics, one of the most tested areas in NEET, JEE, and CUET exams. These vertical motion physics problems help students develop a deep conceptual grasp of free fall, upward and downward motion, projectile paths, bounce behaviour, and the effects of gravity.

Whether it’s solving for maximum height, time of flight, rebound height, or motion from tall buildings, vertical motion physics problems train learners to think critically and apply formulas intelligently. This set of vertical motion physics MCQs provides a comprehensive and exam-ready practice experience that strengthens accuracy, speed, and conceptual confidence.

If you want to excel in entrance exams, mastering these vertical motion physics problems is a must—they reflect real-world scenarios, follow standard laws of motion, and often appear in competitive assessments.

MCQs on Vertical Motion Physics :

1. A ball is thrown at 30° with horizontal from the top of roof 20 m high with a speed of 13 m/s. At what distance from the throwing point will the ball once again be at a height of 20 m?

a) 10.2 m
b) 14.6 m
c) 18.6 m
d) 9.8 m
Answer: b

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2. A metal ball falls from a height of 32 m onto a steel plate (e = 0.5). Height after second bounce:

a) 4 m
b) 2 m
c) 8 m
d) 16 m
Answer: b

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3. Two balls thrown simultaneously from 200 m, one upward at 10 m/s, the other downward at 10 m/s. Time difference in reaching ground:

a) 12 s
b) 6 s
c) 2 s
d) 1 s
Answer: c

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4. Tennis ball falls and rebounds to h/2. Velocity–height curve is:

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

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5. Ball thrown downward at 20 m/s hits ground at 80 m/s. Tower height:

a) 340 m
b) 320 m
c) 300 m
d) 260 m
Answer: c

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6. Stone thrown up from tower reaches ground with velocity 3v. Height is:

a) 3v²/g
b) 4v²/g
c) 6v²/g
d) 9v²/g
Answer: b

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7. Acceleration due to gravity:

a) Increases with altitude
b) Decreases with altitude
c) Independent of altitude
d) First decreases then increases
Answer: b

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8. Stone thrown downward at 20 m/s from 60 m. Time taken:

a) 2 s
b) 3 s
c) 4 s
d) 5 s
Answer: a

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9. Body thrown up at 100 m/s. Time to reach ground:

a) 5 s
b) 10 s
c) 15 s
d) 20 s
Answer: d

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10. Stone thrown horizontally from 12 m at 15 m/s. Time to ground:

a) 1.55 s
b) 3.1 s
c) 2.34 s
d) 4.10 s
Answer: a

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11. Man (60 kg) in lift (940 kg) accelerating up at 1 m/s². Tension:

a) 8600 N
b) 9680 N
c) 11000 N
d) 1200 N
Answer: c

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12. In vacuum, coin, feather, mango fall:

a) t₁ > t₂ > t₃
b) t₁ > t₃ > t₂
c) t₃ > t₁ > t₂
d) t₁ = t₂ = t₃
Answer: d

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13. Body A reaches 200 m with velocity V; B thrown with 2V. Height of B:

a) 400 m
b) 800 m
c) 100 m
d) 200 m
Answer: b

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14. Water drops: first hits ground as third leaves tap. Height of second drop:

a) 1.25 m
b) 2.50 m
c) 3.75 m
d) 4.50 m
Answer: c

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15. Two stones thrown up/down with same speed:

a) Heavier hits faster
b) Lighter hits faster
c) Both hit with same speed
d) Cannot be determined
Answer: c

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16. With constant air resistance:

a) Time of ascent = time of descent
b) Ascent < descent
c) Ascent > descent
d) Equal always
Answer: b

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17. After leaving hand, ball’s acceleration is:

a) Decreases
b) Increases
c) Constant
d) Cannot predict
Answer: c

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18. Balls dropped from 100 m and thrown upward at 25 m/s. Meeting point:

a) 68.4 m
b) 48.4 m
c) 18.4 m
d) 78.4 m
Answer: d

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19. Two balls dropped 2 s apart but reach same time. Height difference:

a) 20 m
b) 80 m
c) 170 m
d) 40 m
Answer: b

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20. Two balls dropped from 16 m and 25 m. Ratio of time:

a) 25/16
b) 5/4
c) 4/5
d) 16/25
Answer: c

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21. Balloon rising at 29 m/s; stone reaches ground in 10 s. Height:

a) 400 m
b) 150 m
c) 100 m
d) 200 m
Answer: d

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22. Body thrown up at 19.6 m/s. Position after 4 s:

a) Highest point
b) Mid-point
c) Starting point
d) None
Answer: c

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23. Stone thrown up from 40 m at 10 m/s. Time to ground:

a) 1 s
b) 2 s
c) 3 s
d) 4 s
Answer: d

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24. Stone thrown horizontally from 441 m at 20 m/s. Final speed:

a) 90 m/s
b) 95.08 m/s
c) 85 m/s
d) 92 m/s
Answer: b

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25. Retarding force 80 N on 50 kg body from 20 m/s. Time to stop:

a) 15 s
b) 14 s
c) 12.5 s
d) 18 s
Answer: c

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26. Two balls dropped/ thrown downward with 2 m/s. Separation 22 m in:

a) 11 s
b) 5.5 s
c) 44 s
d) 22 s
Answer: a

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27. Ball has 10 m/s speed at half height. Total height:

a) 10 m
b) 5 m
c) 15 m
d) 20 m
Answer: a

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28. Ball dropped from 19.6 m. Distance in last second:

a) 19.6 m
b) 14.7 m
c) 4.8 m
d) 9.8 m
Answer: b

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29. To triple height, required speed:

a) √3 v₀
b) 3v₀
c) 9v₀
d) 3/2 v₀
Answer: a

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30. Body thrown up reaches 20 m in 5 s. Fall time:

a) 2.5 s
b) 5 s
c) 10 s
d) 20 s
Answer: b

Conclusion

Mastering vertical motion physics problems equips students with strong foundational skills to analyse motion under gravity.Vertical motion physics problems remind us that even simple up-and-down motion hides powerful concepts like acceleration due to gravity, energy conservation, and projectile dynamics.By mastering vertical motion physics free fall, upward motion, downward motion, and bounce-related concepts, students build a solid foundation that strengthens nearly every other area of mechanics.Regular practice of vertical motion physics problems improves speed, accuracy, and intuition—skills essential for scoring high in NEET, JEE, and CUET physics sections.With consistent problem-solving, learners develop a deep, long-lasting understanding of vertical motion physics, enabling them to confidently tackle even the most challenging exam questions.