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VCE Physics study materials
VCE Physics study resources

VCE Physics practice questions

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Question 1Unit 1

Which quantity is a vector?

  1. Mass
  2. Velocity Correct answer.
  3. Temperature
  4. Speed

Explanation

A vector has both magnitude and direction. Velocity includes the direction of motion, so it is a vector. Speed, mass and temperature each have magnitude only and are scalars.

Question 2Unit 1

A car travels 150 m in 12 s at constant speed. What is its speed?

  1. 1800 m/s
  2. 18 m/s
  3. 12.5 m/s Correct answer.
  4. 0.08 m/s

Explanation

Speed equals distance divided by time. Dividing 150 m by 12 s gives 12.5 m/s. The other values come from multiplying or inverting these numbers incorrectly.

Question 3Unit 1

An object moves with constant velocity. What must be true of the forces acting on it?

  1. Friction exceeds the driving force
  2. The net force is zero Correct answer.
  3. A single force acts in the direction of motion
  4. The net force increases with speed

Explanation

Constant velocity means zero acceleration. By Newton's second law, zero acceleration requires zero net force, so all forces balance. Unbalanced forces would change the object's speed or direction.

Question 4Unit 1

Which statement best describes kinetic energy?

  1. Energy stored in a stretched spring
  2. Energy stored due to an object's position
  3. Energy transferred by a temperature difference
  4. Energy an object has because of its motion Correct answer.

Explanation

Kinetic energy is the energy associated with motion, calculated as half the mass times the speed squared. Position-based and spring-based energies are forms of potential energy, while heat transfer relates to temperature differences.

Question 5Unit 1

A 2.0 kg object accelerates at 3.0 m/s². What net force acts on it?

  1. 5.0 N
  2. 1.5 N
  3. 6.0 N Correct answer.
  4. 12 N

Explanation

Newton's second law states net force equals mass times acceleration. Multiplying 2.0 kg by 3.0 m/s² gives 6.0 N. The other values arise from dividing or adding the given numbers.

Question 6Unit 1

Which is the SI unit of power?

  1. Newton
  2. Watt Correct answer.
  3. Pascal
  4. Joule

Explanation

Power is the rate of energy transfer, measured in joules per second, which is called the watt. The joule measures energy, the newton measures force and the pascal measures pressure.

Question 7Unit 1

A spring obeys Hooke's law. If the applied force is doubled while the spring stays within its elastic limit, the extension will:

  1. stay the same
  2. halve
  3. double Correct answer.
  4. quadruple

Explanation

Hooke's law states that extension is directly proportional to applied force within the elastic limit. Doubling the force therefore doubles the extension. Proportionality means the ratio of force to extension stays constant.

Question 8Unit 1

In a distance–time graph, what does the gradient of the line represent?

  1. Work done
  2. Speed Correct answer.
  3. Acceleration
  4. Force

Explanation

The gradient of a distance–time graph is the change in distance divided by the change in time, which is speed. Acceleration appears as the gradient of a velocity–time graph instead.

Question 9Unit 1

A ball is dropped from rest and falls freely. Taking g = 9.8 m/s², what is its speed after 3.0 s?

  1. 29.4 m/s Correct answer.
  2. 9.8 m/s
  3. 3.3 m/s
  4. 44.1 m/s

Explanation

For free fall from rest, speed equals acceleration due to gravity multiplied by time. Multiplying 9.8 m/s² by 3.0 s gives 29.4 m/s. Air resistance is ignored in this ideal case.

Question 10Unit 1

A 1200 kg car accelerates from rest to 20 m/s. What is its gain in kinetic energy?

  1. 12000 J
  2. 240000 J Correct answer.
  3. 24000 J
  4. 480000 J

Explanation

Kinetic energy is half the mass times speed squared. Half of 1200 kg is 600 kg, and 20 m/s squared is 400, giving 240000 J. Forgetting the half factor would give double this value.

Question 11Unit 1

Two forces of 6.0 N and 8.0 N act at right angles on a point. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

  1. 48 N
  2. 2.0 N
  3. 10.0 N Correct answer.
  4. 14.0 N

Explanation

Perpendicular forces combine using Pythagoras: the resultant is the square root of the sum of the squares. The square root of 36 plus 64 is the square root of 100, which is 10.0 N. Simple addition only applies when the forces act along the same line.

Question 12Unit 1

A 40 kg student climbs a 3.0 m staircase in 4.0 s. Taking g = 10 m/s², what average power is developed?

  1. 30 W
  2. 300 W Correct answer.
  3. 120 W
  4. 1200 W

Explanation

Work done against gravity is mass times g times height, giving 40 × 10 × 3.0 = 1200 J. Power is work divided by time, so 1200 J divided by 4.0 s is 300 W.

Question 13Unit 1

An object is thrown vertically upward. At its highest point, which statement is correct?

  1. Velocity is zero and acceleration is g downward Correct answer.
  2. Velocity is g and acceleration is zero
  3. Both velocity and acceleration are zero
  4. Velocity is maximum and acceleration is g downward

Explanation

At the highest point the object momentarily stops, so velocity is zero. Gravity still acts, giving a downward acceleration of magnitude g throughout the motion. Only the velocity becomes zero, not the acceleration.

Question 14Unit 1

A box is pushed across a rough floor at constant speed by a horizontal force of 25 N. What is the magnitude of the friction force?

  1. More than 25 N
  2. 25 N Correct answer.
  3. 0 N
  4. Less than 25 N

Explanation

Constant speed means zero acceleration and therefore zero net horizontal force. The applied force and friction must be equal and opposite, so friction is 25 N. Any difference would cause acceleration.

Question 15Unit 1

A vehicle's velocity–time graph is a straight line with negative gradient. What does this indicate?

  1. Constant negative acceleration Correct answer.
  2. Increasing speed
  3. Constant positive acceleration
  4. Zero acceleration

Explanation

The gradient of a velocity–time graph equals acceleration. A straight line with negative gradient means a constant negative acceleration, so the vehicle decelerates steadily. A zero gradient would indicate constant velocity.

Question 16Unit 1

A force of 20 N stretches a spring by 0.10 m within its elastic limit. What is the spring constant?

  1. 20 N/m
  2. 2000 N/m
  3. 2.0 N/m
  4. 200 N/m Correct answer.

Explanation

Hooke's law gives force equals spring constant times extension. Rearranging, the spring constant is force divided by extension, so 20 N divided by 0.10 m is 200 N/m.

Question 17Unit 1

A 5.0 kg object moving at 4.0 m/s collides with a stationary 5.0 kg object and they stick together. What is their common speed after the collision?

  1. 2.0 m/s Correct answer.
  2. 1.0 m/s
  3. 4.0 m/s
  4. 8.0 m/s

Explanation

Momentum is conserved in the collision. Initial momentum is 5.0 × 4.0 = 20 kg·m/s, and the combined mass is 10 kg, so the common speed is 20 ÷ 10 = 2.0 m/s.

Question 18Unit 1

Which quantity is conserved in every collision, whether elastic or inelastic, in an isolated system?

  1. Kinetic energy
  2. Total speed
  3. Total momentum Correct answer.
  4. Total acceleration

Explanation

In an isolated system with no external forces, total momentum is always conserved. Kinetic energy is conserved only in elastic collisions, and speed and acceleration are not conserved quantities.

Question 19Unit 1

A ball rolls off a table horizontally at 3.0 m/s. Taking g = 10 m/s² and ignoring air resistance, how far does it fall vertically in 0.40 s?

  1. 1.6 m
  2. 0.80 m Correct answer.
  3. 1.2 m
  4. 0.40 m

Explanation

Vertical motion is independent of the horizontal velocity and starts from rest. Using s = ½gt², we get ½ × 10 × 0.16 = 0.80 m. The horizontal speed does not affect the vertical drop.

Question 20Unit 1

A 2.0 kg block slides down a frictionless incline from a height of 1.5 m. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is its speed at the bottom?

  1. 5.5 m/s Correct answer.
  2. 3.0 m/s
  3. 7.7 m/s
  4. 15 m/s

Explanation

Potential energy mgh converts entirely to kinetic energy on a frictionless slope. Setting ½v² = gh gives v = square root of (2 × 10 × 1.5) = square root of 30, about 5.5 m/s.

Question 21Unit 1

A horizontal force of 50 N pushes a 10 kg crate 4.0 m across a floor against 20 N of friction. What is the net work done on the crate?

  1. 120 J Correct answer.
  2. 200 J
  3. 280 J
  4. 80 J

Explanation

The net force is 50 N minus 20 N, giving 30 N. Net work equals net force times displacement, so 30 N × 4.0 m = 120 J. Friction does negative work that reduces the net work.

Question 22Unit 1

A 1500 kg car rounds a curve of radius 50 m at 20 m/s. What is the magnitude of the centripetal force required?

  1. 12000 N Correct answer.
  2. 600000 N
  3. 600 N
  4. 30000 N

Explanation

Centripetal force equals mass times speed squared divided by radius. Speed squared is 400, so 1500 × 400 ÷ 50 = 12000 N. This force is directed toward the centre of the curve.

Question 23Unit 1

A 0.50 kg ball moving at 6.0 m/s rebounds at 4.0 m/s after hitting a wall. What is the magnitude of its change in momentum?

  1. 5.0 kg·m/s Correct answer.
  2. 10 kg·m/s
  3. 1.0 kg·m/s
  4. 3.0 kg·m/s

Explanation

Momentum is a vector, so the reversal of direction must be accounted for. Taking the initial direction as positive, the change is 0.50 × (−4.0 − 6.0) = −5.0 kg·m/s, so the magnitude is 5.0 kg·m/s.

Question 24Unit 1

A 3.0 kg mass hangs from two ropes, each making an angle of 30° with the vertical. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is the tension in each rope?

  1. 17 N Correct answer.
  2. 30 N
  3. 26 N
  4. 15 N

Explanation

The weight is 30 N and the two vertical tension components must balance it. Each rope supplies T cos30°, so 2T cos30° = 30 N, giving T = 30 ÷ 1.732, about 17 N.

Question 25Unit 1

A spring of constant 200 N/m is compressed 0.20 m and launches a 0.10 kg ball horizontally on a frictionless surface. What is the ball's speed?

  1. 40 m/s
  2. 20 m/s
  3. 4.0 m/s
  4. 8.9 m/s Correct answer.

Explanation

Elastic potential energy ½kx² equals ½ × 200 × 0.04 = 4.0 J, which converts fully to kinetic energy. Setting ½ × 0.10 × v² = 4.0 gives v² = 80 and v about 8.9 m/s.

Question 26Unit 1

Which of the following is a vector quantity?

  1. Speed
  2. Displacement Correct answer.
  3. Mass
  4. Time

Explanation

A vector has both magnitude and direction. Displacement specifies how far and in which direction an object has moved, so it is a vector. Speed, mass and time have magnitude only and are scalars.

Question 27Unit 1

A student walks 4.0 km east and then 3.0 km north. What is the magnitude of the student's displacement from the starting point?

  1. 7.0 km
  2. 1.0 km
  3. 12 km
  4. 5.0 km Correct answer.

Explanation

The two legs are perpendicular, so the resultant displacement is found with Pythagoras: the square root of (4.0² + 3.0²) equals the square root of 25, which is 5.0 km. Displacement measures the straight-line distance from start to finish, not the path length.

Question 28Unit 1

Which statement best describes the difference between distance and displacement?

  1. Displacement depends on the path taken between two points.
  2. Distance is the total path length, while displacement is the straight-line change in position. Correct answer.
  3. Distance is a vector and displacement is a scalar.
  4. Distance can never equal the magnitude of displacement.

Explanation

Distance accumulates every metre travelled regardless of direction, so it depends on the route. Displacement is the straight-line vector from the initial to the final position and depends only on those endpoints.

Question 29Unit 1

A cyclist travels 150 m in 30 s at a steady rate. What is the cyclist's average speed?

  1. 180 m/s
  2. 0.20 m/s
  3. 5.0 m/s Correct answer.
  4. 4500 m/s

Explanation

Average speed equals total distance divided by total time. Dividing 150 m by 30 s gives 5.0 m/s. The other values come from multiplying or inverting the quantities incorrectly.

Question 30Unit 1

An object moves with a constant velocity of 6.0 m/s for 5.0 s. What is its acceleration during this interval?

  1. 1.2 m/s²
  2. 0 m/s² Correct answer.
  3. 6.0 m/s²
  4. 30 m/s²

Explanation

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Constant velocity means the velocity does not change, so the change in velocity is zero and the acceleration is zero. A non-zero velocity does not by itself imply acceleration.

Question 31Unit 1

A stone is thrown straight up and returns to the thrower's hand. Ignoring air resistance, what is its acceleration at the highest point of its flight?

  1. 9.8 m/s² upward
  2. 9.8 m/s² downward Correct answer.
  3. Equal to its initial speed
  4. Zero

Explanation

Gravity acts on the stone throughout its flight, including at the top where its velocity is momentarily zero. The acceleration therefore remains 9.8 m/s² directed downward. Only the velocity is zero at the peak, not the acceleration.

Question 32Unit 1

A book rests on a horizontal table. Which pair of forces forms an action–reaction pair according to Newton's third law?

  1. The normal force on the book and the book's push on the table.
  2. The normal force on the book and the book's weight.
  3. The book's weight and the normal force from the table on the book.
  4. The book's weight and the book's pull upward on the Earth. Correct answer.

Explanation

An action–reaction pair consists of two forces of the same type, equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, acting on two different bodies. The Earth pulls the book down gravitationally, and the book pulls the Earth up with an equal gravitational force.

Question 33Unit 1

A net force of 12 N acts on a 4.0 kg trolley. What is the trolley's acceleration?

  1. 3.0 m/s² Correct answer.
  2. 16 m/s²
  3. 48 m/s²
  4. 0.33 m/s²

Explanation

Newton's second law states that acceleration equals net force divided by mass. Dividing 12 N by 4.0 kg gives 3.0 m/s². The direction of the acceleration is the same as the net force.

Question 34Unit 1

A 60 kg skydiver falls at a constant terminal velocity. What is the magnitude of the air resistance force acting on the skydiver? Take g = 10 m/s².

  1. 600 N Correct answer.
  2. 6 N
  3. 60 N
  4. 0 N

Explanation

Constant velocity means the net force is zero, so the upward drag must balance the downward weight. The weight is 60 kg times 10 m/s², which is 600 N, so the drag is also 600 N.

Question 35Unit 1

A 0.20 kg ball moving at 10 m/s is brought to rest by a constant force in 0.050 s. What is the magnitude of the average force?

  1. 2.0 N
  2. 20 N
  3. 0.10 N
  4. 40 N Correct answer.

Explanation

The change in momentum is 0.20 kg times 10 m/s, which is 2.0 kg·m/s. Impulse equals force times time, so the force is 2.0 divided by 0.050 s, giving 40 N.

Question 36Unit 1

Two ice skaters push apart from rest on frictionless ice. Skater A has mass 50 kg and skater B has mass 75 kg. Immediately after the push, how do their speeds compare?

  1. A moves faster than B, with speed in the ratio 2:3.
  2. A moves faster than B, with speed in the ratio 3:2. Correct answer.
  3. B moves faster than A, with speed in the ratio 3:2.
  4. They move at equal speeds in opposite directions.

Explanation

The total momentum stays zero, so the magnitudes of momentum are equal: 50 times v_A equals 75 times v_B. This gives v_A/v_B equal to 75/50, which is 3/2, so the lighter skater A moves faster.

Question 37Unit 1

A machine lifts a 20 kg load through 5.0 m in 2.0 s. Taking g = 10 m/s², what useful power does it deliver?

  1. 500 W Correct answer.
  2. 200 W
  3. 50 W
  4. 1000 W

Explanation

The work done against gravity is mgh, which is 20 times 10 times 5.0, giving 1000 J. Power is work divided by time, so 1000 J divided by 2.0 s gives 500 W.

Question 38Unit 1

A ball is kicked at 20 m/s at an angle of 30° above the horizontal on level ground. Ignoring air resistance, what is the horizontal component of its initial velocity?

  1. 20 m/s
  2. 10 m/s
  3. 17 m/s Correct answer.
  4. 0 m/s

Explanation

The horizontal component equals the initial speed multiplied by the cosine of the launch angle. Cos 30° is about 0.87, so 20 times 0.87 gives approximately 17 m/s. The vertical component would use sine instead.

Question 39Unit 1

A ball is kicked at 20 m/s at 30° to the horizontal on level ground. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is the time of flight?

  1. 2.0 s Correct answer.
  2. 4.0 s
  3. 3.5 s
  4. 1.0 s

Explanation

The vertical component of velocity is 20 sin 30°, which is 10 m/s. The time to reach the top is 10 divided by 10, giving 1.0 s, and the total flight time is twice this, 2.0 s, by symmetry on level ground.

Question 40Unit 1

A force of 30 N acts at 60° to the horizontal. What is the horizontal component of this force?

  1. 0 N
  2. 30 N
  3. 15 N Correct answer.
  4. 26 N

Explanation

The horizontal component equals the force multiplied by the cosine of the angle to the horizontal. Cos 60° is 0.5, so 30 times 0.5 gives 15 N. The vertical component would be 30 sin 60°, about 26 N.

Question 41Unit 1

A block of weight 50 N rests on a rough horizontal surface. The coefficient of static friction is 0.40. What is the minimum horizontal force needed to start the block moving?

  1. 50 N
  2. 20 N Correct answer.
  3. 0.40 N
  4. 125 N

Explanation

On a horizontal surface the normal force equals the weight, 50 N. The maximum static friction is the coefficient times the normal force, 0.40 times 50 N, giving 20 N, which is the minimum applied force to overcome it.

Question 42Unit 1

A 2.0 kg object is lifted vertically at constant speed through 3.0 m. Taking g = 10 m/s², how much work is done against gravity?

  1. 0 J
  2. 20 J
  3. 60 J Correct answer.
  4. 6.0 J

Explanation

Work against gravity equals the weight multiplied by the vertical height, mgh. This is 2.0 times 10 times 3.0, giving 60 J. Lifting at constant speed means the applied force equals the weight.

Question 43Unit 1

A 4.0 kg object moving at 3.0 m/s collides head-on with a 2.0 kg object moving at 6.0 m/s in the opposite direction. What is the total momentum of the system before the collision?

  1. 24 kg·m/s
  2. 12 kg·m/s
  3. 0 kg·m/s Correct answer.
  4. 36 kg·m/s

Explanation

Momentum is a vector, so opposite directions have opposite signs. The first object has 4.0 times 3.0, which is 12 kg·m/s, and the second has 2.0 times 6.0, which is 12 kg·m/s in the opposite direction. Adding these as vectors gives zero total momentum.

Question 44Unit 1

A satellite orbits the Earth in a circular path at constant speed. Which statement about its motion is correct?

  1. It accelerates because its direction of motion changes continuously. Correct answer.
  2. It has no acceleration because its speed is constant.
  3. Its acceleration points along the direction of motion.
  4. Its velocity is constant because its speed is constant.

Explanation

Velocity is a vector, so a change in direction is a change in velocity even at constant speed. The satellite therefore accelerates, and the acceleration points toward the centre of the circular path, not along the motion.

Question 45Unit 1

A car of mass 1000 kg rounds a bend of radius 40 m at 10 m/s. What is the minimum coefficient of friction needed between the tyres and the road?

  1. 0.10
  2. 0.25 Correct answer.
  3. 0.40
  4. 2.5

Explanation

The required centripetal force is mv²/r, which is 1000 times 100 divided by 40, giving 2500 N. Friction provides this, so the coefficient equals 2500 N divided by the weight of 10 000 N, which is 0.25.

Question 46Unit 1

A spring of stiffness 400 N/m is stretched by 0.15 m. How much elastic potential energy is stored?

  1. 30 J
  2. 4.5 J Correct answer.
  3. 9.0 J
  4. 60 J

Explanation

Elastic potential energy equals one half times the spring constant times the extension squared. This is 0.5 times 400 times 0.0225, giving 4.5 J. The extension must be squared, and the factor of one half must be included.

Question 47Unit 1

A 0.50 kg ball is dropped from a height of 5.0 m. Taking g = 10 m/s² and ignoring air resistance, what is its speed just before it lands?

  1. 5.0 m/s
  2. 10 m/s Correct answer.
  3. 25 m/s
  4. 50 m/s

Explanation

Equating gravitational potential energy lost to kinetic energy gained gives v² equal to 2gh. This is 2 times 10 times 5.0, which is 100, so v is 10 m/s. The result is independent of the ball's mass.

Question 48Unit 1

A 2000 kg truck moving at 15 m/s collides with a stationary 1000 kg car, and they lock together. What is their common speed immediately after the collision?

  1. 5.0 m/s
  2. 15 m/s
  3. 10 m/s Correct answer.
  4. 7.5 m/s

Explanation

Momentum is conserved in the collision. The initial momentum is 2000 times 15, which is 30 000 kg·m/s, and the combined mass is 3000 kg. Dividing gives 10 m/s.

Question 49Unit 1

A student measures a length as 2.50 cm with a ruler whose smallest division is 0.1 cm. Which statement about the measurement is most appropriate?

  1. The measurement has three significant figures and an uncertainty of about ±0.05 cm. Correct answer.
  2. The measurement is exact because the value is written to two decimal places.
  3. The measurement has an uncertainty of ±0.01 cm because the value has two decimals.
  4. The measurement has an uncertainty of ±0.1 cm and only two significant figures.

Explanation

The digits 2, 5 and 0 are all significant, giving three significant figures. The uncertainty of a single reading on an analogue scale is typically about half the smallest division, here ±0.05 cm. Writing more decimal places does not make a measurement exact.

Question 50Unit 1

A student plots a graph of velocity against time for a trolley and obtains a straight line through the origin. Which quantity does the gradient of this line represent?

  1. The distance travelled
  2. The displacement
  3. The acceleration Correct answer.
  4. The average speed

Explanation

The gradient of a velocity–time graph is the change in velocity divided by the change in time, which is the definition of acceleration. A straight line through the origin means the acceleration is constant. The area under the line, not its gradient, gives displacement.