Free daily NEET & JEE PYQs, quizzes & mock tests on TelegramJoin free →

NEET Physics: average speed and instantaneous velocity Practice Questions

14 free multiple-choice questions on average speed and instantaneous velocity (Kinematics) for NEET Physics, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.

Practice thousands more NEET questions in the app →

  1. Q1. Which quantity describes the rate of change of distance traveled with respect to time?

    • AInstantaneous velocity
    • BAcceleration
    • CAverage speed
    • DDisplacement
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — Instantaneous velocity

    Instantaneous velocity describes the rate at which the position (distance) is changing at an exact moment in time.

  2. Q2. If the instantaneous velocity of a particle is zero at a certain point, what does this imply about its motion at that exact moment?

    • AThe particle is accelerating in the positive direction.
    • BThe particle is moving backward.
    • CThe particle is moving with maximum speed.
    • DThe particle is momentarily at rest.
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — The particle is momentarily at rest.

    When instantaneous velocity is zero, it means the particle has stopped moving momentarily at that specific point, even if it is about to change direction.

  3. Q3. Which quantity is a scalar quantity?

    • AVelocity
    • BDistance traveled
    • CSpeed
    • DAcceleration
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — Speed

    Speed and distance traveled are scalars (magnitude only). Velocity and acceleration are vector quantities (magnitude and direction).

  4. Q4. A runner completes a 400 meter lap on a circular track. What is the magnitude of the displacement of the runner?

    • A400 m
    • B0 m
    • C200 m
    • D800 m
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — 0 m

    Displacement is the change in position from start to end. Since the runner completes a full lap, the final position is the same as the initial position, so the displacement is zero.

  5. Q5. A boat travels from point A to point B, and then immediately travels from point B to point C. If the boat covers equal distances in both segments, what is the average velocity of the boat from A to C?

    • A(Distance AB) + (Distance BC) / 2
    • B(Distance AB + Distance BC) / (Time AB + Time BC)
    • C(A to B) + (B to C)
    • DDistance AC / Total Time
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — Distance AC / Total Time

    Average velocity is defined as total displacement divided by total time. Since the problem states the distances are equal (AB = BC), the total displacement is AB + BC, and the total time is t₍AB) + t₍BC). The average velocity is (AB+BC)/(t₍AB)+t₍BC)).

  6. Q6. A particle moves along a curved path. If the average speed over the first half of the path is 10 m/s and the average speed over the second half of the path is 15 m/s, what is the average speed for the entire journey?

    • A12.0 m/s
    • B13.0 m/s
    • C12.5 m/s
    • D11.5 m/s
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: A — 12.0 m/s

    When speeds are given for equal distance segments, the average speed is the harmonic mean of the individual speeds, weighted by the distance. For equal distance segments, the average speed is (2v₁ v₂)/(v₁ + v₂) = (2(10)(15))/(10+15) = 300/25 = 12 m/s.

  7. Q7. Instantaneous velocity is defined as the rate of change of position with respect to time. Which of the following represents the instantaneous velocity at time t?

    • AThe area under the velocity-time graph up to t
    • BThe displacement from the origin up to t
    • CThe position of the particle at time t
    • DThe slope of the position-time graph at t
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — The slope of the position-time graph at t

    Instantaneous velocity is the limit of the average velocity as the time interval approaches zero, which geometrically corresponds to the slope of the position-time graph at that specific point.

  8. Q8. Instantaneous velocity of a particle is the limit of the average velocity as the time interval approaches zero. Which of the following statements is true regarding instantaneous velocity?

    • AIt is always zero when the particle is at rest.
    • BIt is the slope of the position-time graph at a specific time.
    • CIt is the magnitude of the total displacement.
    • DIt is the velocity calculated over a very long duration.
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: B — It is the slope of the position-time graph at a specific time.

    Instantaneous velocity is the rate of change of position with respect to time at a specific instant, which corresponds to the slope of the position-time graph at that point.

  9. Q9. A car travels 60 km in the first hour and 40 km in the next hour. What is the average speed for the entire journey?

    • A45 km/h
    • B60 km/h
    • C55 km/h
    • D50 km/h
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: D — 50 km/h

    Total distance = 60 km + 40 km = 100 km. Total time = 1 h + 1 h = 2 h. Average speed = Total distance / Total time = 100 / 2 = 50 km/h.

  10. Q10. When an object moves with constant velocity, its average speed and instantaneous velocity are:

    • AUnequal
    • BInstantaneous velocity is zero
    • CEqual and constant
    • DAverage speed is zero
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — Equal and constant

    If the velocity is constant (constant magnitude and direction), the average velocity equals the instantaneous velocity, and since the speed is constant, the average speed equals the instantaneous speed.

  11. Q11. If an object travels at a constant speed of 10 m/s for the entire duration of motion, what is its average speed during that time?

    • A0
    • B5 m/s
    • C10 m/s
    • DUnknown
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — 10 m/s

    If the speed is constant, the instantaneous velocity is equal to the average velocity (and thus average speed). If speed is 10 m/s throughout, the average speed is 10 m/s.

  12. Q12. The average speed of an object moving with constant velocity is equal to its:

    • ATotal distance traveled
    • BRate of change of velocity
    • CDisplacement
    • DAcceleration
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — Displacement

    When velocity is constant (constant speed and direction), the average speed is simply the value of that constant velocity (or speed) over the time interval.

  13. Q13. If an object travels a distance of 50 meters in 10 seconds, what is its average speed?

    • A5 m/s²
    • B10 m/s
    • C5 m/s
    • D50 m/s
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — 5 m/s

    Average speed is calculated as total distance divided by total time. Average speed = 50 m / 10 s = 5 m/s.

  14. Q14. A particle moves along a path such that its average speed over a time interval is constant. What can be concluded about its instantaneous velocity during that interval?

    • AThe instantaneous velocity is zero
    • BThe instantaneous velocity is increasing exponentially
    • CThe instantaneous velocity is constant
    • DThe instantaneous velocity is changing
    Show answer & explanation

    Correct answer: C — The instantaneous velocity is constant

    If the average speed of a particle over a time interval is constant, it implies that the particle is moving with a constant rate of change of position. In the context of 1D motion, a constant average speed over an interval implies that the instantaneous velocity maintained throughout that interval is also constant.

Keep going — practice on Padhai Karlo

Padhai Karlo gives you unlimited NEET practice: chapter-wise questions, timed quizzes, and full mock tests with an All-India Rank — free to start.

Get the free Android app →

More Kinematics topics

← All Kinematics practice