🚀 Motion – Class 9 Science MCQs

Section 1: Introduction to Motion & Distance vs Displacement (Q1–Q25)

Q1. Motion of an object means:

A. Change in its position with time
B. Object at rest
C. Object standing still
D. None of these

✅ Correct Answer: A. Change in its position with time

Explanation:

• A. Correct, motion = change of position with respect to time.
• B. Rest = no motion.
• C. Wrong, still = rest.
• D. Incorrect.

Q2. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

A. Displacement
B. Velocity
C. Speed
D. Force

✅ Correct Answer: C. Speed

Explanation:

• A. Displacement → Vector.
• B. Velocity → Vector.
• C. Correct, speed has only magnitude.
• D. Force → Vector.

Q3. Which of these is a vector quantity?

A. Distance
B. Speed
C. Displacement
D. Time

✅ Correct Answer: C. Displacement

Explanation:

• A. Distance → Scalar.
• B. Speed → Scalar.
• C. Correct, displacement has magnitude + direction.
• D. Time → Scalar.

Q4. If a car returns to its starting point, the displacement is:

A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Zero
D. Infinite

✅ Correct Answer: C. Zero

Explanation:

• A & B. Displacement depends on initial & final position.
• C. Correct, same start & end = zero displacement.
• D. Wrong.

Q5. Distance is always:

A. Less than displacement
B. Equal to displacement
C. Greater than or equal to displacement
D. Cannot be compared

✅ Correct Answer: C. Greater than or equal to displacement

Explanation:

• A. Wrong, distance can be greater.
• B. Equal only in straight-line motion.
• C. Correct rule (Distance ≥ Displacement).
• D. Can be compared.

Q6. Which is true about displacement?

A. Always greater than distance
B. Always less than distance
C. Always equal to distance
D. Can be less than or equal to distance

✅ Correct Answer: D. Can be less than or equal to distance

Explanation:

• A. Wrong.
• B. Not always.
• C. Only in straight line.
• D. Correct.

Q7. SI unit of distance and displacement is:

A. cm
B. metre
C. kilometre
D. foot

✅ Correct Answer: B. metre

Explanation:

• A. cm = smaller unit, not SI.
• B. Correct, SI unit = metre (m).
• C. km = not SI.
• D. foot = non-SI.

Q8. If an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time, it is said to be in:

A. Uniform motion
B. Non-uniform motion
C. Rest
D. Random motion

✅ Correct Answer: A. Uniform motion

Explanation:

• A. Correct, uniform motion = equal distances in equal times.
• B. Non-uniform = unequal distances in equal times.
• C. Rest = no motion.
• D. Random = irregular.

Q9. Which of the following can be negative?

A. Distance
B. Displacement
C. Speed
D. Path length

✅ Correct Answer: B. Displacement

Explanation:

• A. Distance always positive.
• B. Correct, displacement depends on direction.
• C. Speed = magnitude, not negative.
• D. Path length = always positive.

Q10. When displacement is zero, the distance travelled is:

A. Always zero
B. Sometimes zero, sometimes not
C. Negative
D. Infinite

✅ Correct Answer: B. Sometimes zero, sometimes not

Explanation:

• A. Not always (e.g., return journey).
• B. Correct, distance may be non-zero even if displacement = 0.
• C. Wrong.
• D. Not possible.

Q11. Which of the following is not a physical quantity related to motion?

A. Distance
B. Displacement
C. Mass
D. Speed

✅ Correct Answer: C. Mass

Explanation:

• A, B, D → Related to motion.
• C. Mass is not related to description of motion.

Q12. Which of the following describes “how fast an object moves without direction”?

A. Speed
B. Velocity
C. Displacement
D. Acceleration

✅ Correct Answer: A. Speed

Explanation:

• A. Correct, speed = rate of motion without direction.
• B. Velocity = with direction.
• C. Displacement = vector position change.
• D. Acceleration = rate of velocity change.

Q13. An object goes 5 km east and then 5 km west. Total displacement is:

A. 10 km
B. 0 km
C. 5 km
D. –5 km

✅ Correct Answer: B. 0 km

Explanation:

• A. Distance = 10 km.
• B. Correct, displacement = 0 (back to start).
• C, D. Wrong.

Q14. Which one is always positive or zero?

A. Speed
B. Velocity
C. Acceleration
D. Displacement

✅ Correct Answer: A. Speed

Explanation:

• A. Correct, speed ≥ 0.
• B. Velocity can be negative.
• C. Acceleration can be negative.
• D. Displacement can be negative.

Q15. The physical quantity having both magnitude and direction is:

A. Scalar
B. Vector
C. Distance
D. Speed

✅ Correct Answer: B. Vector

Explanation:

• A. Scalar = only magnitude.
• B. Correct, vectors = magnitude + direction.
• C. Distance = scalar.
• D. Speed = scalar.

Q16. An example of one-dimensional motion is:

A. Car turning on a road
B. A train moving on straight track
C. Bird flying in sky
D. Earth revolving around Sun

✅ Correct Answer: B. A train moving on straight track

Explanation:

• A. Turn = 2D.
• B. Correct, straight line = 1D.
• C. Bird → 3D motion.
• D. Orbit = 2D circular.

Q17. Motion in a straight line is called:

A. Rectilinear motion
B. Rotational motion
C. Circular motion
D. Oscillatory motion

✅ Correct Answer: A. Rectilinear motion

Explanation:

• A. Correct, straight line = rectilinear.
• B. Rotation = about axis.
• C. Circular = circle path.
• D. Oscillatory = to & fro.

Q18. A car travels 100 km north and then 100 km south. Net displacement is:

A. 200 km
B. 100 km
C. 0 km
D. –200 km

✅ Correct Answer: C. 0 km

Explanation:

• A. Distance.
• B. Not correct.
• C. Correct, returns to start.
• D. Wrong.

Q19. Distance travelled divided by time is called:

A. Displacement
B. Average speed
C. Velocity
D. Acceleration

✅ Correct Answer: B. Average speed

Explanation:

• A. Wrong.
• B. Correct, distance/time = average speed.
• C. Displacement/time = velocity.
• D. Change of velocity/time = acceleration.

Q20. Which motion is an example of two-dimensional motion?

A. Train on straight track
B. Car on circular road
C. Falling apple
D. Man walking on straight path

✅ Correct Answer: B. Car on circular road

Explanation:

• A. 1D.
• B. Correct, needs x & y coordinates.
• C. 1D vertical.
• D. 1D straight line.

Q21. Which is not a correct pair?

A. Scalar – Speed
B. Vector – Velocity
C. Scalar – Displacement
D. Vector – Acceleration

✅ Correct Answer: C. Scalar – Displacement

Explanation:

• A. Correct.
• B. Correct.
• C. Wrong, displacement = vector.
• D. Correct.

Q22. Which type of motion is exhibited by the needle of a sewing machine?

A. Rectilinear
B. Oscillatory
C. Circular
D. Random

✅ Correct Answer: B. Oscillatory

Explanation:

• A. Straight line only.
• B. Correct, needle moves to & fro.
• C. Not circular.
• D. Not random.

Q23. If an object is at rest, then:

A. Distance = Displacement = 0
B. Distance = 0, Displacement ≠ 0
C. Distance ≠ 0, Displacement = 0
D. Displacement = Infinite

✅ Correct Answer: A. Distance = Displacement = 0

Explanation:

• A. Correct, no movement → both zero.
• B, C, D → Wrong.

Q24. The shortest distance between initial and final point is called:

A. Distance
B. Path length
C. Displacement
D. Average speed

✅ Correct Answer: C. Displacement

Explanation:

• A. Total length covered.
• B. Path length = distance.
• C. Correct, shortest straight-line distance.
• D. Wrong.

Q25. Which of the following is NOT an example of rectilinear motion?

A. Motion of a bullet fired from a gun
B. Motion of a freely falling stone
C. Motion of a planet around the sun
D. Motion of a train on straight track

✅ Correct Answer: C. Motion of a planet around the sun

Explanation:

• A. Bullet = straight line.
• B. Falling stone = straight vertical line.
• C. Correct, circular (not rectilinear).
• D. Straight track = rectilinear.

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