Motion in a Plane: Class 11 Physics Q&A
10 free answers on Motion in a Plane (Physics) for Class 11 students, across CBSE, ICSE and State boards. Includes questions such as “How do you calculate speed and acceleration together?”, “What is the acceleration of a particle maximum and when does this occur?”, “What is formula for radial acceleration and tangential acceleration in circular motion?”
Question & Answer
Questions
- PhysicsClass 11All
Give an example where the rate of change of velocity is constant, while the velocity it self changes both in magnitude and direction
Projectile motion.
- PhysicsClass 11All
How do you calculate speed and acceleration together?
Calculating speed and acceleration together requires understanding their relationship through kinematic equations that connect both variables with time, distance, or each other. Speed (or velocity) at any instant relates to acceleration through v = u + at, while acceleration describes how that speed changes: a = (v - u) / t. These two equations are mathematical inverses—one calculates velocity from acceleration, the other calculates acceleration from ve
- PhysicsClass 11All
What is the acceleration of a particle maximum and when does this occur?
A particle's acceleration reaches its maximum when the net force acting on it is greatest relative to its mass, following Newton's second law a = F_net / m. For simple harmonic motion (like a mass on a spring or pendulum), maximum acceleration occurs at the endpoints of motion where displacement from equilibrium is greatest: a_max = ω²A, where ω is angular frequency and A is amplitude. At these positions, the restoring force peaks, producing
- PhysicsClass 11All
What is formula for radial acceleration and tangential acceleration in circular motion?
Radial (centripetal) acceleration points toward the center of a circular path and is calculated as a_r = v²/r or a_r = ω²r, where v is tangential speed, r is radius, and ω is angular velocity. This acceleration is necessary to continuously change the velocity vector's direction, keeping the object moving in a circle rather than a straight line. A car navigating a 50-meter radius curve at 20 m/s experiences a_r = 400/50 = 8 m/s² towa
- PhysicsClass 11All
What is the formula to calculate vertical acceleration? How is it different from general acceleration?
Vertical acceleration follows the same fundamental formula a = (v - u) / t or a = dv/dt as any acceleration, but in most Earth-based scenarios it equals or includes gravitational acceleration g = 9.8 m/s² downward. For free-falling objects with no air resistance, vertical acceleration is constant at 9.8 m/s² regardless of the object's velocity or mass—this is the defining characteristic of gravitational acceleration. A feather
- PhysicsClass 11All
What is the formula of net acceleration?
Net acceleration is the vector sum of all individual accelerations acting on an object, calculated as a_net = Σa_i = a₁ + a₂ + a₃ + ... where each component acceleration is added vectorially (accounting for direction). For one-dimensional motion, this simplifies to algebraic addition: a car experiencing 3 m/s² engine acceleration forward and 1 m/s² friction backward has a_net = 3 - 1 = 2 m/s² forward. The net acceleration determines the actual change in m
- PhysicsClass 11All
Is kinematics 1D or 2D?
Kinematics can be both 1D, 2D, or even 3D depending on the motion being studied. One-dimensional (1D) kinematics deals with motion along a straight line, like a car on a highway. Two-dimensional (2D) kinematics involves motion in a plane, such as projectile motion where objects move both horizontally and vertically. Three-dimensional motion occurs in space, like the trajectory of a spacecraft.
- PhysicsClass 11All
What is 2D kinematics?
Two-dimensional kinematics analyzes motion in a plane using both x and y coordinates. Classic examples include projectile motion (a thrown ball follows a parabolic path) and circular motion. In 2D kinematics, you resolve velocity and acceleration into horizontal and vertical components and analyze each direction independently using 1D equations, then combine the results to describe the complete motion.
- PhysicsClass 11All
What are 10 examples of projectile motion?
Common projectile motion examples include: a basketball thrown toward a hoop, a soccer ball kicked across a field, water from a fountain, a bullet fired from a gun, a javelin throw, a long jump in athletics, a golf ball hit off a tee, a baseball pitch, fireworks exploding in the sky, and an arrow shot from a bow. All follow a parabolic trajectory under gravity's influence with no propulsion after launch.
- PhysicsClass 11All
What are two types of projectiles?
Projectiles are classified as: (1) horizontal projectiles, launched parallel to the ground with initial vertical velocity of zero (like a ball rolled off a table), and (2) oblique or angular projectiles, launched at an angle to the horizontal with both horizontal and vertical initial velocity components (like a cannon ball fired at 45 degrees). Both experience the same gravitational acceleration downward.