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Sunday, 25 October

JEE Main · Physics · Class 11

Kinetic Theory: JEE Main previous year questions

90 questions in 85 of the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, asked in 8 of 8 years. Here is what this chapter tests and how.

Study this chapter
Questions
90
in 85 of 108 shifts · 8 of 8 years
Average a shift
0.7
of 25 Physics · 0.6 since 2024 -0.2
Typical range
0.6–0.8
questions a shift; fewest 0.4, most 1.0
Weighted estimate
0.7
model, recent years count more · about 2.7 marks
  • Typical range (fact)
  • Average a shift (fact)
  • Weighted estimate (model)

Questions are counted per shift, out of the 25 each subject has, in the shifts Lumi analysed; papers that offered 30 a subject (2017, 2021–2024) are scaled to 25. Typical range: the middle six of the eight years (2017, 2020–2026), leaving out the single highest and lowest year. The average and the range are historical fact. The weighted estimate is a model: each year's share, with recent years counting more (half-life three years), and chapters NTA dropped from the syllabus set near zero. It is a guide to effort, not a forecast of the paper.

What to do

How to spend time on Kinetic Theory

Priority

Should do

One of the 10 Physics chapters that took Physics from half to 80% of its questions in the 108 shifts analysed. How bands are set

Past questions
90in 85 of 108 shifts
Study plan gives it
11 hover 12 months; 8 h over 6
Study this chapter →

Ideas asked most often

  1. Molecular Speed Types12×
  2. Kinetic Energy and Temp11×
  3. Gamma and Degrees of Freedom9×
  4. Molecular Speed Ratios8×
  5. Internal Energy of Gas Mixtures7×

26 of the 53 ideas in Lumi’s map of this chapter have not been asked or touched in the shifts analysed. Of its idea-tagged questions from 2024 on, 17% tested an idea not asked in an earlier year, so learn the whole chapter, not just the list above.

Within each subject, chapters in NTA's 2026 syllabus are ranked by their average questions a shift over all 8 years analysed (history, not the model). Going down that list, the chapters that together held the first half of the subject's questions are Must do; the next ones, up to 80%, are Should do; the rest are Lower priority.

Key findings

Kinetic Theory at a glance

  1. 01

    83%

    of its 23 questions from 2024 on that Lumi matched to an idea tested one JEE Main had asked in an earlier year; 100% came from a topic asked in an earlier year.

  2. 02

    49%

    of the 53 ideas in Lumi's map of the chapter have not been asked or touched on in the shifts analysed.

  3. 03

    14%

    of its questions asked for a numerical answer, 0.5 times the Physics average.

  4. 04

    1%

    of its questions were rated hard, against 5% across all Physics questions in the same shifts.

Questions a shift, year by year

Out of the 25 Physics questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.

0240.8’171’200.7’210.7’220.8’230.7’240.6’250.4’26

Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 12 in 12 shifts · 2021: 21 in 24 shifts · 2022: 21 in 24 shifts · 2023: 11 in 12 shifts · 2024: 15 in 18 shifts · 2025: 5 in 8 shifts · 2026: 4 in 9 shifts.

Kind of question

SHARE OF QUESTIONS
  • Calculation31%
  • Conceptual17%
  • Numerical answer14%
  • Application11%
  • Recall, single correct9%
  • Multi-step8%
  • Two statements3%
  • Diagram based3%
  • Match the list2%
  • Assertion–reason1%

Most common asks: internal energy of gas mixture (2); rms speed after temperature change (2); statement i/ii on kinetic theory of gases (2).

Profile

This chapter in numbers

Where it ranks, how steady it is, and what it costs to study.

Rank, all JEE chapters
#59
of 70 by weighted estimate
Rank in Physics
#22
of 28 chapters
Share of Physics
2.9%
of its questions, all shifts analysed
Busiest year
2020
1.0 questions a shift
Year to year
Steady
varies by about 0.1 questions a shift
Long-run direction
-0.04
questions a shift, per year
Easy questions
58%
1% rated hard
Numerical answer
14%
0.5× the Physics rate
With a figure
4%
graph, diagram or structure
Study time
11 h
8 h on a 6-month plan
Marks per study hour
0.25
#19 of 70 chapters
Foundation for others
52%
of its ideas are used in other chapters

Difficulty, year by year

Each question rated easy, medium or hard. Each bar is that year’s split, so years compare directly; the number is the questions in that year’s analysed shifts (1 to 24 shifts a year).

  • 20171
  • 202012
  • 202121
  • 202221
  • 202311
  • 202415
  • 20255
  • 20264
  • Easy
  • Medium
  • Hard

What it asks you to do

SHARE OF QUESTIONS
  • Calculation43%
  • Conceptual21%
  • Application11%
  • Recall11%
  • Multi-step10%
  • Data or graph3%

Coverage

How much of the chapter JEE Main has used

We split the chapter into 53 ideas. In the 108 shifts analysed, JEE Main built a question around 22 of them. Most of the chapter has never been the main idea of a question, so past questions alone leave most of it out.

Asked as the main idea
22
Touched on in a question
5
Never asked
26

Topics

What repeats, topic by topic

This chapter's questions per topic in each year's analysed shifts. The number is the count; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. 1 questions had no close topic in Lumi's map and count for the chapter only.

’17’20’21’22’23’24’25’26
018+questions in that year’s analysed shifts, shaded per shift
  • Kinetic Theory of Gases

    As a topic: 84 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 13% numerical answer. Recent asks: statement I/II on ideal gas internal energy; assertion-reason on kinetic theory of gases; numerical: ratio of kinetic energies of gases.

  • Ideal Gas Laws

    As a topic: 35 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often numerical value, 66% numerical answer.

  • First Law of Thermodynamics

    As a topic: 40 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 35% numerical answer.

  • Thermodynamic Processes

    As a topic: 52 questions in 7 of 8 years, most often single correct, 17% numerical answer. Recent asks: numerical: final volume in adiabatic piston compartments; order/ranking of work in isothermal processes; ratio of heat, energy change and work in isobaric process.

Drill down

Topic, idea, question

Open a topic to see every idea JEE Main tested inside it, then open an idea to read the questions. Each row shows its 8 years.

  • Open77 · 86%11181811143

    20 ideas inside

    • OpenRepeated12 · 16%264
    • OpenRepeated11 · 14%223
    • OpenRepeated8 · 10%322
    • OpenRepeated6 · 8%23
    • OpenRepeated6 · 8%2
    • OpenRepeated6 · 8%3
    • OpenRepeated6 · 8%22
    • OpenRepeated4 · 5%2
    • Open3 · 4%3
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • Open2 · 3%2
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
  • Open7 · 8%222
  • Open2 · 2%
  • Open2 · 2%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • 2 Apr ’26 S2 · Q34
    A mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen has volume 8310 cm3^3, temperature 300 K, pressure 100 kPa and mass 13.2 g. The number of moles of…

    mediumSingle correct

Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.

Ideas

The exact ideas JEE Main has asked

Inside the topics, 24 different ideas were tested; 14 came more than once. These are the repeats, then the ideas new since 2024.

Dots are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026.

Every question

All 90 Kinetic Theory questions

Newest first, shift by shift. The newest 40 show their opening words; older ones name the idea they tested. Each opens with its options and the official answer.

JEE Main 20264 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q34A mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen has volume 8310 cm3^3, temperature 300 K, pressure 100 kPa and mass 13.2 g. The number of moles of…MediumSingle correct
  2. 4 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q35One gas of n1n_1 mole of molecules at temperature T1T_1, volume V1V_1, and pressure P1P_1, and another gas of n2n_2 mole of molecules at…MediumSingle correct
  3. 4 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q33Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R Assertion A: If the average kinetic…EasyAssertion–reason
  4. 6 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q35Two closed vessels of same volume are joined through a narrow tube and both vessels are filled with air of pressure 90 kPa and temperature…MediumSingle correct

JEE Main 20255 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q48γA\gamma_A is the specific heat ratio of monoatomic gas A having 3 translational degrees of freedom. γB\gamma_B is the specific heat ratio…MediumNumerical value
  2. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q50The internal energy of air in 4 m×4 m×3 m4\ \mathrm{m}\times4\ \mathrm{m}\times3\ \mathrm{m} sized room at 1 atmospheric pressure will be…EasyNumerical value
  3. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q34Pressure of an ideal gas, contained in a closed vessel, is increased by 0.4% when heated by 1∘1^\circC. Its initial temperature must be:MediumSingle correct
  4. 4 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q45There are two vessels filled with an ideal gas where volume of one is double the volume of other. The large vessel contains the gas at 8…MediumSingle correct
  5. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q33The helium and argon are put in the flask at the same room temperature (300 K). The ratio of average kinetic energies (per molecule) of…EasySingle correct

JEE Main 202415 questions

  1. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q39P-T diagram of an ideal gas having three different densities ρ1,ρ2,ρ3\rho_1, \rho_2, \rho_3 (in three different cases) is shown in the figure.…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  2. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q40The translational degrees of freedom (ftf_t) and rotational degrees of freedom (frf_r) of CH4CH_4 molecule are:EasySingle correct
  3. 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q39If the collision frequency of hydrogen molecules in a closed chamber at 27∘C27^\circ\mathrm{C} is ZZ, then the collision frequency of the…EasySingle correct
  4. 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q39If n is the number density and d is the diameter of the molecule, then the average distance covered by a molecule between two successive…EasySingle correct
  5. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q37A sample contains mixture of helium and oxygen gas. The ratio of root mean square speed of helium and oxygen in the sample, is :EasySingle correct
  6. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q41Energy of 10 non rigid diatomic molecules at temperature TT is :MediumSingle correct
  7. 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q39A mixture of one mole of monoatomic gas and one mole of a diatomic gas (rigid) are kept at room temperature (27∘27^\circC). The ratio of…EasySingle correct
  8. 8 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q39Given below are two statements : Statement (I) : The mean free path of gas molecules is inversely proportional to square of molecular…EasyTwo statements
  9. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q41The temperature of a gas is −78∘-78^\circC and the average translational kinetic energy of its molecules is K. The temperature at which the…EasySingle correct
  10. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 1 · Q39Two moles a monoatomic gas is mixed with six moles of a diatomic gas. The molar specific heat of the mixture at constant volume is :EasySingle correct
  11. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q39If the root mean square velocity of hydrogen molecule at a given temperature and pressure is 2 km/s, the root mean square velocity of…EasySingle correct
  12. 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q39The average kinetic energy of a monoatomic molecule is 0.414 eV at temperature : (Use KB=1.38×10−23K_B = 1.38\times10^{-23} J/mol-K)EasySingle correct
  13. 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q39Two vessels A and B are of the same size and are at same temperature. A contains 1g of hydrogen and B contains 1g of oxygen. PAP_A and…EasySingle correct
  14. 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q39At which temperature the r.m.s. velocity of a hydrogen molecule equal to that of an oxygen molecule at 47 ∘C47\,^\circ\mathrm{C} ?EasySingle correct
  15. 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q39The parameter that remains the same for molecules of all gases at a given temperature is :EasySingle correct

JEE Main 202311 questions

  1. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q45The number of air molecules per cm3\mathrm{cm^3} increased from 3×10193\times10^{19} to 12×101912\times10^{19}. The ratio of collision frequency of…EasySingle correct
  2. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q39The temperature of an ideal gas is increased from 200 K to 800 K. If r.m.s. speed of gas at 200 K is v0v_0. Then, r.m.s. speed of the gas…EasySingle correct
  3. 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q33The temperature at which the kinetic energy of oxygen molecules becomes double than its value at 27∘27^\circC isEasySingle correct
  4. 10 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q32Match List I with List II : List I List II (A) 3 Translational degrees of freedom (I) Monoatomic gases (B) 3 Translational, 2 rotational…EasyMatch the list
  5. 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q33A gas mixture consists of 2 moles of oxygen and 4 moles of neon at temperature T. Neglecting all vibrational modes, the total internal…EasySingle correct
  6. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q43Three vessels of equal volume contain gases at the same temperature and pressure. The first vessel contains neon (monoatomic), the second…EasySingle correct
  7. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q32The root mean square speed of molecules of nitrogen gas at 27∘C27^\circ\mathrm{C} is approximately : (Given mass of a nitrogen molecule =…EasySingle correct
  8. 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q39If the r. m. s speed of chlorine molecule is 490 m/s at 27∘27^\circC, the r. m. s speed of argon molecules at the same temperature will be…EasySingle correct
  9. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q39The rms speed of oxygen molecule in a vessel at particular temperature is (1+5x)12v\left(1+\frac{5}{x}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}} v, where vv is the…MediumSingle correct
  10. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q39The mean free path of molecules of a certain gas at STP is 1500d1500d, where dd is the diameter of the gas molecules. While maintaining the…MediumSingle correct
  11. 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q32A flask contains Hydrogen and Argon in the ratio 2:1 by mass. The temperature of the mixture is 30°C. The ratio of average kinetic energy…EasySingle correct

JEE Main 202221 questions

  1. 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q38Following statements are given : (A) The average kinetic energy of a gas molecule decreases when the temperature is reduced. (B) The…EasyOther
  2. 26 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q42A gas has nn degrees of freedom. The ratio of specific heat of gas at constant volume to the specific heat of gas at constant pressure…EasySingle correct
  3. 27 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q39Same gas is filled in two vessels of the same volume at the same temperature. If the ratio of the number of molecules is 1:4, then A. The…EasyOther
  4. 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q39Which statements are correct about degrees of freedom ? (A) A molecule with n degrees of freedom has n2^2 different ways of storing…MediumOther
  5. 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q38Given below are two statements : Statement I : The average momentum of a molecule in a sample of an ideal gas depends on temperature.…MediumTwo statements
  6. 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q8Molecular Speed Types · Medium · Single correct
  7. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q54Internal Energy of Gas Mixtures · Medium · Numerical value
  8. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q49Molecular Speed Types · Easy · Single correct
  9. 30 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q8Molecular Speed Types · Easy · Single correct
  10. 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q51Molecular Speed Types · Medium · Numerical value
  11. 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q37Molecular Speed Ratios · Easy · Single correct
  12. 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q36Gamma and Degrees of Freedom · Easy · Single correct
  13. 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q56Individual Gas Laws · Medium · Numerical value
  14. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q39Gamma and Degrees of Freedom · Medium · Single correct
  15. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q37Law of Equipartition · Easy · Single correct
  16. 27 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q50Ideal Gas Equation · Medium · Single correct
  17. 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q37Isobaric Process Analysis · Easy · Diagram based · has a figure
  18. 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q38Mean Free Path · Medium · Other
  19. 28 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q58Degrees of Freedom · Easy · Numerical value
  20. 28 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q39Molecular Speed Ratios · Medium · Single correct
  21. 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q43Avogadro's Hypothesis Application · Easy · Single correct

JEE Main 202121 questions

  1. 4 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q26Molecular Speed Ratios · Easy · Numerical value
  2. 4 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q12Free Expansion of Ideal Gas · Medium · Single correct
  3. 26 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q2Molecular Speed Types · Easy · Single correct
  4. 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q16Microscopic Dalton's Law · Easy · Single correct
  5. 27 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q8Gas Balloon Payload Capacity · Medium · Single correct
  6. 27 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q8Molecular Speed Ratios · Easy · Single correct
  7. 31 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q7Ideal Gas Equation · Medium · Single correct
  8. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q6Gas Pressure Derivation · Easy · Single correct
  9. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q24Molecular Speed Types · Easy · Numerical value
  10. 25 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q21Kinetic Energy and Temp · Medium · Numerical value
  11. 25 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q6Law of Equipartition · Medium · Two statements
  12. 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q25Microscopic Dalton's Law · Medium · Numerical value
  13. 26 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q13Law of Equipartition · Medium · Single correct
  14. 22 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q5Kinetic Energy and Temp · Easy · Single correct
  15. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q23Mean Free Path · Easy · Numerical value
  16. 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q7Mean Free Path · Easy · Single correct
  17. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q8Gamma and Degrees of Freedom · Medium · Single correct
  18. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q15Internal Energy of Gas Mixtures · Medium · Single correct
  19. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q18Gamma and Degrees of Freedom · Medium · Single correct
  20. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q17Law of Equipartition · Easy · Single correct
  21. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q1Molecular Speed Ratios · Easy · Single correct

JEE Main 202012 questions

  1. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q9Relaxation Time · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
  2. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q8Adiabatic Exponent of Gas Mixtures · Medium · Single correct
  3. 9 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q8Vibrational Degrees of Freedom · Easy · Single correct
  4. 9 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q10Relaxation Time · Medium · Single correct
  5. 2 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q9Internal Energy of Gas Mixtures · Easy · Single correct
  6. 2 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q9Mean Free Path · Medium · Other
  7. 3 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q8Linear vs Non-Linear Polyatomic DOF · Easy · Single correct · has a figure
  8. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q8Gamma and Degrees of Freedom · Easy · Match the list
  9. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q23Internal Energy of Gas Mixtures · Easy · Numerical value
  10. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q22Isothermal Bulk Modulus · Hard · Numerical value
  11. 5 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q9Kinetic Energy and Temp · Medium · Single correct
  12. 6 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q9Relaxation Time · Medium · Single correct

JEE Main 20171 question

  1. 2 Apr 2017 (offline) · Q11Number Density Calculations · Medium · Single correct

Questions from the official JEE Main papers published by NTA. Chapter, topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s. Pattern: Asked most years.

More Physics, Class 11

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