JEE Main · Physics · Class 11
Laws of Motion: JEE Main previous year questions
115 questions in 82 of the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, asked in 8 of 8 years. Here is what this chapter tests and how.
- Questions
- 115
- in 82 of 108 shifts · 8 of 8 years
- Average a shift
- 0.8
- of 25 Physics · 0.9 since 2024 0.1
- Typical range
- 0.5–1.2
- questions a shift; fewest 0.3, most 1.4
- Weighted estimate
- 0.9
- model, recent years count more · about 3.5 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 Laws of Motion
Priority
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
- 115in 82 of 108 shifts
- Study plan gives it
- 16 hover 12 months; 12 h over 6
Ideas asked most often
- F=ma for Single Body9×
- Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt)7×
- Standard Atwood Machine5×
- Static Equilibrium5×
- Spring-Mass in Circular Motion5×
91 of the 165 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, 34% tested an idea not asked in an earlier year, so learn the whole chapter, not just the list above.
- Simulation: Same change in momentum, different force
- Simulation: Explosion: equal momenta, unequal energies
- Simulation: A weight on two strings
- Simulation: Heavier or lighter in a lift?
- Simulation: Static friction adjusts itself, up to a limit
- Simulation: What pushes the crate forward?
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
Laws of Motion at a glance
- 01
66%
of its 38 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.
- 02
55%
of the 165 ideas in Lumi's map of the chapter have not been asked or touched on in the shifts analysed.
- 03
21%
of its questions asked for a numerical answer, 0.7 times the Physics average.
- 04
7%
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.
Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 4 in 12 shifts · 2021: 22 in 24 shifts · 2022: 39 in 24 shifts · 2023: 11 in 12 shifts · 2024: 25 in 18 shifts · 2025: 4 in 8 shifts · 2026: 9 in 9 shifts.
Kind of question
SHARE OF QUESTIONS- Calculation28%
- Numerical answer21%
- Application19%
- Multi-step14%
- Diagram based11%
- Conceptual4%
- Two statements2%
- Assertion–reason1%
Most common asks: mass ratio from atwood acceleration (3); average force from momentum change (2); friction coefficient in rotating drum (1).
Profile
This chapter in numbers
Where it ranks, how steady it is, and what it costs to study.
- Rank, all JEE chapters
- #46
- of 70 by weighted estimate
- Rank in Physics
- #13
- of 28 chapters
- Share of Physics
- 3.4%
- of its questions, all shifts analysed
- Busiest year
- 2022
- 1.4 questions a shift
- Year to year
- Some swing
- varies by about 0.3 questions a shift
- Long-run direction
- +0.02
- questions a shift, per year
- Easy questions
- 49%
- 7% rated hard
- Numerical answer
- 21%
- 0.7× the Physics rate
- With a figure
- 36%
- graph, diagram or structure
- Study time
- 16 h
- 12 h on a 6-month plan
- Marks per study hour
- 0.22
- #50 of 70 chapters
- Foundation for others
- 91%
- 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
- 20204
- 202122
- 202239
- 202311
- 202425
- 20254
- 20269
- Easy
- Medium
- Hard
What it asks you to do
SHARE OF QUESTIONS- Calculation40%
- Application26%
- Multi-step24%
- Conceptual6%
- Data or graph3%
- Diagram reading1%
Coverage
How much of the chapter JEE Main has used
We split the chapter into 165 ideas. In the 108 shifts analysed, JEE Main built a question around 58 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
- 58
- Touched on in a question
- 16
- Never asked
- 91
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.
- Newton's Laws of Motion · Asked most years55192071134
- Friction · Asked most years2677813
- Circular Motion · Asked most years23348431
- Collisions · Asked most years8233
- Center of Mass · Asked most years11
- Kinematics in 1D · Asked most years11
- Work and Kinetic Energy · Asked most years11
| Topic | 2017 | ’20 | 2021 | ’22 | 2023 | ’24 | 2025 | ’26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton's Laws of MotionAsked most years | 1 | · | 9 | 20 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 55 |
| FrictionAsked most years | · | · | 7 | 7 | · | 8 | 1 | 3 | 26 |
| Circular MotionAsked most years | · | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | · | 1 | 23 |
| CollisionsAsked most years | · | · | 2 | 3 | · | 3 | · | · | 8 |
| Center of MassAsked most years | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 1 |
| Kinematics in 1DAsked most years | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | 1 |
| Work and Kinetic EnergyAsked most years | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 |
- Newton's Laws of Motion
As a topic: 57 questions in 7 of 8 years, most often single correct, 23% numerical answer. Recent asks: numerical: friction coefficient in accelerating pulley system; numerical: tension ratio in pulley system; numerical: time to slide on accelerating wedge.
- Friction
As a topic: 30 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often single correct, 33% numerical answer.
- Circular Motion
As a topic: 38 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often single correct, 18% numerical answer.
- Collisions
As a topic: 43 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often single correct, 19% numerical answer.
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.
23 ideas inside
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, 54 different ideas were tested; 24 came more than once. These are the repeats, then the ideas new since 2024.
position under constant force vector
number of bullets from average force
mass ratio from atwood acceleration
horizontal force for rope equilibrium
tension in spring for horizontal circular motion
friction coefficient from slide times on incline
force on floor for accelerating stacked blocks
friction coefficient from acceleration on incline
average force from momentum change
tensions in strings connecting pulled blocks
force on system with string-pulley constraint
force by smooth incline on body in equilibrium
maximum force for two blocks to move together
friction coefficient in accelerating pulley system
tensions in strings supporting suspended weight
coefficient of friction from angle of sliding
banking height for rail curve
maximum angular speed before coin slips
compare impulse and average force
acceleration of block and trolley with friction
maximum force on block against vertical wall
statement i/ii on turning on road
speed of conical pendulum from radius and string length
maximum pull for block to stay at rest on rough floor
displacement of centre of mass in atwood machine
pendulum angle in turning vehicle
friction coefficient in rotating drum
time to slide on accelerating wedge
velocity after constant force over time
max height for block on curved surface without slipping
Dots are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026.
Every question
All 115 Laws of Motion 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 20269 questions
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q27A 0.5 kg mass is in contact against the inner wall of a cylindrical drum of radius 4 m rotating about its vertical axis. The minimum…EasySingle correct
- 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q28Two blocks of masses 2 kg and 1 kg respectively, are tied to the ends of a string which passes over a light frictionless pulley as shown…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
- 4 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q28The time taken by a block of mass to slide down from the highest point to the lowest point on a rough inclined plane is more…MediumSingle correct
- 4 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q28At , a body of mass 100 g starts moving under the influence of a force N. After 2 s its position is…EasySingle correct
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q29Three masses kg, kg and kg are suspended from a fixed smooth frictionless pulley as shown in the figure…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
- 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q30A wedge with mass of 10 kg and all frictionless surfaces and the inclined surface making with horizontal. A block with…HardSingle correctHas a figure
- 6 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q29Two blocks ( and ) with respectively masses 2 kg and 1.5 kg are joined by a massless thread. These blocks are mounted on a…HardSingle correctHas a figure
- 6 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q46A block takes time to slide down a plane inclined at to the horizontal. If the surface is made smooth (frictionless), the…MediumNumerical value
- 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q28A car moving with a speed of 54 km/h takes a turn of radius 20 m. A simple pendulum is suspended from the ceiling of the car. Determine…EasySingle correct
JEE Main 20254 questions
- 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q29A body of mass 1 kg is suspended with the help of two strings making angles as shown in figure. Magnitudes of tensions and ,…EasySingle correctHas a figure
- 7 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q30A cubic block of mass m is sliding down on an inclined plane at with an acceleration of , the value of coefficient…EasySingle correct
- 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q28An object with mass 500 g moves along -axis with speed m/s. The force acting on the object is :MediumSingle correct
- 8 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q27A body of mass 2 kg moving with velocity of enters into a constant force field of…EasySingle correct
JEE Main 202425 questions
- 4 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q33A wooden block, initially at rest on the ground, is pushed by a force which increases linearly with time t. Which of the following curve…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
- 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q34A 2 kg brick begins to slide over a surface which is inclined at an angle of with respect to horizontal axis. The co-efficient…EasySingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q33A wooden block of mass 5 kg rests on a soft horizontal floor. When an iron cylinder of mass 25 kg is placed on the top of the block, the…EasySingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q52Three blocks , , having masses 4 kg, 6 kg and 10 kg respectively are hanging from a smooth pulley using rope 1, 2 and 3 as…MediumNumerical valueHas a figure
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q33A heavy box of mass 50 kg is moving on a horizontal surface. If co-efficient of kinetic friction between the box and horizontal surface is…EasySingle correct
- 5 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q34A particle moves in - plane under the influence of a force such that its linear momentum is…MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q32A light string passing over a smooth light pulley connects two blocks of masses and (where ). If the acceleration…MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q31A car of 800 kg is taking turn on a banked road of radius 300 m and angle of banking . If coefficient of static friction is 0.2…MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q34A body of weight 200 N is suspended from a tree branch through a chain of mass 10 kg. The branch pulls the chain by a force equal to (if…EasySingle correct
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q34A player caught a cricket ball of mass 150 g moving at a speed of 20 m/s. If the catching process is completed in 0.1 s, the magnitude of…EasySingle correct
- 8 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q33A given object takes n times the time to slide down rough inclined plane as it takes the time to slide down an identical…MediumSingle correct
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q34A light unstretchable string passing over a smooth light pulley connects two blocks of masses and . If the acceleration of the…EasySingle correct
- 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q34A kg mass is suspended from the ceiling by a rope of length m. A horizontal force is applied at the mid point of the rope so…EasySingle correctHas a figure
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 1 · Q33Consider a block and trolley system as shown in figure. If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the trolley and the surface is…EasySingle correctHas a figure
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 1 · Q34A ball of mass 0.5 kg is attached to a string of length 50 cm. The ball is rotated on a horizontal circular path about its vertical axis.…EasySingle correct
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q33A cricket player catches a ball of mass g moving with m/s speed. If the catching process is completed in s then the…EasySingle correct
- 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q34A body of mass kg experiences two forces and…EasySingle correct
- 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q33A body of mass 1000 kg is moving horizontally with a velocity 6 m/s. If 200 kg extra mass is added, the final velocity (in m/s) is :EasySingle correct
- 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q34A train is moving with a speed of 12 m/s on rails which are 1.5 m apart. To negotiate a curve of radius 400 m, the height by which the…MediumSingle correct
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q34All surfaces shown in figure are assumed to be frictionless and the pulleys and the string are light. The acceleration of the block of…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q33Three blocks , and are pulled on a horizontal smooth surface by a force of as shown in figure The tensions and…EasySingle correctHas a figure
- 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q34A block of mass is placed on a surface having vertical crossection given by . If coefficient of friction is 0.5, the…MediumSingle correct
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q33A coin is placed on a disc. The coefficient of friction between the coin and the disc is . If the distance of the coin from the…EasySingle correct
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q34In the given arrangement of a doubly inclined plane two blocks of masses and are placed. The blocks are connected by a light…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
- 31 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q33A light string passing over a smooth light fixed pulley connects two blocks of masses and . If the acceleration of the system…EasySingle correctHas a figure
JEE Main 202311 questions
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q48A small block of mass 100 g is tied to a spring of spring constant 7.5 N/m and length 20 cm. The other end of spring is fixed at a…MediumSingle correct
- 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q34A child of mass 5 kg is going round a merry-go-round that makes 1 rotation in 3.14 s. The radius of the merry-go-round is 2 m. The…EasySingle correct
- 8 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q36F=ma for Single Body · Easy · Single correct
- 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q41Newton's First Law · Easy · Assertion–reason
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q48Coin on a Rotating Turntable · Easy · Single correct
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q49Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt) · Easy · Single correct
- 11 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q35Position-Dependent Force Integration · Medium · Single correct
- 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q45Static Equilibrium · Easy · Single correct
- 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q35Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt) · Easy · Single correct
- 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q34Centripetal Acceleration · Easy · Single correct
- 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q40Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt) · Easy · Single correct
JEE Main 202239 questions
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q52Static Equilibrium · Easy · Numerical value · has a figure
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q34Average Impact Force Calculation · Easy · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q35Static Equilibrium · Easy · Single correct · has a figure
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q31Constrained Motion · Hard · Single correct · has a figure
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q48Monkey Climbing Rope Problems · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q33Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt) · Easy · Single correct
- 26 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q48Standard Atwood Machine · Easy · Diagram based · has a figure
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q34Conveyor Belt Kinematics · Easy · Single correct
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q33Net Contact Force Magnitude · Easy · Single correct
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q34Forces on a Smooth Incline · Medium · Single correct
- 27 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q60Forces on a Smooth Incline · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q33Impulse-Momentum · Easy · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q34Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt) · Medium · Single correct
- 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q4Hanging Chain on Smooth Table · Medium · Single correct · has a figure
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q34Centripetal Acceleration · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
- 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q44Forces on a Smooth Incline · Easy · Diagram based · has a figure
- 30 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q4Spring-Mass in Circular Motion · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q36Stopping Distance with Friction · Easy · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q37Breaking Tension Limits · Medium · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q33Vertical Circular Motion · Easy · Single correct
- 24 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q42Uniform Acceleration Equations · Medium · Single correct
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q51Hanging Chain Problem · Medium · Numerical value
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q60F=ma for Single Body · Easy · Numerical value
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q33Coin Slipping on a Rotating Disc · Easy · Single correct
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q52Friction on Unbanked Flat Curves · Easy · Numerical value
- 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q53Force Resolution on Inclined Planes · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q32Apparent Weight in Accelerating Frames · Easy · Single correct
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q34Vertical Circular Motion · Hard · Diagram based · has a figure
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q32Constrained Motion · Hard · Diagram based · has a figure
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q52Vector Impulse in Direction Changes · Easy · Numerical value
- 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q53Slipping Chain on a Smooth Table · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q34Two-Block Friction Systems · Medium · Single correct · has a figure
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q34Spring-Mass in Circular Motion · Easy · Single correct
- 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q51Equilibrium of a String Junction (Knot) · Medium · Numerical value
- 28 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q57Ideal String Tension · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q41Force Exerted by a Fluid Jet · Medium · Single correct · has a figure
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q45Rough Table Pulley System · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
- 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q47Apparent Weight in Accelerating Frames · Easy · Single correct
- 30 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q36Block on a Vertical Wall · Medium · Single correct · has a figure
JEE Main 202122 questions
- 3 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q6Conical Pendulum Dynamics · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q22Instantaneous Acceleration: Cutting Springs · Easy · Numerical value · has a figure
- 4 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q18Momentum Formulation (F = dp/dt) · Medium · Single correct
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q9Conical Pendulum Dynamics · Easy · Single correct
- 26 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q21Two-Block Friction Systems · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 27 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q5Constrained Motion · Hard · Diagram based · has a figure
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q23Pseudo Force Application · Medium · Numerical value
- 31 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q3Static Equilibrium · Easy · Two statements
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q21Block on a Vertical Wall · Easy · Numerical value
- 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q25Friction on Inclines · Medium · Numerical value
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q21Impending Motion Analysis · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q22F=ma for Single Body · Easy · Numerical value
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q23Apparent Weight in Accelerating Frames · Easy · Numerical value
- 26 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q10F=ma for Single Body · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
- 22 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q15Momentum in Explosions · Easy · Single correct
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q16Oblique Wall Bounce · Medium · Single correct · has a figure
- 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q6F=ma for Single Body · Easy · Single correct
- 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q15Friction on Unbanked Flat Curves · Medium · Two statements
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q2Banking of Roads · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q30Two-Block Friction Systems · Medium · Numerical value · has a figure
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q22Impending Motion Analysis · Hard · Numerical value · has a figure
- 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q28Angle of Friction · Medium · Numerical value
JEE Main 20204 questions
- 8 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q2Spring-Mass in Circular Motion · Medium · Single correct
- 9 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q6Spring-Mass in Circular Motion · Medium · Single correct
- 2 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q4Bead on a Rotating Hoop · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
- 3 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q21Work on a Rough Incline Round Trip · Medium · Numerical value
JEE Main 20171 question
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.