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Sunday, 25 October

JEE Main · Physics · Class 11

Motion in a Straight Line: JEE Main previous year questions

87 questions in 72 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
87
in 72 of 108 shifts · 8 of 8 years
Average a shift
0.7
of 25 Physics · 0.6 since 2024 -0.1
Typical range
0.6–0.8
questions a shift; fewest 0.6, most 0.8
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 Motion in a Straight Line

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
87in 72 of 108 shifts
Study plan gives it
12 hover 12 months; 9 h over 6
Study this chapter →

Ideas asked most often

  1. Free Fall Sign Conventions10×
  2. Calculus in Kinematics9×
  3. Uniform Acceleration Equations8×
  4. Displacement in the nth Second6×
  5. Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)5×

28 of the 59 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, 4% 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

Motion in a Straight Line at a glance

  1. 01

    96%

    of its 26 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

    48%

    of the 59 ideas in Lumi's map of the chapter have not been asked or touched on in the shifts analysed.

  3. 03

    29%

    of its questions asked for a numerical answer, 1.0 times the Physics average.

  4. 04

    2%

    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.

0240.8’170.7’200.8’210.7’220.7’230.7’240.6’250.6’26

Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 8 in 12 shifts · 2021: 23 in 24 shifts · 2022: 19 in 24 shifts · 2023: 10 in 12 shifts · 2024: 16 in 18 shifts · 2025: 5 in 8 shifts · 2026: 5 in 9 shifts.

Kind of question

SHARE OF QUESTIONS
  • Numerical answer29%
  • Calculation24%
  • Multi-step20%
  • Diagram based10%
  • Application9%
  • Conceptual3%
  • Data or graph3%
  • Two statements1%

Most common asks: relative velocity in 1d (1); distance in successive equal times from rest (1); position of drops falling at regular intervals (1).

Profile

This chapter in numbers

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

Rank, all JEE chapters
#60
of 70 by weighted estimate
Rank in Physics
#23
of 28 chapters
Share of Physics
2.8%
of its questions, all shifts analysed
Busiest year
2017
0.8 questions a shift
Year to year
Steady
varies by about 0.1 questions a shift
Long-run direction
-0.02
questions a shift, per year
Easy questions
49%
2% rated hard
Numerical answer
29%
1.0× the Physics rate
With a figure
21%
graph, diagram or structure
Study time
12 h
9 h on a 6-month plan
Marks per study hour
0.22
#55 of 70 chapters
Foundation for others
100%
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
  • 20208
  • 202123
  • 202219
  • 202310
  • 202416
  • 20255
  • 20265
  • Easy
  • Medium
  • Hard

What it asks you to do

SHARE OF QUESTIONS
  • Calculation43%
  • Multi-step29%
  • Data or graph13%
  • Application9%
  • Conceptual6%
  • Diagram reading1%

Coverage

How much of the chapter JEE Main has used

We split the chapter into 59 ideas. In the 108 shifts analysed, JEE Main built a question around 28 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
28
Touched on in a question
3
Never asked
28

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
021+questions in that year’s analysed shifts, shaded per shift
  • Kinematics in 1D

    As a topic: 81 questions in 8 of 8 years, most often single correct, 30% numerical answer. Recent asks: stone dropped from rising balloon; numerical: momentum ratio from nth-second distance; distance and average velocity from v-t graph.

  • Relative Velocity

    As a topic: 12 questions in 7 of 8 years, most often single correct, 25% numerical answer.

  • Collisions

    As a topic: 43 questions in 6 of 8 years, most often single correct, 19% numerical answer.

  • Kinematics in 2D

    As a topic: 20 questions in 5 of 8 years, most often single correct, 30% 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.

  • Open78 · 90%6211981454

    28 ideas inside

    • OpenRepeated10 · 13%25
    • OpenRepeated9 · 12%322
    • OpenRepeated7 · 9%32
    • OpenRepeated5 · 6%3
    • OpenRepeated4 · 5%
    • OpenRepeated4 · 5%2
    • OpenRepeated3 · 4%
    • OpenRepeated3 · 4%
    • OpenRepeated3 · 4%
    • OpenRepeated3 · 4%
    • OpenRepeated3 · 4%
    • OpenRepeated3 · 4%2
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • OpenRepeated2 · 3%
    • Open2 · 3%2
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
    • Open1 · 1%
  • Open5 · 6%2
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%
  • Open1 · 1%

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, 31 different ideas were tested; 19 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 87 Motion in a Straight Line 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 20265 questions

  1. 4 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q27Two cars AA and BB are moving in the same direction along a straight line with speeds 100 km/h and 80 km/h, respectively such that car…MediumSingle correct
  2. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q47From 18 m height above the ground a ball is dropped from rest. The height above the ground at which the magnitude of velocity equal to the…MediumNumerical value
  3. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q29The velocity (vv) versus time (tt) plot of a particle is shown in the figure, for a time interval of 40 s. The total distance travelled…EasyDiagram basedHas a figure
  4. 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q29A gas balloon is going up with a constant velocity of 10 m/s. When this balloon reached a height of 75 m, a stone is dropped from it and…EasySingle correct
  5. 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q50Two masses of 3.4 kg and 2.5 kg are accelerated from an initial speed of 5 m/s and 12 m/s, respectively. The distances traversed by the…MediumNumerical value

JEE Main 20255 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q49A person travelling on a straight line moves with a uniform velocity v1v_1 for a distance xx and with a uniform velocity v2v_2 for the…EasyNumerical value
  2. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q30A sportsman runs around a circular track of radius rr such that he traverses the path ABAB. The distance travelled and displacement,…EasySingle correctHas a figure
  3. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q30Which of the following curves possibly represent one-dimensional motion of a particle? A. [figure: Phase vs time, an inclined straight…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  4. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q28A particle moves along the xx-axis and has its displacement xx varying with time t according to the equation:…EasySingle correct
  5. 4 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q30The displacement xx versus time graph is shown below. (A) The average velocity during 0 to 3 s is 10 m/s (B) The average velocity during…MediumOtherHas a figure

JEE Main 202416 questions

  1. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q34A body travels 102.5 m in nth^{th} second and 115.0 m in (n + 2)th^{th} second. The acceleration is :EasySingle correct
  2. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q33A cyclist starts from the point PP of a circular ground of radius 2 km and travels along its circumference to the point S. The…EasySingle correctHas a figure
  3. 4 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q59A bus moving along a straight highway with speed of 72 km/hkm/h is brought to halt within 4 ss after applying the brakes. The distance…EasyNumerical value
  4. 5 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q51A body moves on a frictionless plane starting from rest. If SnS_n is distance moved between t=n−1t=n-1 and t=nt=n and Sn−1S_{n-1} is distance…EasyNumerical value
  5. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q34A train starting from rest first accelerates uniformly up to a speed of 80 km/hkm/h for time tt, then it moves with a constant speed for…EasySingle correct
  6. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q33A body projected vertically upwards with a certain speed from the top of a tower reaches the ground in t1t_1. If it is projected…MediumSingle correct
  7. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q57A particle moves in a straight line so that its displacement xx at any time tt is given by x2=1+t2x^2=1+t^2. Its acceleration at any time tt…MediumNumerical value
  8. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q32A particle moving in a straight line covers half the distance with speed 66 m/s. The other half is covered in two equal time intervals…MediumSingle correct
  9. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q32Two cars are travelling towards each other at speed of 20 m s−120\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}} each. When the cars are 300 m300\ \mathrm{m} apart, both the…EasySingle correct
  10. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 1 · Q51A particle is moving in one dimension (along xx axis) under the action of a variable force. It's initial position was 16 m right of…EasyNumerical value
  11. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q32Train A is moving along two parallel rail tracks towards north with speed 7272 km/h and train B is moving towards south with speed 108108…EasySingle correct
  12. 1 Feb 2024, Shift 2 · Q51A particle initially at rest starts moving from reference point x=0x = 0 along xx-axis, with velocity vv that varies as v=4xv = 4\sqrt{x}…MediumNumerical value
  13. 27 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q32Position of an ant (S in metres) moving in Y-Z plane is given by S=2t2j^+5k^S = 2t^2\hat{j} + 5\hat{k} (where t is in second). The magnitude and…EasySingle correct
  14. 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q32A body starts moving from rest with constant acceleration covers displacement S1S_1 in first (p−1)(p-1) seconds and S2S_2 in first pp…MediumSingle correct
  15. 30 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q51The displacement and the increase in the velocity of a moving particle in the time interval of t to (t+1)(t+1) s are 125 m and 50 m/s,…MediumNumerical value
  16. 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q32The relation between time 't' and distance 'x' is t=αx2+βxt=\alpha x^2+\beta x, where α\alpha and β\beta are constants. The relation between…MediumSingle correct

JEE Main 202310 questions

  1. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q33A particle starts with an initial velocity of 10.0 ms−1^{-1} along xx-direction and accelerates uniformly at the rate of 2.0 ms−2^{-2}.…EasySingle correct
  2. 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q38Given below are two statements: Statement I : Area under velocity- time graph gives the distance travelled by the body in a given time.…EasyTwo statements
  3. 10 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q38The position-time graphs for two students A and B returning from the school to their homes are shown in figure. (A) A lives closer to the…MediumOtherHas a figure
  4. 10 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q40A person travels xx distance with velocity v1v_1 and then xx distance with velocity v2v_2 in the same direction. The average velocity of…EasySingle correct
  5. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q47From the vv - tt graph shown, the ratio of distance to displacement in 25 s of motion is:MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  6. 12 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q44A ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 150 m/s. The ratio of velocity after 3 s and 5 s is x+1x\frac{x+1}{x}. The…EasySingle correct
  7. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q32Two trains 'A' and 'B' of length 'll' and '4l4l' are travelling into a tunnel of length 'L' in parallel tracks from opposite directions…MediumSingle correct
  8. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q32The distance travelled by an object in time t is given by s=(2.5)t2s=(2.5)t^2. The instantaneous speed of the object at t=5t=5 s will be:EasySingle correct
  9. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q33A passenger sitting in a train A moving at 9090 km/h observes another train B moving in the opposite direction for 8 s. If the velocity of…EasySingle correct
  10. 15 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q38The position of a particle related to time is given by x=(5t2−4t+5) mx = (5t^2 - 4t + 5)\,m. The magnitude of velocity of the particle at t=2st = 2s…EasySingle correct

JEE Main 202219 questions

  1. 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q51A car is moving with speed of 150150 km/h and after applying the break it will move 2727 m before it stops. If the same car is moving with…EasyNumerical value
  2. 25 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q51A particle is moving in a straight line such that its velocity is increasing at 5 ms−1^{-1} per meter. The acceleration of the particle is…EasyNumerical value
  3. 27 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q32A bullet is shot vertically downwards with an initial velocity of 100 m/s from a certain height. Within 10s, the bullet reaches the ground…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  4. 28 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q21A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 19.6 ms−119.6\ \mathrm{ms^{-1}} from the top of a tower. The ball strikes the ground after…MediumNumerical value
  5. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q32Kinematic Symmetry in Free Fall · Medium · Single correct
  6. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q33Calculus in Kinematics · Easy · Single correct
  7. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q37Free Fall Time and Speed Symmetry · Medium · Single correct
  8. 29 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q43Time Ratios for Equal Distances · Medium · Single correct
  9. 30 Jul 2022, Shift 2 · Q2Stopping Distance and Reaction Time · Medium · Single correct
  10. 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q57Free Fall Sign Conventions · Medium · Numerical value
  11. 25 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q32Calculus in Kinematics · Easy · Single correct
  12. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q33Free Fall Sign Conventions · Easy · Single correct
  13. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q52Free Fall Sign Conventions · Easy · Numerical value
  14. 26 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q51Meeting Point Condition · Medium · Numerical value
  15. 27 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q33Free Fall Sign Conventions · Easy · Single correct
  16. 28 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q60Average vs Instantaneous Velocity · Easy · Numerical value · has a figure
  17. 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q31Meeting Point Condition · Medium · Single correct
  18. 29 Jun 2022, Shift 2 · Q31Uniform Acceleration Equations · Easy · Single correct
  19. 30 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q51Average Speed Special Cases · Easy · Numerical value · has a figure

JEE Main 202123 questions

  1. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q2Calculus in Kinematics · Medium · Other
  2. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q3Displacement in the nth Second · Medium · Single correct
  3. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q9Distance Calculation with Turning Points · Medium · Single correct
  4. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q241D Overtaking and Meeting Time · Easy · Numerical value
  5. 26 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q29Meeting Point Condition · Medium · Numerical value
  6. 27 Aug 2021, Shift 1 · Q23Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx) · Easy · Numerical value
  7. 27 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q1Regular Interval Free Fall (Leaky Tap) · Medium · Single correct
  8. 31 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q27Velocity-Position Graph Subnormal · Easy · Numerical value · has a figure
  9. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q8Kinematic Graph Conversion · Easy · Diagram based · has a figure
  10. 24 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q2Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx) · Medium · Single correct
  11. 25 Feb 2021, Shift 1 · Q14Uniform Acceleration Equations · Medium · Single correct
  12. 25 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q2Relative Motion in Free Fall · Medium · Single correct
  13. 26 Feb 2021, Shift 2 · Q12Uniform Acceleration Equations · Easy · Single correct
  14. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q3Water Drops from a Tap · Medium · Single correct
  15. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q2Dropping Objects from Moving Frames · Medium · Single correct
  16. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q3Calculus in Kinematics · Easy · Single correct
  17. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 2 · Q4Implicit Time-Position Equations · Medium · Single correct
  18. 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q23F=ma for Single Body · Easy · Numerical value
  19. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q1Acceleration-Deceleration Motion Profiles · Medium · Single correct
  20. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q10Total Distance for Bouncing Ball · Medium · Single correct
  21. 17 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q11Calculus in Kinematics · Easy · Single correct
  22. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q5Uniform Acceleration Equations · Easy · Diagram based · has a figure
  23. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q8Velocity-Position Graph Subnormal · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure

JEE Main 20208 questions

  1. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q21Free Fall Sign Conventions · Medium · Numerical value
  2. 9 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q21Implicit Time-Position Equations · Hard · Numerical value
  3. 2 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q2Relative Motion in 1D · Easy · Single correct
  4. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q2Free Fall Sign Conventions · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
  5. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q2Velocity-Dependent Acceleration Integration · Hard · Single correct
  6. 4 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q21Kinematic Graph Areas · Easy · Numerical value · has a figure
  7. 5 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q2Open the question · Medium · Diagram based · has a figure
  8. 5 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q3Dropping Objects from Moving Frames · Medium · Single correct

JEE Main 20171 question

  1. 2 Apr 2017 (offline) · Q2Free Fall Sign Conventions · Easy · Single correct · has a figure

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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