JEE Main · Physics · Laws of Motion
Friction: JEE Main previous year questions
30 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 6 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 13 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 30
- in 28 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 6/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.3
- model; history: 0.2 a shift on average, typically 0.0–0.3
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 6 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 28 of 108 shifts: 30 questions, #112 of 196 topics. The years that asked it were 1.2 apart on average.
- 02
73% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 3 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Motion Down a Rough Incline, asked 4 times in 4 shifts (2021, 2024, 2026), most often as “friction coefficient from slide times on incline”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 19 of the 57 ideas in this topic; 33 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (53%); 33% need a numerical answer, 30% are easy and 10% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is multi-step (43%), then calculation (40%).
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: 0 in 1 shift · 2020: 1 in 12 shifts · 2021: 9 in 24 shifts · 2022: 7 in 24 shifts · 2023: 0 in 12 shifts · 2024: 8 in 18 shifts · 2025: 2 in 8 shifts · 2026: 3 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.1
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.3
- 0.2
- Usual gap
- 1.2 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 28/108
- 26% of analysed shifts
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 30 questions on Friction since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy9 · 30%
- Medium18 · 60%
- Hard3 · 10%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 16 Q53%
- Numerical value · 10 Q33%
- Diagram based · 4 Q13%
Skill tested
SHARE- Multi-step · 13 Q43%
- Calculation · 12 Q40%
- Application · 3 Q10%
- Data or graph · 1 Q3%
- Conceptual · 1 Q3%
Repeats
New idea, or one asked before?
Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.
- Idea asked for the first time
- Idea asked in an earlier year
Coverage of the topic
JEE Main has asked 19 of the 57 ideas in this topic. 33 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly19 · 33%
- Touched inside another question5 · 9%
- Never asked33 · 58%
Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.
Drill down
Chapter, idea, question
Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.
16 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
Every idea inside this topic
19 different ideas were tested; 7 came more than once.
friction coefficient from slide times on incline
Single correct · 4 shifts · 1 numericalfriction coefficient from acceleration on incline
Single correct · 3 shifts · 1 numericalmaximum force for two blocks to move together
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 2 numericalcoefficient of friction from angle of sliding
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalacceleration of block and trolley with friction
Single correct · 2 shiftsmaximum force on block against vertical wall
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalmaximum pull for block to stay at rest on rough floor
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 2 numericalfriction coefficient in rotating drum
Single correct · 1 shiftwork by force pulling block at angle at constant velocity
Single correct · 1 shiftmax height for block on curved surface without slipping
Single correct · 1 shiftgraph of acceleration with linearly increasing force
Diagram based · 1 shiftmax speed on banked road with friction
Single correct · 1 shiftslipping distance of bag on belt
Single correct · 1 shifthanging chain length on rough table
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalnet contact force on block sliding at constant velocity
Single correct · 1 shiftacceleration of block on rough table with hanging mass
Diagram based · 1 shiftstopping distance on rough surface
Single correct · 1 shiftfriction on cylinder with string on incline
Diagram based · 1 shiftfriction coefficient on partly rough incline
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numerical
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Down a Rough Inclinefriction coefficient from slide times on incline | 4 | 4 | Single correctMulti-step | 1 | |
| Friction on Inclinesfriction coefficient from acceleration on incline | 3 | 3 | Single correctMulti-step | 1 | |
| Two-Block Friction Systemsmaximum force for two blocks to move together | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 2 | |
| Angle of Frictioncoefficient of friction from angle of sliding | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueApplication | 1 | |
| Kinetic Friction Calculationacceleration of block and trolley with friction | 2 | 2 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Block on a Vertical Wallmaximum force on block against vertical wall | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueApplication | 1 | |
| Impending Motion Analysismaximum pull for block to stay at rest on rough floor | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Rotor / Death Well Frictionfriction coefficient in rotating drum | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Pushing vs Pulling Analysiswork by force pulling block at angle at constant velocity | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Equilibrium in a Hemispherical Bowlmax height for block on curved surface without slipping | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Friction Force Graphsgraph of acceleration with linearly increasing force | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedData or graph | – | |
| Friction on a Banked Roadmax speed on banked road with friction | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Conveyor Belt Kinematicsslipping distance of bag on belt | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Hanging Chain Problemhanging chain length on rough table | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueApplication | 1 | |
| Net Contact Force Magnitudenet contact force on block sliding at constant velocity | 1 | 1 | Single correctConceptual | – | |
| Rough Table Pulley Systemacceleration of block on rough table with hanging mass | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedCalculation | – | |
| Stopping Distance with Frictionstopping distance on rough surface | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Direction of Static Frictionfriction on cylinder with string on incline | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – | |
| Partially Rough Inclinefriction coefficient on partly rough incline | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 |
Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas
Every question
Friction questions, year by year
The opening words of each question as it appeared in the official paper, with the idea it tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20263 questions in 3 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 2Q27A 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…
Idea: Rotor / Death Well Friction
New ideaEasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 1Q28The 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…
Idea: Motion Down a Rough Incline
MediumSingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q46A block takes time to slide down a plane inclined at to the horizontal. If the surface is made smooth (frictionless), the…
Idea: Motion Down a Rough Incline
MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20252 questions in 2 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 2Q44A block of mass 25 kg is pulled along a horizontal surface by a force at an angle with the horizontal. The friction coefficient…
Idea: Pushing vs Pulling Analysis
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 7 Apr, Shift 1Q30A cubic block of mass m is sliding down on an inclined plane at with an acceleration of , the value of coefficient…
Idea: Friction on Inclines
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct
JEE Main 20248 questions in 8 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 1Q33A wooden block, initially at rest on the ground, is pushed by a force which increases linearly with time t. Which of the following curve…
Idea: Friction Force Graphs
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q34A 2 kg brick begins to slide over a surface which is inclined at an angle of with respect to horizontal axis. The co-efficient…
Idea: Angle of Friction
EasySingle correct - 5 Apr, Shift 2Q33A 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…
Idea: Kinetic Friction Calculation
New ideaEasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q31A 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…
Idea: Friction on a Banked Road
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q33A given object takes n times the time to slide down rough inclined plane as it takes the time to slide down an identical…
Idea: Motion Down a Rough Incline
MediumSingle correct - 1 Feb, Shift 1Q33Consider a block and trolley system as shown in figure. If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the trolley and the surface is…
Idea: Kinetic Friction Calculation
New ideaEasySingle correct · figure - 30 Jan, Shift 2Q34A block of mass is placed on a surface having vertical crossection given by . If coefficient of friction is 0.5, the…
Idea: Equilibrium in a Hemispherical Bowl
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 31 Jan, Shift 1Q34In the given arrangement of a doubly inclined plane two blocks of masses and are placed. The blocks are connected by a light…
Idea: Friction on Inclines
MediumSingle correct · figure
JEE Main 20227 questions in 7 shifts
- 27 Jul, Shift 1Q34A bag is gently dropped on a conveyor belt moving at a speed of 2 m/s. The coefficient of friction between the conveyor belt and bag is…
Idea: Conveyor Belt Kinematics
New ideaEasySingle correct - 27 Jul, Shift 2Q33A block of mass M slides down on a rough inclined plane with constant velocity. The angle made by the incline plane with horizontal is…
Idea: Net Contact Force Magnitude
New ideaEasySingle correct - 24 Jun, Shift 1Q36A block of mass 10 kg starts sliding on a surface with an initial velocity of . The coefficient of friction between…
Idea: Stopping Distance with Friction
New ideaEasySingle correct - 25 Jun, Shift 1Q51A uniform chain of 6 m length is placed on a table such that a part of its length is hanging over the edge of the table. The system is at…
Idea: Hanging Chain Problem
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 27 Jun, Shift 1Q34A system of two blocks of masses kg and kg is placed on a smooth table as shown in figure. The coefficient of static friction…
Idea: Two-Block Friction Systems
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure - 29 Jun, Shift 2Q45A block of mass 40 kg slides over a surface, when a mass of 4 kg is suspended through an inextensible massless string passing over…
Idea: Rough Table Pulley System
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 30 Jun, Shift 1Q36A 2 kg block is pushed against a vertical wall by applying a horizontal force of 50 N. The coefficient of static friction between the…
Idea: Block on a Vertical Wall
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure
JEE Main 20219 questions in 7 shifts
- 26 Aug, Shift 2Q21The coefficient of static friction between two blocks is 0.5 and the table is smooth. The maximum horizontal force that can be applied to…
Idea: Two-Block Friction Systems
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure - 24 Feb, Shift 1Q21The coefficient of static friction between a wooden block of mass 0.5 kg and a vertical rough wall is 0.2. The magnitude of horizontal…
Idea: Block on a Vertical Wall
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 24 Feb, Shift 1Q25An inclined plane is bent in such a way that the vertical cross-section is given by where is in vertical and …
Idea: Friction on Inclines
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 26 Feb, Shift 1Q21As shown in the figure, a block of mass kg is kept on a horizontal rough surface of coefficient of friction…
Idea: Impending Motion Analysis
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure - 26 Feb, Shift 2Q19An inclined plane making an angle of with the horizontal is placed in a uniform horizontal electric field as…
Idea: Motion Down a Rough Incline
New ideaHardDiagram based · figure - 17 Mar, Shift 1Q30Two blocks (m = 0.5 kg and M = 4.5 kg) are arranged on a horizontal frictionless table as shown in figure. The coefficient of static…
Idea: Two-Block Friction Systems
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure - 17 Mar, Shift 2Q22A boy of mass 4 kg is standing on a piece of wood having mass 5 kg. If the coefficient of friction between the wood and the floor is 0.5,…
Idea: Impending Motion Analysis
New ideaHardNumerical value · figure - 17 Mar, Shift 2Q28A body of mass 1 kg rests on a horizontal floor with which it has a coefficient of static friction . It is desired to…
Idea: Angle of Friction
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 18 Mar, Shift 2Q4A solid cylinder of mass m is wrapped with an inextensible light string and, is placed on a rough inclined plane as shown in the figure.…
Idea: Direction of Static Friction
New ideaHardDiagram based · figure
JEE Main 20201 question in 1 shift
- 2 Sep, Shift 1Q21A small block starts slipping down from a point B on an inclined plane AB, which is making an angle with the horizontal section…
Idea: Partially Rough Incline
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure
Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.