JEE Main · Physics · Motion in a Straight Line
Kinematics in 1D: JEE Main previous year questions
81 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 8 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 24 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 81
- in 69 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 8/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.6
- model; history: 0.6 a shift on average, typically 0.6–0.7
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 8 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 69 of 108 shifts: 81 questions, #16 of 196 topics. It came in every year with analysed shifts.
- 02
41% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 27 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Free Fall Sign Conventions, asked 10 times in 9 shifts (2017, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2026), most often as “height where speed equals g”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 28 of the 59 ideas in this topic; 28 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (56%); 30% need a numerical answer, 48% are easy and 2% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is calculation (42%), then multi-step (28%).
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: 6 in 12 shifts · 2021: 21 in 24 shifts · 2022: 21 in 24 shifts · 2023: 8 in 12 shifts · 2024: 14 in 18 shifts · 2025: 5 in 8 shifts · 2026: 5 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.7
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.6
- -0.1
- Usual gap
- 1.3 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 69/108
- 64% of analysed shifts
Recent framings
- stone dropped from rising balloon
- numerical: momentum ratio from nth-second distance
- distance and average velocity from v-t graph
Revise first
- Free Fall Sign Conventions · asked 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2026
- Calculus in Kinematics · asked 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Displacement in the nth Second · asked 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 81 questions on Kinematics in 1D since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy39 · 48%
- Medium40 · 49%
- Hard2 · 2%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 45 Q56%
- Numerical value · 24 Q30%
- Diagram based · 8 Q10%
- Other · 3 Q4%
- Two statements · 1 Q1%
Skill tested
SHARE- Calculation · 34 Q42%
- Multi-step · 23 Q28%
- Data or graph · 11 Q14%
- Application · 7 Q9%
- Conceptual · 5 Q6%
- Diagram reading · 1 Q1%
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 28 of the 59 ideas in this topic. 28 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly28 · 47%
- Touched inside another question3 · 5%
- Never asked28 · 47%
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.
28 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
28 different ideas were tested; 17 came more than once.
height where speed equals g
Numerical value · 9 shifts · 5 numericalkinematics from displacement-time polynomial
Single correct · 9 shifts · 2 numericaltime for sum of displacements in uniform acceleration
Single correct · 8 shifts · 1 numericalmomentum ratio from nth-second distance
Numerical value · 6 shifts · 3 numericalacceleration from position-dependent velocity
Numerical value · 5 shifts · 3 numericalunknown speed from average velocity
Numerical value · 4 shifts · 2 numericalstone dropped from rising balloon
Single correct · 3 shiftsdistance and average velocity from v-t graph
Diagram based · 3 shifts · 1 numericalcount correct statements on x-t graph
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 1 numericaldistance and displacement on circular track
Single correct · 3 shiftsacceleration-velocity relation from time-position equation
Single correct · 3 shifts · 1 numericalinitial speed so thrown ball meets dropped ball
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 2 numericalaverage speed over accelerate then cruise
Single correct · 2 shiftstime of fall from times of up and down throws
Single correct · 2 shiftsseparation after two cars stop
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalselect velocity-time graph for motion
Diagram based · 2 shiftsacceleration from v^2 versus x graph
Diagram based · 2 shifts · 1 numericalidentify valid one-dimensional motion graphs
Diagram based · 1 shiftcompare motions from position-time graphs
Other · 1 shiftratio of times at a given height going up and down
Single correct · 1 shiftfinal separation of two decelerating bodies
Single correct · 1 shiftrelation between times for two halves of free fall
Single correct · 1 shifttime to catch accelerating body
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericaldistance and displacement from velocity function
Single correct · 1 shiftposition of drops falling at regular intervals
Single correct · 1 shiftheight of building from two stones in free fall
Single correct · 1 shiftdrip rate from drop spacing
Single correct · 1 shiftmaximum height with quadratic drag
Single correct · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Fall Sign Conventionsheight where speed equals g | 10 | 9 | Numerical valueCalculation | 5 | |
| Calculus in Kinematicskinematics from displacement-time polynomial | 9 | 9 | Single correctCalculation | 2 | |
| Uniform Acceleration Equationstime for sum of displacements in uniform acceleration | 8 | 8 | Single correctCalculation | 1 | |
| Displacement in the nth Secondmomentum ratio from nth-second distance | 6 | 6 | Numerical valueCalculation | 3 | |
| Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)acceleration from position-dependent velocity | 5 | 5 | Numerical valueCalculation | 3 | |
| Average Speed Special Casesunknown speed from average velocity | 4 | 4 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Dropping Objects from Moving Framesstone dropped from rising balloon | 3 | 3 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Kinematic Graph Areasdistance and average velocity from v-t graph | 3 | 3 | Diagram basedData or graph | 1 | |
| Average vs Instantaneous Velocitycount correct statements on x-t graph | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Distance and Displacement Distinctiondistance and displacement on circular track | 3 | 3 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Implicit Time-Position Equationsacceleration-velocity relation from time-position equation | 3 | 3 | Single correctMulti-step | 1 | |
| Meeting Point Conditioninitial speed so thrown ball meets dropped ball | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 2 | |
| Acceleration-Deceleration Motion Profilesaverage speed over accelerate then cruise | 2 | 2 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Free Fall Time and Speed Symmetrytime of fall from times of up and down throws | 2 | 2 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Stopping Distance Proportionalityseparation after two cars stop | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Kinematic Graph Conversionselect velocity-time graph for motion | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedData or graph | – | |
| Velocity-Position Graph Subnormalacceleration from v^2 versus x graph | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedData or graph | 1 | |
| Impossible Kinematic Graphsidentify valid one-dimensional motion graphs | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedConceptual | – | |
| Kinematic Graph Slopescompare motions from position-time graphs | 1 | 1 | OtherData or graph | – | |
| Kinematic Symmetry in Free Fallratio of times at a given height going up and down | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Stopping Distance and Reaction Timefinal separation of two decelerating bodies | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Time Ratios for Equal Distancesrelation between times for two halves of free fall | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| 1D Overtaking and Meeting Timetime to catch accelerating body | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Distance Calculation with Turning Pointsdistance and displacement from velocity function | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Regular Interval Free Fall (Leaky Tap)position of drops falling at regular intervals | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Relative Motion in Free Fallheight of building from two stones in free fall | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Water Drops from a Tapdrip rate from drop spacing | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Velocity-Dependent Acceleration Integrationmaximum height with quadratic drag | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – |
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
Kinematics in 1D questions, year by year
The newest 40 show their opening words as they appeared in the official paper; older ones name the idea they tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20265 questions in 4 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q28The velocity of a particle is given as m/s. The magnitude of acceleration at point is…
Idea: Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)
MediumSingle correct - 5 Apr, Shift 1Q47From 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…
Idea: Free Fall Sign Conventions
MediumNumerical value - 5 Apr, Shift 2Q29The velocity () versus time () plot of a particle is shown in the figure, for a time interval of 40 s. The total distance travelled…
Idea: Kinematic Graph Areas
EasyDiagram based · figure - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q29A 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…
Idea: Dropping Objects from Moving Frames
EasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q50Two 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…
Idea: Displacement in the nth Second
MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20255 questions in 5 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q49A person travelling on a straight line moves with a uniform velocity for a distance and with a uniform velocity for the…
Idea: Average Speed Special Cases
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 2 Apr, Shift 2Q30A sportsman runs around a circular track of radius such that he traverses the path ABAB. The distance travelled and displacement,…
Idea: Distance and Displacement Distinction
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct · figure - 3 Apr, Shift 1Q30Which of the following curves possibly represent one-dimensional motion of a particle? A. [figure: Phase vs time, an inclined straight…
Idea: Impossible Kinematic Graphs
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 3 Apr, Shift 2Q28A particle moves along the -axis and has its displacement varying with time t according to the equation:…
Idea: Calculus in Kinematics
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q30The displacement versus time graph is shown below. (A) The average velocity during 0 to 3 s is 10 m/s (B) The average velocity during…
Idea: Average vs Instantaneous Velocity
MediumOther · figure
JEE Main 202414 questions in 12 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 1Q34A body travels 102.5 m in n second and 115.0 m in (n + 2) second. The acceleration is :
Idea: Displacement in the nth Second
EasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q33A cyclist starts from the point of a circular ground of radius 2 km and travels along its circumference to the point S. The…
Idea: Distance and Displacement Distinction
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct · figure - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q59A bus moving along a straight highway with speed of 72 is brought to halt within 4 after applying the brakes. The distance…
Idea: Uniform Acceleration Equations
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 5 Apr, Shift 1Q51A body moves on a frictionless plane starting from rest. If is distance moved between and and is distance…
Idea: Displacement in the nth Second
EasyNumerical value - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q34A train starting from rest first accelerates uniformly up to a speed of 80 for time , then it moves with a constant speed for…
Idea: Acceleration-Deceleration Motion Profiles
EasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q33A body projected vertically upwards with a certain speed from the top of a tower reaches the ground in . If it is projected…
Idea: Free Fall Time and Speed Symmetry
MediumSingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q57A particle moves in a straight line so that its displacement at any time is given by . Its acceleration at any time …
Idea: Calculus in Kinematics
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 9 Apr, Shift 1Q32A particle moving in a straight line covers half the distance with speed m/s. The other half is covered in two equal time intervals…
Idea: Average Speed Special Cases
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 9 Apr, Shift 2Q32Two cars are travelling towards each other at speed of each. When the cars are apart, both the…
Idea: Stopping Distance Proportionality
EasySingle correct - 1 Feb, Shift 1Q51A particle is moving in one dimension (along axis) under the action of a variable force. It's initial position was 16 m right of…
Idea: Calculus in Kinematics
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 1 Feb, Shift 2Q51A particle initially at rest starts moving from reference point along -axis, with velocity that varies as …
Idea: Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)
MediumNumerical value - 29 Jan, Shift 1Q32A body starts moving from rest with constant acceleration covers displacement in first seconds and in first …
Idea: Uniform Acceleration Equations
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 30 Jan, Shift 1Q51The displacement and the increase in the velocity of a moving particle in the time interval of t to s are 125 m and 50 m/s,…
Idea: Displacement in the nth Second
MediumNumerical value - 31 Jan, Shift 1Q32The relation between time 't' and distance 'x' is , where and are constants. The relation between…
Idea: Implicit Time-Position Equations
MediumSingle correct
JEE Main 20238 questions in 8 shifts
- 6 Apr, Shift 2Q33A particle starts with an initial velocity of 10.0 ms along -direction and accelerates uniformly at the rate of 2.0 ms.…
Idea: Uniform Acceleration Equations
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q38Given below are two statements: Statement I : Area under velocity- time graph gives the distance travelled by the body in a given time.…
Idea: Kinematic Graph Areas
EasyTwo statements - 10 Apr, Shift 1Q38The 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…
Idea: Kinematic Graph Slopes
New ideaMediumOther · figure - 10 Apr, Shift 2Q40A person travels distance with velocity and then distance with velocity in the same direction. The average velocity of…
Idea: Average Speed Special Cases
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 11 Apr, Shift 1Q47From the - graph shown, the ratio of distance to displacement in 25 s of motion is:
Idea: Distance and Displacement Distinction
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 12 Apr, Shift 1Q44A ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 150 m/s. The ratio of velocity after 3 s and 5 s is . The…
Idea: Free Fall Sign Conventions
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 13 Apr, Shift 2Q32The distance travelled by an object in time t is given by . The instantaneous speed of the object at s will be:
Idea: Average vs Instantaneous Velocity
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 15 Apr, Shift 1Q38The position of a particle related to time is given by . The magnitude of velocity of the particle at …
Idea: Calculus in Kinematics
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct
JEE Main 202221 questions in 17 shifts
- 25 Jul, Shift 1Q51A car is moving with speed of km/h and after applying the break it will move m before it stops. If the same car is moving with…
Idea: Stopping Distance Proportionality
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 25 Jul, Shift 2Q51A particle is moving in a straight line such that its velocity is increasing at 5 ms per meter. The acceleration of the particle is…
Idea: Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 27 Jul, Shift 1Q32A bullet is shot vertically downwards with an initial velocity of 100 m/s from a certain height. Within 10s, the bullet reaches the ground…
Idea: Kinematic Graph Conversion
Asked the year beforeMediumDiagram based · figure - 28 Jul, Shift 2Q21A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of from the top of a tower. The ball strikes the ground after…
Idea: Free Fall Sign Conventions
MediumNumerical value - 29 Jul, Shift 1Q32A ball is thrown up vertically with a certain velocity so that, it reaches a maximum height h. Find the ratio of the times in which it is…
Idea: Kinematic Symmetry in Free Fall
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 29 Jul, Shift 1Q33If , then is :
Idea: Calculus in Kinematics
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 29 Jul, Shift 2Q37A juggler throws balls vertically upwards with same initial velocity in air. When the first ball reaches its highest position, he throws…
Idea: Free Fall Time and Speed Symmetry
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 29 Jul, Shift 2Q43A ball is released from a height h. If and be the time required to complete first half and second half of the distance…
Idea: Time Ratios for Equal Distances
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 30 Jul, Shift 2 · Q2Stopping Distance and Reaction TimeNew ideaMedium
- 24 Jun, Shift 1 · Q57Free Fall Sign ConventionsMedium
- 24 Jun, Shift 2 · Q42Uniform Acceleration EquationsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 24 Jun, Shift 2 · Q43Displacement in the nth SecondAsked the year beforeEasy
- 25 Jun, Shift 2 · Q32Calculus in KinematicsAsked the year beforeEasy
- 26 Jun, Shift 1 · Q33Free Fall Sign ConventionsEasy
- 26 Jun, Shift 1 · Q52Free Fall Sign ConventionsEasy
- 26 Jun, Shift 2 · Q51Meeting Point ConditionAsked the year beforeMedium
- 27 Jun, Shift 2 · Q33Free Fall Sign ConventionsEasy
- 28 Jun, Shift 2 · Q60Average vs Instantaneous VelocityNew ideaEasy
- 29 Jun, Shift 1 · Q31Meeting Point ConditionAsked the year beforeMedium
- 29 Jun, Shift 2 · Q31Uniform Acceleration EquationsAsked the year beforeEasy
- 30 Jun, Shift 1 · Q51Average Speed Special CasesNew ideaEasy
JEE Main 202121 questions in 17 shifts
- 3 Aug, Shift 1 · Q2Calculus in KinematicsNew ideaMedium
- 3 Aug, Shift 1 · Q3Displacement in the nth SecondNew ideaMedium
- 3 Aug, Shift 2 · Q9Distance Calculation with Turning PointsNew ideaMedium
- 3 Aug, Shift 2 · Q241D Overtaking and Meeting TimeNew ideaEasy
- 26 Aug, Shift 1 · Q29Meeting Point ConditionNew ideaMedium
- 27 Aug, Shift 1 · Q23Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)New ideaEasy
- 27 Aug, Shift 2 · Q1Regular Interval Free Fall (Leaky Tap)New ideaMedium
- 31 Aug, Shift 2 · Q27Velocity-Position Graph SubnormalNew ideaEasy
- 24 Feb, Shift 1 · Q8Kinematic Graph ConversionNew ideaEasy
- 24 Feb, Shift 2 · Q2Position-Dependent Acceleration (v dv/dx)New ideaMedium
- 25 Feb, Shift 1 · Q14Uniform Acceleration EquationsNew ideaMedium
- 25 Feb, Shift 2 · Q2Relative Motion in Free FallNew ideaMedium
- 26 Feb, Shift 2 · Q12Uniform Acceleration EquationsNew ideaEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 1 · Q3Water Drops from a TapNew ideaMedium
- 25 Jul, Shift 2 · Q2Dropping Objects from Moving FramesAsked the year beforeMedium
- 25 Jul, Shift 2 · Q3Calculus in KinematicsNew ideaEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 2 · Q4Implicit Time-Position EquationsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 17 Mar, Shift 1 · Q1Acceleration-Deceleration Motion ProfilesNew ideaMedium
- 17 Mar, Shift 2 · Q11Calculus in KinematicsNew ideaEasy
- 18 Mar, Shift 1 · Q5Uniform Acceleration EquationsNew ideaEasy
- 18 Mar, Shift 2 · Q8Velocity-Position Graph SubnormalNew ideaMedium
JEE Main 20206 questions in 5 shifts
- 8 Jan, Shift 2 · Q21Free Fall Sign ConventionsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 9 Jan, Shift 1 · Q21Implicit Time-Position EquationsNew ideaHard
- 4 Sep, Shift 1 · Q2Free Fall Sign ConventionsAsked the year beforeMedium
- 4 Sep, Shift 2 · Q2Velocity-Dependent Acceleration IntegrationNew ideaHard
- 4 Sep, Shift 2 · Q21Kinematic Graph AreasNew ideaEasy
- 5 Sep, Shift 1 · Q3Dropping Objects from Moving FramesNew ideaMedium
JEE Main 20171 question in 1 shift
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.
More topics in Motion in a Straight Line
This is the only topic tagged in this chapter.