JEE Main · Physics · Work, Energy and Power
Work and Kinetic Energy: JEE Main previous year questions
70 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 8 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 25 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 70
- in 63 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 8/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.6
- model; history: 0.6 a shift on average, typically 0.5–0.8
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 8 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 63 of 108 shifts: 70 questions, #30 of 196 topics. It came in every year with analysed shifts.
- 02
33% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 33 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation, asked 12 times in 12 shifts (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), most often as “momentum ratio at equal kinetic energy”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 21 of the 54 ideas in this topic; 31 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (51%); 39% need a numerical answer, 64% are easy and 3% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is calculation (70%), then multi-step (14%).
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: 13 in 24 shifts · 2022: 17 in 24 shifts · 2023: 10 in 12 shifts · 2024: 14 in 18 shifts · 2025: 4 in 8 shifts · 2026: 7 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.6
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.7
- 0.1
- Usual gap
- 1.3 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 63/108
- 58% of analysed shifts
Recent framings
- numerical: work by drag from energy conservation
- numerical: release height for loop-the-loop condition
- numerical: work from velocity as function of position
Revise first
- Work-Energy Theorem · asked 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
- Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation · asked 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Work by Variable Force · asked 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 70 questions on Work and Kinetic Energy since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy45 · 64%
- Medium23 · 33%
- Hard2 · 3%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 36 Q51%
- Numerical value · 27 Q39%
- Diagram based · 6 Q9%
- Two statements · 1 Q1%
Skill tested
SHARE- Calculation · 49 Q70%
- Multi-step · 10 Q14%
- Application · 5 Q7%
- Conceptual · 3 Q4%
- Data or graph · 2 Q3%
- Recall · 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 21 of the 54 ideas in this topic. 31 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly21 · 39%
- Touched inside another question2 · 4%
- Never asked31 · 57%
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.
20 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
21 different ideas were tested; 14 came more than once.
momentum ratio at equal kinetic energy
Single correct · 12 shifts · 4 numericalwork from velocity as function of position
Single correct · 10 shifts · 3 numericalheight and speed when ke is multiple of pe
Numerical value · 7 shifts · 4 numericalwork by position-dependent force
Numerical value · 7 shifts · 4 numericalwork by friction on incline in moving frame
Single correct · 4 shifts · 1 numericalenergy ratio for successive speed gains
Single correct · 4 shifts · 1 numericalspring constant from drop and compression
Numerical value · 4 shifts · 3 numericalwork against gravity independent of path
Diagram based · 3 shiftsrelease height for loop-the-loop condition
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalwork by drag from energy conservation
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalwork from vector force and displacement
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 2 numericalidentify non-conservative force
Single correct · 2 shiftsequilibrium distance from potential energy function
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalwork by position-dependent force vector
Single correct · 2 shiftsspeed of block in pulley system by energy
Diagram based · 1 shiftspeed of block at position on spring
Single correct · 1 shiftforce component from potential energy function
Single correct · 1 shiftstatement pair on stopping and turning car
Two statements · 1 shiftspring constant from energy conservation
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalorder/ranking of work from force-displacement graphs
Diagram based · 1 shiftfriction coefficient from up and down incline return speed
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numerical
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relationmomentum ratio at equal kinetic energy | 12 | 12 | Single correctCalculation | 4 | |
| Work-Energy Theoremwork from velocity as function of position | 10 | 10 | Single correctCalculation | 3 | |
| Conservation of Mechanical Energyheight and speed when ke is multiple of pe | 7 | 7 | Numerical valueCalculation | 4 | |
| Work by Variable Forcework by position-dependent force | 7 | 7 | Numerical valueCalculation | 4 | |
| Work Done by Frictionwork by friction on incline in moving frame | 4 | 4 | Single correctCalculation | 1 | |
| Kinetic Energy Calculationenergy ratio for successive speed gains | 4 | 4 | Single correctCalculation | 1 | |
| Maximum Compression of a Springspring constant from drop and compression | 4 | 4 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 3 | |
| Work Done by Gravity (Path Independence)work against gravity independent of path | 3 | 3 | Diagram basedApplication | – | |
| Energy Conservation in Vertical Circlesrelease height for loop-the-loop condition | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Work Done by Non-Conservative Forceswork by drag from energy conservation | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Work via Dot Productwork from vector force and displacement | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 2 | |
| Conservative Forcesidentify non-conservative force | 2 | 2 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Potential Energy Curves and Equilibriumequilibrium distance from potential energy function | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Work via Line Integralswork by position-dependent force vector | 2 | 2 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Work-Energy Theorem for Connected Bodiesspeed of block in pulley system by energy | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – | |
| Maximum Velocity in Spring-Mass Systemsspeed of block at position on spring | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Potential Energy from Conservative Forceforce component from potential energy function | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Stopping Distance of a Vehiclestatement pair on stopping and turning car | 1 | 1 | Two statementsConceptual | – | |
| Work Done by a Spring Forcespring constant from energy conservation | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Work from Force-Displacement Graphorder/ranking of work from force-displacement graphs | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedData or graph | – | |
| Work on a Rough Incline Round Tripfriction coefficient from up and down incline return speed | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 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
Work and Kinetic Energy 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 20267 questions in 5 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 2Q36A spherical ball of mass 2 kg falls from a height of 10 m and is brought to rest after penetrating 10 cm into sand. The average force…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
EasySingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 1Q46A kg block subjected to two simultaneous forces N and…
Idea: Work via Dot Product
EasyNumerical value - 5 Apr, Shift 2Q28A mass of 1 kg is kept on a inclined plane with inclination with respect to horizontal plane and it is at rest initially. Then…
Idea: Work Done by Friction
MediumSingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q28The rain drop of mass 1 g, starts with zero velocity from a height of 1 km. It hits the ground with a speed of 5 m/s. The work done by the…
Idea: Work Done by Non-Conservative Forces
EasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q32A smooth inclined plane ends in a vertical circular loop, as shown in the figure. A small body is released from height as shown. If…
Idea: Energy Conservation in Vertical Circles
MediumSingle correct · figure - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q29A body of mass 1 kg moves along a straight line with a velocity . The work done by the body during displacement from to 5 m…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
EasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q44The velocity at which 6 kg mass (shown in figure) strikes the ground when it is released from a height of 6 m above the ground is…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem for Connected Bodies
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure
JEE Main 20254 questions in 4 shifts
- 3 Apr, Shift 1Q28A particle is released from height S above the surface of the earth. At certain height its kinetic energy is three times its potential…
Idea: Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 3 Apr, Shift 2Q31A block of mass 1 kg, moving along with speed m/s enters a rough region ranging from m to m. The…
Idea: Work by Variable Force
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 7 Apr, Shift 2Q30Which one of the following forces cannot be expressed in terms of potential energy ?
Idea: Conservative Forces
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q29A block of mass 2 kg is attached to one end of a massless spring whose other end is fixed at a wall. The spring-mass system moves on a…
Idea: Maximum Velocity in Spring-Mass Systems
New ideaMediumSingle correct
JEE Main 202414 questions in 12 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 2Q36A body of kg slides from rest along the curve of vertical circle from point to in friction less path. The velocity of the body…
Idea: Conservative Forces
New ideaMediumSingle correct · figure - 5 Apr, Shift 1Q34A body of mass 50 kg is lifted to a height of 20 m from the ground in the two different ways as shown in the figures. The ratio of work…
Idea: Work Done by Gravity (Path Independence)
EasyDiagram based · figure - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q31Four particles of mass , , , , have same momentum, respectively. The particle with maximum kinetic…
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q50A bullet of mass 50 is fired with a speed 100 m/s on a plywood and emerges with 40 m/s. The percentage loss of kinetic energy is :
Idea: Kinetic Energy Calculation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q36When kinetic energy of a body becomes 36 times of its original value, the percentage increase in the momentum of the body will be :
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q35Three bodies A, B and C have equal kinetic energies and their masses are 400 g, 1.2 kg and 1.6 kg respectively. The ratio of their linear…
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q34A block is simply released from the top of an inclined plane as shown in the figure above. The maximum compression in the spring when the…
Idea: Maximum Compression of a Spring
MediumDiagram based · figure - 9 Apr, Shift 1Q35A particle of mass m moves on a straight line with its velocity increasing with distance according to the equation ,…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 9 Apr, Shift 2Q51A force N displaces a body from m to m. Work done by this force is ___________ J.
Idea: Work by Variable Force
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 27 Jan, Shift 1Q35Two bodies of mass 4 g and 25 g are moving with equal kinetic energies. The ratio of magnitude of their linear momentum is :
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 29 Jan, Shift 1Q34A block of mass 100 kg slides over a distance of 10 m on a horizontal surface. If the co-efficient of friction between the surfaces is…
Idea: Work Done by Friction
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 29 Jan, Shift 1Q35The potential energy function (in J) of a particle in a region of space is given as . Here , and are in…
Idea: Potential Energy from Conservative Force
New ideaEasySingle correct - 30 Jan, Shift 1Q35A particle is placed at the point A of a frictionless track ABC as shown in figure. It is gently pushed towards right. The speed of the…
Idea: Conservation of Mechanical Energy
EasyDiagram based · figure - 30 Jan, Shift 2Q35A block of mass 1 kg is pushed up a surface inclined to horizontal at an angle of by a force of parallel to the…
Idea: Work Done by Friction
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct · figure
JEE Main 202310 questions in 9 shifts
- 6 Apr, Shift 1Q59A particle of mass 10 g moves in a straight line with retardation , where is the displacement in SI units. Its loss of kinetic…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q54The momentum of a body is increased by . The percentage increase in the kinetic energy of the body is ________ %.
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q54A body of mass 5 kg is moving with a momentum of 10 kg ms. Now a force of 2 N acts on the body in the direction of its motion for 5…
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 10 Apr, Shift 1Q54A closed circular tube of average radius 15 cm, whose inner walls are rough, is kept in vertical plane. A block of mass 1 kg just fit…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
Asked the year beforeHardNumerical value · figure - 11 Apr, Shift 1Q59A force acts on a particle in the direction where F is in newton and is in meter. The work done by…
Idea: Work by Variable Force
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 12 Apr, Shift 1Q33Given below are two statements: Statement I : A truck and a car moving with same kinetic energy are brought to rest by applying breaks…
Idea: Stopping Distance of a Vehicle
New ideaMediumTwo statements - 12 Apr, Shift 1Q52To maintain a speed of 80 km/h by a bus of mass 500 kg on a plane rough road for 4 km distance, the work done by the engine of the bus…
Idea: Work Done by Friction
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 13 Apr, Shift 1Q34Two bodies are having kinetic energies in the ratio 16 : 9. If they have same linear momentum, the ratio of their masses respectively is :
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 13 Apr, Shift 2Q51A car accelerates from rest to u m/s. The energy spent in this process is E J. The energy required to accelerate the car from u m/s to 2u…
Idea: Kinetic Energy Calculation
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 15 Apr, Shift 1Q54A block of mass 10 kg is moving along x-axis under the action of force . The work done by the force in moving the block from…
Idea: Work by Variable Force
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value
JEE Main 202217 questions in 16 shifts
- 25 Jul, Shift 1Q34A body of mass kg travels on straight line path with velocity m/s. The net workdone by the force during its…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
EasySingle correct - 26 Jul, Shift 2Q34A body of mass 8 kg and another of mass 2 kg are moving with equal kinetic energy. The ratio of their respective momenta will be :
Idea: Momentum and Kinetic Energy Relation
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 27 Jul, Shift 2Q35The velocity of the bullet becomes one third after it penetrates 4 cm in a wooden block. Assuming that bullet is facing a constant…
Idea: Work-Energy Theorem
MediumSingle correct - 28 Jul, Shift 1Q59A block of mass 'm' (as shown in figure) moving with kinetic energy E compresses a spring through a distance 25 cm when, its speed is…
Idea: Maximum Compression of a Spring
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 28 Jul, Shift 2Q5A bullet of mass 200 g having initial kinetic energy 90 J is shot inside a long swimming pool as shown in the figure. If it's kinetic…
Idea: Kinetic Energy Calculation
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure - 29 Jul, Shift 2 · Q45Momentum and Kinetic Energy RelationAsked the year beforeEasy
- 24 Jun, Shift 1 · Q39Work via Line IntegralsMedium
- 24 Jun, Shift 1 · Q58Maximum Compression of a SpringAsked the year beforeMedium
- 24 Jun, Shift 2 · Q41Potential Energy Curves and EquilibriumAsked the year beforeMedium
- 25 Jun, Shift 1 · Q52Work Done by a Spring ForceNew ideaMedium
- 26 Jun, Shift 2 · Q33Work from Force-Displacement GraphNew ideaMedium
- 27 Jun, Shift 2 · Q52Conservation of Mechanical EnergyAsked the year beforeHard
- 28 Jun, Shift 1 · Q51Conservation of Mechanical EnergyAsked the year beforeEasy
- 28 Jun, Shift 2 · Q33Work by Variable ForceAsked the year beforeMedium
- 29 Jun, Shift 1 · Q38Work-Energy TheoremMedium
- 29 Jun, Shift 2 · Q46Work Done by Gravity (Path Independence)Asked the year beforeEasy
- 30 Jun, Shift 1 · Q37Momentum and Kinetic Energy RelationAsked the year beforeEasy
JEE Main 202113 questions in 12 shifts
- 26 Aug, Shift 1 · Q21Conservation of Mechanical EnergyNew ideaMedium
- 27 Aug, Shift 1 · Q22Work via Dot ProductNew ideaEasy
- 24 Feb, Shift 2 · Q21Momentum and Kinetic Energy RelationNew ideaEasy
- 25 Feb, Shift 1 · Q25Potential Energy Curves and EquilibriumNew ideaMedium
- 25 Feb, Shift 2 · Q21Momentum and Kinetic Energy RelationNew ideaEasy
- 26 Feb, Shift 2 · Q8Conservation of Mechanical EnergyNew ideaMedium
- 22 Jul, Shift 2 · Q14Work Done by Gravity (Path Independence)New ideaEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 1 · Q23Energy Conservation in Vertical CirclesNew ideaEasy
- 25 Jul, Shift 2 · Q21Work by Variable ForceAsked the year beforeEasy
- 17 Mar, Shift 1 · Q12Kinetic Energy CalculationNew ideaEasy
- 18 Mar, Shift 1 · Q24Conservation of Mechanical EnergyNew ideaEasy
- 18 Mar, Shift 1 · Q30Work Done by Non-Conservative ForcesNew ideaEasy
- 18 Mar, Shift 2 · Q24Maximum Compression of a SpringNew ideaEasy
JEE Main 20204 questions in 4 shifts
- 9 Jan, Shift 1 · Q2Work via Line IntegralsNew ideaEasy
- 3 Sep, Shift 1 · Q21Work-Energy TheoremAsked the year beforeEasy
- 3 Sep, Shift 2 · Q21Work on a Rough Incline Round TripNew ideaMedium
- 4 Sep, Shift 2 · Q3Work by Variable ForceNew ideaEasy
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.