Measurement of Time and Motion MCQs for UPSC Prelims
115 practice questions covering Measurement of Time and Motion, organised into 2 topics.
115 questions include a written explanation.
Pick a topic below, or try the samples first.
Assertion (A): A bus that takes longer than usual on its usual route has a greater average speed that day. Reason (R): For a fixed distance, a longer time means a smaller average speed.
ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
BBoth A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
CA is true, but R is false
DA is false, but R is true
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - A is false, but R is true
The assertion is false, because a longer time over the same route means the bus was slower, not faster. The reason is true and states the correct relationship between time and average speed for a fixed distance. So the reason is exactly what shows the assertion to be wrong.
Q2
medium
In one minute a hockey ball travels $600\ \text{m}$ across a ground while a bicycle covers $250\ \text{m}$ on the road beside it. What can we say?
ABoth move at the same speed, because the time is the same for both
BThe ball is faster, because it covers more distance in the same time
CNothing can be decided without knowing how heavy each one is
DThe bicycle is faster, because it keeps moving for longer
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - The ball is faster, because it covers more distance in the same time
With the time fixed at one minute for both, the greater distance means the greater speed, so the ball wins. Both were compared over the same minute, so neither kept moving for longer. Equal times alone do not make equal speeds, and the mass of a moving object has nothing to do with its speed.
Q3
medium
Two statements about time units are given. (i) $1$ hour $= 3600\ \text{s}$. (ii) $1$ minute $= 100\ \text{s}$. Which of these is correct?
ABoth (i) and (ii)
BNeither (i) nor (ii)
COnly (ii)
DOnly (i)
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - Only (i)
An hour holds $60$ minutes of $60\ \text{s}$ each, which gives $3600\ \text{s}$, so the first statement is right. A minute holds $60\ \text{s}$ and not $100$, because time is not counted in hundreds, so the second statement is wrong.
Q4
medium
To compare the speeds of two runners by looking only at the distance each has covered, the two runners must
Abe of the same age and height
Brun exactly the same distance
Cstart from the same place on the track
Drun for the same length of time
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - run for the same length of time
Distance alone tells us about speed only when the time is held equal for both, so more distance then means more speed. If they ran the same distance we would have to compare times instead. The starting point does not matter, and age and height have nothing to do with the comparison.
Q5
easy
Two straight lines are drawn on the same distance-time graph, both starting at the origin. The steeper line belongs to the object with
Athe greater speed
Bthe smaller speed
Cthe longer total journey time
Dthe same speed as the other object
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - the greater speed
A steeper line climbs further in the same stretch of time, so it shows more distance covered each second and therefore a greater speed. The gentler line is the slower one. Steepness says nothing about how long each journey lasted, and two different slopes cannot mean equal speeds.
Q6
easy
An object is said to be in uniform motion when it covers
Aa very large distance in a very short time
Bunequal distances in equal intervals of time
Cequal distances in equal intervals of time
Dequal distances in unequal intervals of time
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - equal distances in equal intervals of time
Uniform motion means the speed never changes, which shows up as the same distance being covered in every equal slice of time. Unequal distances in equal times, or equal distances in unequal times, both mean the speed is changing. Covering a lot of ground quickly only means a high speed, which may still be changing.
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