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Samacheer Class 9 Science - Motion

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Textbook Exercises
13 Sections
24 Questions

Complete Grade 9 Science questions and answers for Motion. Click any question to expand the answer.

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Motion — key concepts & quick answers

What is the difference between distance and displacement?
Distance is the total length of the path travelled by an object (a scalar). Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance from the initial to the final position, along with direction (a vector).
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
Speed is the distance travelled per unit time (a scalar). Velocity is the displacement per unit time, with direction (a vector).
What is acceleration and its SI unit?
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. Its SI unit is metre per second squared (m/s²).
What are the three equations of motion?
For uniform acceleration: v = u + at; s = ut + ½at²; v² = u² + 2as — where u is initial velocity, v final velocity, a acceleration, t time and s displacement.
What is the difference between uniform and non-uniform motion?
In uniform motion an object covers equal distances in equal intervals of time; in non-uniform motion it covers unequal distances in equal intervals of time.
📋 Sections in this chapter
I. Choose the Correct AnswerII. Fill in the BlanksIII. State Whether True or FalseIV. Assertion and Reason Type QuestionsV. Match the FollowingVI. Answer BrieflyVII. Answer in DetailVIII. Exercise ProblemsIntext ActivitiesActivity – 1Activity – 2Activity – 3Activity – 4
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1I. Choose the Correct Answer4 questions

Q.1The area under velocity-time graph represents the
✓ Answer
  • (a) velocity of the moving object
  • (b) displacement covered by the moving object
  • (c) speed of the moving object
  • (d) acceleration of the moving object

Answer:
(b) displacement covered by the moving object


Q.2Which one of the following is most likely not a case of uniform circular motion?
✓ Answer
  • (a) Motion of the Earth around the Sun
  • (b) Motion of a toy train on a circular track
  • (c) Motion of a racing car on a circular track
  • (d) Motion of the hour hand on a clock dial

Answer:
(c) Motion of a racing car on a circular track


Q.3The centrifugal force is
✓ Answer
  • (a) a real force
  • (b) the reaction force of centripetal force
  • (c) a virtual force
  • (d) directed towards the centre of the circular path

Answer:
(c) a virtual force



2II. Fill in the Blanks0 questions
  • Speed is a scalar quantity whereas velocity is a vector quantity.
  • The slope of the distance-time graph at any point gives speed.
  • Negative acceleration is called retardation or deceleration.
  • Area under the velocity-time graph shows displacement.


3III. State Whether True or False5 questions

If false, correct the statement.


Q.4The motion of a city bus in heavy traffic is an example of uniform motion.
✓ Answer

Answer: False. The statement is incorrect. The motion of a city bus in heavy traffic is an example of non-uniform motion, not uniform motion. In heavy traffic, a bus constantly changes its speed and direction as it accelerates, decelerates, and turns to navigate through congested roads. Uniform motion occurs when an object travels equal distances in equal intervals of time at a constant velocity. Since a city bus in heavy traffic does not maintain constant velocity, its motion is non-uniform. Examples of uniform motion would include a car traveling at a constant speed on a straight highway or a train moving at a steady speed on a straight track.

Q.5Acceleration can have a negative value.
✓ Answer

Answer: True. Acceleration can indeed have a negative value. Negative acceleration, also called deceleration or retardation, occurs when an object's velocity decreases over time. For example, when a moving car applies brakes, its velocity decreases in the direction of motion, resulting in negative acceleration. Mathematically, if the change in velocity is negative, the acceleration will be negative. Negative acceleration does not mean the object is moving backward; it simply indicates that the velocity is decreasing in the chosen positive direction.

Q.6Distance covered by a particle never becomes zero but displacement can become zero.
✓ Answer

Answer: True. Distance covered by a particle never becomes zero but displacement can become zero. Distance is the total path length traveled by an object and is always positive or zero, never negative. Even if an object returns to its starting point, the distance traveled remains the sum of all path segments. However, displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions, including direction. When an object returns to its starting point, the final position coincides with the initial position, making the displacement zero even though the distance traveled is not zero. For example, if a person walks 5 km away from home and then walks 5 km back home, the distance is 10 km but displacement is zero.

Q.7The velocity-time graph of a freely falling body is a straight line parallel to the x-axis.
✓ Answer

Answer: False

Correct Statement:
The velocity-time graph of a freely falling body is a straight line inclined to the x-axis because velocity increases uniformly with time.


Q.8If the velocity-time graph of a particle is a straight line inclined to the x-axis, then its displacement-time graph will also be a straight line.
✓ Answer

Answer: False

Correct Statement:
If the velocity-time graph is a straight inclined line, the displacement-time graph will be a curve because the body is uniformly accelerated.

Correction made:
Original answer marked as True was incorrect.


4IV. Assertion and Reason Type Questions3 questions

Choose the correct option:

  • (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation.
  • (b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation.
  • (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
  • (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.

Q.9Question 1
✓ Answer

Answer: (c) Assertion is true but reason is false. The assertion is correct because accelerated motion can result from a change in the magnitude of velocity, a change in the direction of velocity, or changes in both magnitude and direction simultaneously. The reason is false because acceleration can be produced not only by a change in magnitude of velocity but also by a change in direction of velocity while the magnitude remains constant. For instance, in uniform circular motion, the speed remains constant but the direction continuously changes, producing centripetal acceleration. Therefore, the assertion accurately describes the nature of acceleration, but the reason provides an incomplete explanation.

Q.10Question 2
✓ Answer

Answer: (d) Assertion is false but reason is true. The assertion is incorrect because a speedometer of a car measures instantaneous speed, which is the speed at a particular instant of time, not the average speed over the entire journey. Average speed is calculated as total distance divided by total time taken. The reason is true because average velocity is correctly defined as total displacement divided by total time taken. This is an important distinction: while a speedometer gives the speed at any given moment, average speed requires knowledge of the entire path traveled over the complete time interval.

Q.11Question 3
✓ Answer

Answer: (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation. The assertion is true because displacement of a body can be zero when distance travelled is not zero. This occurs when an object returns to its starting point after traveling along a path. For example, if a person walks 10 meters north and then 10 meters south, returning to the original position, the total distance traveled is 20 meters but the displacement is zero. The reason correctly explains why this is possible: displacement is defined as the shortest distance between initial and final positions along with direction, whereas distance is the total length of the path actually traveled. Since displacement depends only on the initial and final positions and not on the path taken, it can be zero even when the distance traveled is substantial. The reason directly explains the assertion, making it the correct explanation for why displacement can be zero while distance is not.


5V. Match the Following0 questions
List IList II
Motion covering equal distances in equal intervals of timeUniform motion
Motion with non-uniform accelerationNon-uniform motion
Constant retardationNegative acceleration
Uniform accelerationConstant acceleration
The original uploaded content was incomplete. The matching was logically completed based on standard textbook concepts.


6VI. Answer Briefly7 questions

Q.12Define velocity.
✓ Answer

Answer:

Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time.

$$\text{Velocity} = \frac{\text{Displacement}}{\text{Time}}$$
  • Velocity is a vector quantity.
  • SI unit of velocity is (m/s).

Q.13Distinguish between distance and displacement.
✓ Answer
DistanceDisplacement
Actual length of path travelledShortest distance between initial and final position
Scalar quantityVector quantity
Non-negative; it can be zeroCan be positive, negative, or zero
Depends on pathIndependent of path

Q.14What is uniform motion?
✓ Answer

Answer: An object is said to be in uniform motion if it covers equal distances in equal intervals of time. This means the object travels the same distance in every equal time period, regardless of how small or large that time interval is. In uniform motion, the velocity of the object remains constant, both in magnitude and direction. The object does not speed up, slow down, or change direction. Examples of uniform motion include a car traveling at a constant speed of 60 km/h on a straight road, or a train moving at constant velocity on a straight track. Uniform motion is characterized by zero acceleration since there is no change in velocity.

Q.15Compare speed and velocity.
✓ Answer
SpeedVelocity
Rate of change of distanceRate of change of displacement
Scalar quantityVector quantity
Magnitude onlyMagnitude and direction
Non-negative; it can be zeroCan be positive, negative, or zero
SI unit: m/sSI unit: m/s

Q.16What do you understand by negative acceleration?
✓ Answer

Answer:
When velocity decreases with time, acceleration becomes negative.

Negative acceleration is called:

  • Retardation
  • Deceleration

Q.17Is uniform circular motion accelerated? Give reason.
✓ Answer

Answer: Yes, uniform circular motion is accelerated. In uniform circular motion, an object moves in a circular path at constant speed. Although the magnitude of velocity remains constant, the direction of velocity continuously changes at every point along the circular path. Since acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity, and velocity includes both magnitude and direction, a change in direction constitutes a change in velocity. Therefore, even though the speed is uniform, the motion is accelerated. This acceleration is directed toward the center of the circle and is called centripetal acceleration. It is responsible for continuously changing the direction of the object's motion to keep it moving in a circular path.

Q.18What is uniform circular motion? Give examples.
✓ Answer

Answer:
When an object moves with constant speed along a circular path, the motion is called uniform circular motion.

Examples:

  • Earth revolving around the Sun
  • Moon revolving around the Earth


7VII. Answer in Detail2 questions

Q.19Derive the Equations of Motion by Graphical Method
✓ Answer

First Equation of Motion

From velocity-time graph:

$$a = \frac{v-u}{t}$$

Rearranging,

$$v = u + at$$

This is the first equation of motion.


Second Equation of Motion

Displacement is equal to area under velocity-time graph.

$$s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$$

This is the second equation of motion.


Third Equation of Motion

Using:

$$t = \frac{v-u}{a}$$

Substituting into:

$$s = \frac{1}{2}(u+v)t$$

We get:

$$v^2 = u^2 + 2as$$

This is the third equation of motion.


Q.20Explain Different Types of Motion
✓ Answer

(i) Linear Motion

Motion along a straight line.

Example:

  • Car moving on a straight road

(ii) Circular Motion

Motion along a circular path.

Example:

  • A point on the rim of a rotating wheel

(iii) Oscillatory Motion

To-and-fro motion repeated at regular intervals.

Example:

  • Pendulum of a clock

(iv) Rotational Motion

Motion of a body about its own axis.

Example:

  • Rotation of a spinning top

(v) Random Motion

Irregular and unpredictable motion.

Example:

  • Brownian motion of dust particles in air


8VIII. Exercise Problems3 questions

Q.21Ball Dropped from Height
✓ Answer

Given:

$$u = 0$$
$$s = 20m$$
$$a = 10m/s^2$$

(a) Final Velocity

Using:

$$v^2 = u^2 + 2as$$
$$v^2 = 0 + 2 \times 10 \times 20$$
$$v^2 = 400$$
$$v = 20m/s$$

(b) Time Taken

Using:

$$v = u + at$$
$$20 = 0 + 10t$$
$$t = 2s$$

Answer:

  • Final velocity = (20m/s)
  • Time taken = (2s)

Q.22Athlete on Circular Track
✓ Answer

Given:

  • Diameter = 200 m
  • Radius = 100 m
  • Time for one round = 40 s
  • Total time = 2 min 20 s = 140 s

Speed

$$v = \frac{2\pi r}{40}$$
$$= \frac{2 \times 3.14 \times 100}{40}$$
$$= 15.7m/s$$

Distance Covered

$$\text{Distance} = vt$$
$$= 15.7 \times 140$$
$$= 2198m$$

Displacement

Number of rotations:

$$\frac{140}{40} = 3.5$$

After 3.5 rotations, athlete reaches opposite side of circle.

Displacement = diameter = (200m)


Q.23Racing Car Problem
✓ Answer

Given:

$$a = 4m/s^2$$
$$u = 0$$
$$t = 10s$$

Using:

$$s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$$
$$s = 0 + \frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times 10^2$$
$$s = 200m$$

Answer:

Distance covered = (200m)



9Intext Activities0 questions


10Activity – 10 questions

Fixed and Movable Objects

Immovable Objects:

  • Houses
  • Trees
  • Plants

Movable Objects:

  • Birds
  • Cars
  • Buses


11Activity – 20 questions

Observation:

  • Bus in heavy traffic covers unequal distances in equal intervals of time.
  • Train in uniform motion covers equal distances in equal intervals of time.

Conclusion:

  • Bus → Non-uniform motion
  • Train → Uniform motion


12Activity – 30 questions

Observation:

  • Distance through path ABC:
$$4m + 3m = 7m$$
  • Distance AC:
$$5m$$
  • Shortest path from A to D:
$$AD = 3m$$
  • Total distance in path ABCDA:
$$14m$$


13Activity – 40 questions

Observation:

  • Stone and eraser reach ground almost together.
  • Eraser falls faster than paper.
  • Crumpled paper falls faster than plain paper.

Reason:

Air resistance depends on surface area exposed to air. Larger surface area experiences greater air resistance.


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