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NCERT Solutions

Laws of Motion

CBSE · Class 11 · Physics

NCERT Solutions for Laws of Motion — CBSE Class 11 Physics.

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Exercises

4.1Give the magnitude and direction of the net force acting onShow solution
For each case, the body is either moving with constant velocity or is at rest, so by Newton’s first law the net external force is zero.

- Rain falling at constant speed: forces balance, so net force = 0 N.
- Cork floating: weight is balanced by upthrust, so net force = 0 N.
- Kite held stationary: forces balance, so net force = 0 N.
- Car moving with constant velocity: net force = 0 N.
- Electron far from all material objects and fields: no external force acts, so net force = 0 N.

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4.2A pebble of mass 0.05 kg is thrown vertically upwards. Give the direction and magnitude of the net force on the pebble,Show solution
Ignoring air resistance, the only force on the pebble is its weight.

Mass of pebble m=0.05kgm = 0.05\,\text{kg}

F=mg=0.05×10=0.5N F = mg = 0.05 \times 10 = 0.5\,\text{N}

So:
- during upward motion: 0.5 N downward
- during downward motion: 0.5 N downward
- at the highest point: 0.5 N downward

The force does not depend on whether the pebble is moving up, down, or momentarily at rest. It also does not change if thrown at 4545^\circ, since gravity still acts vertically downward.

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4.3Give the magnitude and direction of the net force acting on a stone of mass 0.1 kg,Show solution
The stone is acted upon only by gravity. Its mass is m=0.1kgm = 0.1\,\text{kg}, so

F=mg=0.1×10=1N F = mg = 0.1 \times 10 = 1\,\text{N}

Hence the net force is 1 N vertically downward whether:
- it is just after being dropped from a stationary train,
- just after being dropped from a train moving at constant velocity,
- just after being dropped from an accelerating train,
- or lying on the floor of an accelerating train while at rest relative to the train.

In the last case, other forces may also act, but the question asks the net force on the stone; while it remains at rest relative to the accelerating train, the horizontal frictional force provides the horizontal acceleration, and the vertical forces still give the weight contribution. The chapter’s main point is that gravity acts downward and, for the released stone, the force is downward only.

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4.4One end of a string of length ll is connected to a particle of mass mm and the other to a small peg on a smooth horizontal table. If the particle moves in a circle with speed vv the net force on the particle (directed towards the centre) is:Show solution
For a particle moving in a circle on a smooth horizontal table, the tension in the string provides the centripetal force. Therefore the net force directed towards the centre is just

F=T F = T

So the correct option is **(i) TT**.

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4.5A constant retarding force of 50N50\mathrm{N} is applied to a body of mass 20kg20\mathrm{kg} moving initially with a speed of 15ms115\mathrm{ms}^{-1}. How long does the body take to stop?Show solution
Given:
- retarding force F=50NF = 50\,\text{N}
- mass m=20kgm = 20\,\text{kg}
- initial speed u=15m s1u = 15\,\text{m s}^{-1}

Retardation:
a=Fm=5020=2.5m s2 a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{50}{20} = 2.5\,\text{m s}^{-2}

Since the force is retarding, acceleration is opposite to motion.

Using
v=uat v = u - at
with v=0v=0 at stopping,
0=152.5t 0 = 15 - 2.5t
t=152.5=6s t = \frac{15}{2.5} = 6\,\text{s}

So the body takes 6 s to stop.

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4.6A constant force acting on a body of mass 3.0kg3.0\mathrm{kg} changes its speed from 2.0ms12.0\mathrm{ms}^{-1} to 3.5ms13.5\mathrm{ms}^{-1} in 25 s. The direction of the motion of the body remains unchanged. What is the magnitude and direction of the force?Show solution
Given:
- m=3.0kgm = 3.0\,\text{kg}
- speed changes from 2.02.0 to 3.5m s13.5\,\text{m s}^{-1} in 25s25\,\text{s}

Acceleration:
a=vut=3.52.025=1.525=0.06m s2 a = \frac{v-u}{t} = \frac{3.5-2.0}{25} = \frac{1.5}{25} = 0.06\,\text{m s}^{-2}

Force:
F=ma=3.0×0.06=0.18N F = ma = 3.0 \times 0.06 = 0.18\,\text{N}

Since the speed increases and the direction remains unchanged, the force is in the direction of motion.

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4.7A body of mass 5kg5\mathrm{kg} is acted upon by two perpendicular forces 8N8\mathrm{N} and 6N6\mathrm{N}. Give the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the body.Show solution
The two forces are perpendicular:
- 8N8\,\text{N}
- 6N6\,\text{N}

Resultant force:
F=82+62=64+36=100=10N F = \sqrt{8^2 + 6^2} = \sqrt{64+36} = \sqrt{100} = 10\,\text{N}

Acceleration:
a=Fm=105=2m s2 a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{10}{5} = 2\,\text{m s}^{-2}

Direction with respect to the 8 N force:
tanθ=68=34 \tan\theta = \frac{6}{8} = \frac{3}{4}
θ=36.9 \theta = 36.9^\circ
So the acceleration is **2 m s2^{-2}, directed at 36.9^\circ** to the 8 N force towards the 6 N force.

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4.8The driver of a three-wheeler moving with a speed of 36km/h36\mathrm{km / h} sees a child standing in the middle of the road and brings his vehicle to rest in 4.0 s just in time to save the child. What is the average retarding force on the vehicle? The mass of the three-wheeler is 400kg400\mathrm{kg} and the mass of the driver is 65kg65\mathrm{kg}.Show solution
Initial speed:
36km h1=10m s1 36\,\text{km h}^{-1} = 10\,\text{m s}^{-1}

Total mass of vehicle + driver:
m=400+65=465kg m = 400 + 65 = 465\,\text{kg}

It comes to rest in 4.0s4.0\,\text{s}, so
a=0104=2.5m s2 a = \frac{0-10}{4} = -2.5\,\text{m s}^{-2}

Average retarding force:
F=ma=465×(2.5)=1162.5N F = ma = 465 \times (-2.5) = -1162.5\,\text{N}

The negative sign shows the force is opposite to motion. Since the book’s example uses the total mass of the system, the average retarding force is **1.16×1031.16\times 10^3 N opposite to the motion**. If the question expects only the vehicle plus driver mass from the text, this is the value.

However, for the stated exercise in the chapter, the standard answer is obtained from the given masses and stopping time:
F1.16×103N F \approx 1.16\times 10^3\,\text{N}
Opposite to motion.

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4.9A rocket with a lift-off mass 20,000kg20,000\mathrm{kg} is blasted upwards with an initial acceleration of 5.0ms25.0\mathrm{ms}^{-2}. Calculate the initial thrust (force) of the blast.Show solution
For the rocket:
- mass m=20000kgm = 20000\,\text{kg}
- upward acceleration a=5.0m s2a = 5.0\,\text{m s}^{-2}
- weight mg=20000×10=2.0×105Nmg = 20000\times 10 = 2.0\times 10^5\,\text{N} downward

If thrust is TT upward, then
Tmg=ma T - mg = ma
T=m(g+a) T = m(g+a)
T=20000(10+5)=20000×15=3.0×105N T = 20000(10+5) = 20000\times 15 = 3.0\times 10^5\,\text{N}

So the initial thrust is **3.0×1053.0\times 10^5 N**.

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4.10A body of mass 0.40kg0.40\mathrm{kg} moving initially with a constant speed of 10ms110\mathrm{ms}^{-1} to the north is subject to a constant force of 8.0N8.0\mathrm{N} directed towards the south for 30 s30~s. Take the instant the force is applied to be t=0t = 0, the position of the body at that time to be x=0x = 0, and predict its position at t=5st = -5s, 25s25s, 100s100s.Show solution
Take north as positive.

Initial velocity:
u=10m s1 u = 10\,\text{m s}^{-1}
Force is southward, so
F=8N F = -8\,\text{N}
Mass:
m=0.40kg m = 0.40\,\text{kg}
Acceleration:
a=Fm=80.40=20m s2 a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{-8}{0.40} = -20\,\text{m s}^{-2}

For 0t30s0\le t\le 30\,\text{s},
x=ut+12at2=10t10t2 x = ut + \frac12 at^2 = 10t - 10t^2

For t<0t<0, the motion is uniform with speed 10m s110\,\text{m s}^{-1} north, so
x=10t x = 10t
Thus at t=5st=-5\,\text{s},
x=10(5)=50m x = 10(-5) = -50\,\text{m}

At t=25st=25\,\text{s},
x=10(25)10(25)2=2506250=6000m x = 10(25) - 10(25)^2 = 250 - 6250 = -6000\,\text{m}
But note: the force acts only for 30 s, so within this interval this is the position.

At t=100st=100\,\text{s}, the force has stopped after 30 s.
First find position and velocity at t=30st=30\,\text{s}:
x30=10(30)10(30)2=3009000=8700m x_{30}=10(30)-10(30)^2=300-9000=-8700\,\text{m}
v30=u+at=1020(30)=590m s1 v_{30}=u+at=10-20(30)=-590\,\text{m s}^{-1}
Then from 3030 to 100s100\,\text{s} it moves uniformly with v=590m s1v=-590\,\text{m s}^{-1} for 70s70\,\text{s}:
Δx=590×70=41300m \Delta x = -590\times 70 = -41300\,\text{m}
So
x100=870041300=50000m x_{100} = -8700 - 41300 = -50000\,\text{m}

Hence the positions are:
- t=5st=-5\,\text{s}: **50m-50\,\text{m}**
- t=25st=25\,\text{s}: **6000m-6000\,\text{m}**
- t=100st=100\,\text{s}: **5.0×104m-5.0\times 10^4\,\text{m}**

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4.11A truck starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2.0ms22.0\mathrm{ms}^{-2}. At t=10t = 10 s, a stone is dropped by a person standing on the top of the truck (6 m high from the ground). What are the (a) velocity, and (b) acceleration of the stone at t=11t = 11 s? (Neglect air resistance.)Show solution
The truck starts from rest with acceleration 2.0m s22.0\,\text{m s}^{-2}.

At t=10st=10\,\text{s}, its speed is
v=at=2.0×10=20m s1 v = at = 2.0\times 10 = 20\,\text{m s}^{-1}
So when the stone is dropped, it already has the truck’s horizontal velocity: 20 m/s forward.

After release, neglecting air resistance, the stone has only gravitational acceleration downward:
a=10m s2 a = 10\,\text{m s}^{-2}
At t=11st=11\,\text{s}, one second after release:
- horizontal velocity remains 20 m/s
- vertical velocity becomes
vy=010(1)=10m s1 v_y = 0 - 10(1) = -10\,\text{m s}^{-1}
So the velocity is 20 m/s horizontally and 10 m/s downward.

The acceleration is still 10 m/s² downward.

Thus:
- (a) velocity: 20 m/s horizontally
- (b) acceleration: 10 m/s² downward

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4.12A bob of mass 0.1kg0.1\mathrm{kg} hung from the ceiling of a room by a string 2m2\mathrm{m} long is set into oscillation. The speed of the bob at its mean position is 1ms11\mathrm{ms}^{-1}. What is the trajectory of the bob if the string is cut when the bob is (a) at one of its extreme positions, (b) at its mean position.
4.13A man of mass 70kg70\mathrm{kg} stands on a weighing scale in a lift which is moving (a) upwards with a uniform speed of 10ms110\mathrm{ms}^{-1}, (b) downwards with a uniform acceleration of 5ms25\mathrm{ms}^{-2}, (c) upwards with a uniform acceleration of 5ms25\mathrm{ms}^{-2}. What would be the readings on the scale in each case?
4.15Two bodies of masses 10kg10\mathrm{kg} and 20kg20\mathrm{kg} respectively kept on a smooth, horizontal surface are tied to the ends of a light string. A horizontal force F=600N\mathrm{F} = 600\mathrm{N} is applied to (i) A, (ii) B along the direction of string. What is the tension in the string in each case?
4.16Two masses 8 kg and 12 kg are connected at the two ends of a light inextensible string that goes over a frictionless pulley. Find the acceleration of the masses, and the tension in the string when the masses are released.
4.17A nucleus is at rest in the laboratory frame of reference. Show that if it disintegrates into two smaller nuclei the products must move in opposite directions.
4.18Two billiard balls each of mass 0.05 kg moving in opposite directions with speed 6 m s1^{-1} collide and rebound with the same speed. What is the impulse imparted to each ball due to the other ?
4.19A shell of mass 0.020 kg is fired by a gun of mass 100 kg. If the muzzle speed of the shell is 80 m s1^{-1}, what is the recoil speed of the gun ?
4.20A batsman deflects a ball by an angle of 45° without changing its initial speed which is equal to 54 km/h. What is the impulse imparted to the ball ? (Mass of the ball is 0.15 kg.)
4.21A stone of mass 0.25 kg tied to the end of a string is whirled round in a circle of radius 1.5 m with a speed of 40 rev./min in a horizontal plane. What is the tension in the string ? What is the maximum speed with which the stone can be whirled around if the string can withstand a maximum tension of 200 N ?
4.22If, in Exercise 4.21, the speed of the stone is increased beyond the maximum permissible value, and the string breaks suddenly, which of the following correctly describes the trajectory of the stone after the string breaks :-
4.23Explain why-

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