Free Work and Energy MCQs with Answers

748 Work and Energy MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Work transfers energy when a force causes displacement, while kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy and power describe motion, position and the rate of energy transfer. The work-energy theorem links net work with change in kinetic energy, and efficiency accounts for energy losses rather than treating them as energy destruction.

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748 questions · page 5 of 38

  • A. Stiffness
  • B. Toughness
  • C. Extension
  • D. Deformation

Explanation: Deformation is any change in a body's shape or dimensions caused by an applied force, including changes in length, area or volume.

Correct answer: Deformation
  • A. Brittle
  • B. Ductile
  • C. Amorphous
  • D. Polymers

Explanation: A ductile material can undergo substantial plastic deformation, meaning permanent deformation, before it fractures.

Correct answer: Ductile
  • A. 2 x 10^8 Nm-2
  • B. 5 x 10^6 Nm-2
  • C. 0.5 x 10^-6 Nm-2
  • D. 0.2 x 10^-6Nm-2

Explanation: Young's modulus is Y = FL/(AΔL). Converting 2 cm^2 to 2 x 10^-4 m^2, Y = (10 N)(1 m)/[(2 x 10^-4 m^2)(0.01 m)] = 5 x 10^6 N m^-2.

Correct answer: 5 x 10^6 Nm-2
  • A. Nm-2
  • B. Jm-2
  • C. Nm-1
  • D. Being a number it has no unit.

Explanation: Modulus of elasticity is stress divided by strain; strain has no unit, so its unit is the unit of stress, N m^-2, also called the pascal.

Correct answer: Nm-2
  • A. non-conservative force
  • B. conservative force
  • C. both A and B
  • D. none of these

Explanation: Rocket thrust is produced by ejecting gases and depends on the changing mass and interaction of the rocket with its exhaust, so it is…

Correct answer: non-conservative force
  • A. area
  • B. work done
  • C. power
  • D. none of these

Explanation: Work is the integral of force with respect to displacement, so the area under a force-displacement graph gives work done, measured in…

Correct answer: work done
  • A. torque
  • B. angular momentum
  • C. linear momentum
  • D. power

Explanation: Work has dimensions force x distance, giving [M L2 T-2]. Torque is also force x perpendicular distance, so it has the same dimensions…

Correct answer: torque
  • A. frictional force
  • B. gravitational force
  • C. elastic force
  • D. centripetal force

Explanation: Work is W = Fd cos θ. Centripetal force points toward the centre while instantaneous displacement is tangential, so θ = 90° and W = Fd cos…

Correct answer: centripetal force
  • A. electric field
  • B. conservative field
  • C. electromagnetic field
  • D. gravitational field

Explanation: A conservative field has zero net work around every closed path, so the work depends only on the initial and final positions.

Correct answer: conservative field
  • A. 45°
  • B. 90°
  • C. 180°
  • D. 0°

Explanation: Work is W = Fd cos θ. For fixed force and displacement, cos θ is greatest at θ = 0°, where W = Fd, so the work is maximum.

Correct answer: 0°
  • A. friction
  • B. electric
  • C. gravitational
  • D. magnetic

Explanation: Friction is non-conservative because the work it does depends on the path and mechanical energy is converted into thermal energy.

Correct answer: friction
  • A. always positive
  • B. always negative
  • C. positive only for small frictional force
  • D. positive only for large frictional force

Explanation: For ordinary friction opposing the motion, the angle between friction and displacement is 180°, so W = Fs cos 180° = -Fs, making the work…

Correct answer: always negative
  • A. force into small interval
  • B. displacement into small interval
  • C. both force and displacement into small intervals
  • D. force into small and displacement into large intervals

Explanation: For a variable force, the displacement is divided into small intervals and the work over each interval is approximated by F Δs, then these…

Correct answer: displacement into small interval
  • A. zero
  • B. minimum
  • C. infinity
  • D. maximum

Explanation: Work is W = Fs cos θ. When the force is parallel to displacement, θ = 0° and cos 0° = 1, so W = Fs, the maximum possible work for fixed…

Correct answer: maximum
  • A. Disc
  • B. Loop
  • C. Sphere
  • D. All have the same speed

Explanation: The sphere has most of its mass near the axis of rotation, so it will have the smallest moment of inertia and will reach the ground…

Correct answer: Sphere
  • A. mg (x/h)
  • B. mg (h/x)
  • C. mg (1+h/x)
  • D. mg (1 - h/x)
  • E. mgh + mgd

Explanation: The work done by the resistive force of sand is given by:W = Fd = (1/2) kx2where F is the average resistive force offered by the sand on…

Correct answer: mg (h/x)
  • A. 30 cm
  • B. 20 cm
  • C. 10 cm
  • D. 5 cm

Explanation: Let's use the equation of motion to find the additional distance the bullet will penetrate before coming to rest.

Correct answer: 10 cm

98. Work is a:

  • A. Vector quantity
  • B. Scalar quantity
  • C. Sometimes scalar sometimes vector
  • D. None of these

Explanation: Work has only a magnitude but no direction. The formula for work is written as a dot product of force and displacement.

Correct answer: Scalar quantity
  • A. 4.00
  • B. 1.00
  • C. 0.25
  • D. Impossible to determine

Explanation: Thermal efficiency (η) is the ratio of the useful work output to the total energy input.

Correct answer: 0.25
  • A. 10-25%
  • B. 25-30%
  • C. 30-40%
  • D. 40-50%

Explanation: Due to thermodynamic limitations (like the Carnot cycle) and practical losses from friction and incomplete combustion, a typical…

Correct answer: 25-30%