Displacement — NEET Physics MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Physics Displacement MCQs with step-by-step solutions (36 questions). Part of Motion in 1 Dimension. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — Displacement · easy · theory
Displacement is a
A. Always positive quantity
B. Vector quantity ✓ Correct
C. Scalar quantity
D. Dimensionless quantity
Solution: Displacement has both magnitude and direction — the vector from initial to final position.
Q2 — Displacement · medium · theory
A particle completes one full lap of a circular track. Its displacement is
A. $\pi r$
B. $2r$
C. $2\pi r$
D. Zero ✓ Correct
Solution: It ends where it started — initial and final positions coincide, so displacement is zero.
Q3 — Displacement · easy · theory
A particle moves along half a circle of radius $r$. The magnitude of its displacement is
A. $2r$ ✓ Correct
B. $\pi r$
C. $r$
D. Zero
Solution: Start and end are at opposite ends of a diameter: displacement $= 2r$.
Q4 — Displacement · easy · theory
In one-dimensional motion, displacement
A. Can never be zero
B. Is always positive
C. Is always equal to distance
D. Can be positive, negative or zero ✓ Correct
Solution: The sign shows direction along the chosen axis; returning to start makes it zero.
Q5 — Displacement · medium · theory
A person walks $3$ m east and then $4$ m north. The magnitude of the displacement is
A. $5$ m ✓ Correct
B. $7$ m
C. $1$ m
D. $3.5$ m
Solution: Perpendicular legs: $\sqrt{3^2+4^2} = 5$ m.
Q6 — Displacement · medium · theory
The magnitude of displacement is
A. Independent of the path
B. Always greater than the distance
C. Always equal to the distance
D. Never greater than the distance travelled ✓ Correct
Solution: The straight line between two points is the shortest path, so $|\text{displacement}| \leq$ distance.
Q7 — Displacement · easy · theory
A body completes a round trip and returns to its start. Its displacement is
A. Zero ✓ Correct
B. Twice the one-way distance
C. Equal to the total path
D. Negative
Solution: Same start and end point $\Rightarrow$ zero displacement.
Q8 — Displacement · medium · theory
Displacement is defined as
A. Speed × time
B. The total path length
C. The change in position vector ✓ Correct
D. The change in speed
Solution: $\Delta\vec r = \vec r_{final} - \vec r_{initial}$ — position change, independent of route.
Q9 — Displacement · medium · theory
A particle moves from position $\vec r_1 = 2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}$ to $\vec r_2 = 5\hat{i}+7\hat{j}$ (metres). The magnitude of its displacement is
A. $\sqrt{7}$ m
B. $12$ m
C. $5$ m ✓ Correct
D. $7$ m
Solution: $\Delta\vec r = 3\hat{i}+4\hat{j}$, magnitude $\sqrt{9+16} = 5$ m.
Q10 — Displacement · medium · theory
The area under a velocity–time graph (with sign) gives
A. Acceleration
B. Distance only
C. Displacement ✓ Correct
D. Average speed
Solution: Signed area under $v$–$t$ is $\int v\,dt$ — the displacement; total unsigned area gives distance.
Q11 — Displacement · easy · theory
A particle moves from $x = +5$ m to $x = -3$ m. Its displacement is
A. $+2$ m
B. $-2$ m
C. $-8$ m ✓ Correct
D. $+8$ m
Solution: $\Delta x = x_f - x_i = -3 - 5 = -8$ m (8 m in the negative direction).
Q12 — Displacement · medium · theory
A particle moves along a quarter circle of radius $R$. The magnitude of its displacement is
A. $R$
B. $\frac{\pi R}{2}$
C. $2R$
D. $R\sqrt{2}$ ✓ Correct
Solution: Start and end positions are perpendicular radii apart: chord $= \sqrt{R^2+R^2} = R\sqrt{2}$.
Q13 — Displacement · medium · theory
Can the displacement be zero while the distance travelled is $20$ m?
A. No, never
B. Only for circular paths
C. Yes — for any closed path back to the start ✓ Correct
D. Only if speed is constant
Solution: Any route that returns to the start (out-and-back, loop…) gives zero displacement with non-zero path length.
Q14 — Displacement · easy · theory
The displacement between two given points
A. Is undefined for curved paths
B. Is the same for every path taken ✓ Correct
C. Equals the longest path
D. Depends on the path
Solution: Displacement depends only on the endpoints, not on the route between them.
Q15 — Displacement · easy · theory
A man walks $8$ km north and then $6$ km south. His displacement is
A. $14$ km
B. $2$ km north ✓ Correct
C. $10$ km
D. $2$ km south
Solution: Net position change: $8 - 6 = 2$ km towards the north.
Q16 — Displacement · medium · theory
A particle moves as $x = t^2 - 6t$ (metres, seconds). Its displacement between $t = 0$ and $t = 6$ s is
A. Zero ✓ Correct
B. $18$ m
C. $-9$ m
D. $36$ m
Solution: $x(0) = 0$ and $x(6) = 36-36 = 0$: displacement $= 0$ (though it travelled 18 m out and back).
Q17 — Displacement · easy · theory
The SI unit of displacement is
A. metre/second
B. newton
C. kilometre
D. metre ✓ Correct
Solution: Displacement is a length — measured in metres, with a direction attached.
Q18 — Displacement · easy · theory
After every complete lap on any closed track, the displacement of a runner is
A. The track length
B. Zero ✓ Correct
C. Doubles each lap
D. The track diameter
Solution: Each complete lap returns the runner to the same point, resetting displacement to zero.
Q19 — Displacement · medium · theory
The ratio $\frac{|\text{displacement}|}{\text{distance}}$ for any motion is
A. Exactly $1$
B. $\geq 1$
C. Can be any value
D. $\leq 1$ ✓ Correct
Solution: Since distance $\geq |$displacement$|$, the ratio never exceeds $1$ (equals 1 for straight one-way motion).
Q20 — Displacement · easy · theory
The minute hand of a clock has length $r$. The magnitude of the displacement of its tip in $30$ minutes is
A. $2r$ ✓ Correct
B. $\pi r$
C. Zero
D. $r$
Solution: In 30 minutes the tip moves to the diametrically opposite point: displacement $= 2r$.
Q21 — Displacement · easy · theory
A particle moves in a straight line at $4$ m/s for $5$ s without reversing. The magnitude of its displacement is
A. $20$ m ✓ Correct
B. $4$ m
C. $9$ m
D. $80$ m
Solution: Straight-line one-way motion: displacement $=$ distance $= 4\times5 = 20$ m.
Q22 — Displacement · easy · theory
A car goes $12$ km east, then $5$ km west. Its displacement is
A. $7$ km west
B. $17$ km
C. $7$ km east ✓ Correct
D. $12$ km east
Solution: Net: $12 - 5 = 7$ km towards the east.
Q23 — Displacement · easy · theory
A negative displacement in one-dimensional motion means the particle
A. Moved slowly
B. Travelled no distance
C. Decelerated
D. Ended on the negative side of its start (moved opposite to the chosen + direction) ✓ Correct
Solution: The sign of displacement is purely directional — it says nothing about speed or distance.
Q24 — Displacement · medium · theory
The displacement of a particle is $\vec d = 6\hat{i} + 8\hat{j}$ m. The distance between its end points is
A. $6$ m
B. $10$ m ✓ Correct
C. $48$ m
D. $14$ m
Solution: The straight-line separation is $|\vec d| = \sqrt{36+64} = 10$ m.
Q25 — Displacement · medium · theory
A helicopter rises $100$ m vertically and then flies $100$ m horizontally. The magnitude of its displacement is
A. $200$ m
B. $100$ m
C. $100\sqrt{2}$ m ✓ Correct
D. $50\sqrt{2}$ m
Solution: Two perpendicular 100 m legs: $\sqrt{100^2+100^2} = 100\sqrt{2}$ m.
Q26 — Displacement · easy · theory
A lift goes up $30$ m and then comes down $10$ m. The net displacement is
A. Zero
B. $40$ m
C. $20$ m downward
D. $20$ m upward ✓ Correct
Solution: Net change of position: $30 - 10 = 20$ m upward.
Q27 — Displacement · easy · theory
Two cyclists start together at point A and both reach point B by different roads. They necessarily have the same
A. Displacement ✓ Correct
B. Distance travelled
C. Time of travel
D. Average speed
Solution: Displacement depends only on endpoints A and B — identical for both, whatever the route.
Q28 — Displacement · easy · theory
A sprinter runs half a lap of a circular track of radius $50$ m. The magnitude of the displacement is
A. Zero
B. $100$ m ✓ Correct
C. $157$ m
D. $50$ m
Solution: Half lap ends diametrically opposite: displacement $= 2r = 100$ m.
Q29 — Displacement · easy · theory
A particle moves as $x = 5t + 3$ (metres, seconds). Its displacement between $t=0$ and $t=2$ s is
A. $13$ m
B. $10$ m ✓ Correct
C. $8$ m
D. $3$ m
Solution: $x(2)-x(0) = (10+3) - 3 = 10$ m.
Q30 — Displacement · medium · theory
A body has zero average velocity over an interval but non-zero average speed. This happens when
A. This is impossible
B. It moves uniformly in one direction
C. It returns to its starting point after moving ✓ Correct
D. It stays at rest
Solution: Zero displacement (round trip) makes average velocity zero, while the path length keeps average speed non-zero.