MDCAT Motion and Force MCQs 2026 — Projectiles, g = 10

What MDCAT 2026 asks in Unit 38 Force and Motion

PMDC Unit 2 is the heaviest mechanics chapter on the MDCAT physics paper. It is five topics sharing one rule: draw the picture, name the quantity the stem actually asked, then pick the equation that owns that quantity.

Kinematics lives on graphs and the three SUVAT equations. Newton lives on $F=ma$, the third-law pair, and the lift. Projectiles split into two independent motions with $a_x$ = 0. Momentum is $p=mv$ and impulse as $\Delta p$, including the rebound sign. Friction and inclines close the unit with $a=g$ sin $\theta$ on a smooth plane.

Physics Lab uses $g=10$ m/s² in every gravity stem, matching the MDCAT convention. Twenty questions, twenty labs.

• Displacement versus distance; average velocity versus average speed (out-and-back is zero velocity, not zero speed).
• s–t slope is velocity; v–t slope is acceleration. Mix those graphs and the mark is gone.
• SUVAT, including $s=ut$ + ½at² from rest — the ½ is not optional.
• Projectiles: $R=u^2$ sin2 $\theta$ / g (max at $45^{\circ }),H=u^2$ sin² $\theta /2\mathrm{g},T=2u$ sin $\theta$ / g, $a_x$ = 0.
• Lift: $N=m(g$ + a) going up, m(g − a) going down. Free fall: $N=0.$
• Impulse $J=\Delta p$ including the bounce. Equal-mass elastic: velocities swap. Perfect inelastic: they stick at u/2.

Often-asked Force and Motion MCQ patterns

These are the Force and Motion ideas that keep coming every year with new numbers.

• $3\mathrm{m}$ east then $4\mathrm{m}$ north: displacement $5\mathrm{m}$, distance $7\mathrm{m}$. Both numbers sit in the options.
• From rest, $a=4$ m/s², $t=5$ s: $s=50$ m. Dropping ½ gives $100\mathrm{m}$ — the favourite distractor.
• Range at $45^{\circ }$ with $u=20$ m/s, $g=10:R=u^2/g=40\mathrm{m}$. Using sin $\theta$ instead of sin2 $\theta$ is the standard miss.
• Rebound impulse: incoming +3, outgoing −2, mass $2\mathrm{kg}$ → | $\Delta p|=10\mathrm{N}\mathrm{s}$, not m(3 − $2)=2.$
• Incline $30^{\circ }$, smooth: $a=g$ sin $30^{\circ }=5m/s$ ². g cos $30^{\circ }$ is the normal, not the acceleration.

Worked Force and Motion numericals ($g=10)$

Work these on paper first. Then open the Unit 38 quiz — the same numbers are in the questions, with wrong options built from the usual mix-ups.

Force and Motion traps that steal the mark

A good option is a true sentence about the wrong quantity. If you miss, the quiz names the mix-up on the option you actually picked.

• Average speed when the question asked average velocity (out-and-back is zero).
• Using g sin $\theta$ with the cosine leftover from the normal.
• Forgetting that $a_x$ = 0 in a projectile.
• Writing $N=mg$ in a lift that is accelerating.
• Impulse as m(v − u) without reversing the rebound sign.
• Using 9.8 when this bank — and MDCAT numericals here — take $g=10.$

Force and Motion formula sheet for MDCAT 2026

Write these until they are cheaper than thinking. Then open the Force and Motion quiz and make the picture agree.

• $v^2=u^2$ + 2as $s=ut$ + ½at²
• $R=u^{2}sin2\theta /gH=u^2{\sin }^2\theta /2\mathrm{g}T=2u\sin \theta /g$
• $N=m(g\pm a)$
• $p=mvJ=\Delta p=m(v-u)$
• $a=g$ sin $\theta$ (smooth incline)

How to practise Unit 38 Force and Motion MCQs

Always write the knowns with signs before touching SUVAT. From rest means $u=0;$ thrown up means $a=-g$ if up is positive.

For projectiles, split the page: a horizontal column that never changes, a vertical column that is free fall. Range, height and time each live in one column.

Sit the Motion and Force quiz in one sitting. Twenty labs. Then retry — letters move.

Choose topics and a test length up to 180 from the 1,127-question bank. Tutor Mode explains each selection; Timed Exam reveals explanations on submission. Use the complete review to revise mistakes and download your results.