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Quizzes > Science

Acceleration quiz: test your understanding of speed and motion

Quick, free physics motion quiz. Instant results with clear steps.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Teresa DaubUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for speed and acceleration quiz on sky blue background

This quiz helps you practice speed and acceleration, from average speed to changes in velocity. Work through quick problems with clear steps, then build on it with our laws of motion quiz and a net force quiz for deeper context, or try a motion and forces quiz to connect acceleration with force.

What is the definition of speed?
Rate of change of acceleration
Force per unit mass
Vector change in position over time
Distance traveled per unit time
Speed is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the time taken, making it a scalar quantity since it has magnitude only. It does not include any information about direction. This distinguishes it from velocity, which is a vector.
What is the SI unit of speed?
Newtons (N)
kilometers per hour (km/h)
meters per second squared (m/s^2)
meters per second (m/s)
The SI unit for speed is meters per second, abbreviated as m/s. Other units like km/h are commonly used but are not SI units. Acceleration uses m/s^2, and Newton is the unit of force.
Is speed a scalar or a vector quantity?
Vector
Both scalar and vector
Scalar
Neither scalar nor vector
Speed has magnitude only and does not include direction, which makes it a scalar quantity. Velocity, by contrast, is a vector because it includes direction. Understanding this distinction is fundamental in kinematics.
Which formula calculates average speed?
Total distance divided by total time
Sum of initial and final speeds divided by 2
Total displacement divided by total time
Change in velocity divided by time
Average speed is defined as the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. It differs from average velocity, which uses displacement rather than distance. This formula applies regardless of whether the speed is uniform.
What does instantaneous speed measure?
Initial speed at the start of motion
Maximum speed reached
Speed at a specific moment
Average speed over a time interval
Instantaneous speed is the speed of an object at a particular instant in time. It can be found as the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity vector. It differs from average speed, which spans a time interval.
How many meters per second is 90 km/h?
20 m/s
30 m/s
15 m/s
25 m/s
To convert km/h to m/s, multiply by 1000/3600. For 90 km/h: 90 × (1000/3600) = 25 m/s. This is a standard unit conversion in kinematics.
A runner covers 200 meters in 20 seconds. What is their average speed?
20 m/s
8 m/s
10 m/s
12.5 m/s
Average speed = total distance / total time. Here, 200 m ÷ 20 s = 10 m/s. This formula applies regardless of variations in instantaneous speed.
What does uniform speed mean?
Zero acceleration
Changing speed
Motion in a circular path
Constant speed
Uniform speed means the speed remains constant over time - there is no change in magnitude. It does not imply zero velocity or a specific path shape. Acceleration is zero when speed is uniform.
What is acceleration?
Mass times velocity
Rate of change of speed
Rate of change of velocity over time
Force acting on an object
Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, including direction. It can be positive or negative depending on whether the object speeds up or slows down. It is distinct from force, which is related by Newton's second law.
What is the SI unit of acceleration?
kilogram meter per second squared (kg·m/s^2)
meters per second squared (m/s^2)
meters per second (m/s)
kilometers per hour (km/h)
Acceleration measures the change in velocity per unit time, so its SI unit is m/s^2. This indicates how many meters per second the velocity changes in each second. Other units are for speed or force.
What does deceleration refer to?
Negative acceleration (slowing down)
Change in direction
Decrease in displacement
Reduction in mass
Deceleration specifically means acceleration that is opposite in direction to velocity, causing the object to slow down. It's simply negative acceleration. It does not refer to displacement or mass changes.
A car accelerates from rest to 30 m/s in 6 seconds. What is its acceleration?
6 m/s^2
4 m/s^2
7.5 m/s^2
5 m/s^2
Acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time = (30 m/s - 0) / 6 s = 5 m/s^2. This is a straightforward application of the definition of acceleration.
Using the equation s = ut + ½at², what is the displacement when u = 10 m/s, a = 2 m/s², and t = 3 s?
33 m
45 m
39 m
36 m
Plugging into s = ut + ½at²: s = 10×3 + ½×2×3² = 30 + 9 = 39 m. This SUVAT equation applies for constant acceleration.
In a velocity-time graph, what does the area under the curve represent?
Displacement
Time
Speed
Acceleration
The area under a velocity-time graph gives the displacement of the object during the time interval. It integrates velocity over time. It is not a measure of acceleration or speed directly.
If a velocity-time graph is a straight line with a positive slope, what type of motion does this represent?
Constant speed
Deceleration
Variable acceleration
Constant acceleration
A straight line with a positive slope on a v-t graph means velocity increases uniformly over time, which defines constant acceleration. A horizontal line would indicate constant speed.
Two cars start 100 m apart and move toward each other at 15 m/s and 10 m/s. How long until they meet?
3 s
6 s
5 s
4 s
When two objects move toward each other, their relative speed is the sum of their speeds (15 + 10 = 25 m/s). Time = distance / relative speed = 100 / 25 = 4 s.
Two cars travel in the same direction at 20 m/s and 30 m/s. What is their relative speed?
6.67 m/s
50 m/s
10 m/s
-10 m/s
Relative speed in the same direction is the difference of their speeds: 30 m/s - 20 m/s = 10 m/s. It tells how quickly one car is catching up to the other.
On a velocity - time graph, what does the slope at a point represent?
Displacement
Acceleration
Jerk
Velocity
The slope of a velocity - time graph gives the acceleration at that instant. A steeper slope indicates a larger acceleration. Displacement is given by the area under the curve instead.
A ball is thrown vertically upward at 20 m/s. Approximately how long does it take to reach its maximum height?
4.08 s
1.00 s
9.80 s
2.04 s
Time to reach max height = initial velocity / g = 20 m/s ÷ 9.8 m/s² ? 2.04 s. At that point, the vertical velocity becomes zero.
What is the acceleration due to gravity near Earth's surface?
10 km/h
Variable with speed
9.8 m/s
9.8 m/s²
The standard value for gravitational acceleration at Earth's surface is approximately 9.8 m/s² downward. This remains nearly constant for small height changes. It is an acceleration, not a velocity or distance.
Convert 60 miles per hour to meters per second (approx).
20.0 m/s
26.8 m/s
33.3 m/s
15.5 m/s
1 mile = 1609 m, and 1 hour = 3600 s. So 60 mph = (60 × 1609) / 3600 ? 26.8 m/s. This is a common conversion in kinematics problems.
Which factor increases the braking distance of a vehicle most significantly?
Shorter reaction time
Better tire traction
Lighter vehicle mass
Higher initial speed
Braking distance increases with the square of the initial speed, making higher speed the most significant factor. Reaction time affects total stopping distance but not braking distance. Better traction and lighter mass reduce braking distance.
What is the term for the rate of change of acceleration, and what are its SI units?
Snap, m/s²
Jounce, m/s?
Yank, N·s
Jerk, m/s³
Jerk is defined as the derivative of acceleration with respect to time, and its SI unit is m/s³. It describes how acceleration itself changes over time.
A car's velocity is given by v(t) = 3t² (m/s). What is its acceleration at t = 2 s?
12 m/s²
24 m/s²
9 m/s²
6 m/s²
Acceleration is dv/dt. For v(t)=3t², dv/dt=6t. At t=2, a=6×2=12 m/s². This uses basic differentiation from calculus.
A particle's position is x(t)=t³ - 6t² + 9t (in meters). What is its acceleration at t = 3 s?
0 m/s²
6 m/s²
18 m/s²
-6 m/s²
First find velocity v=dx/dt=3t² -12t +9, then acceleration a=dv/dt=6t -12. At t=3, a=6×3 -12=6 m/s². This applies successive differentiation.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Apply Kinematic Formulas -

    Use equations of motion to calculate speed, acceleration, distance, and time in a variety of interesting speed questions and acceleration scenarios.

  2. Analyze Motion Graphs -

    Interpret velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs to extract key information about an object's motion and determine acceleration values.

  3. Interpret Real-World Acceleration Scenarios -

    Translate practical examples like cars and rockets into physics problems, identifying initial and final velocities and solving for acceleration.

  4. Calculate Average and Instantaneous Speed -

    Compute both average and instantaneous speed from given data sets to deepen your understanding of motion concepts.

  5. Evaluate Constant vs. Variable Acceleration -

    Distinguish between uniform and non-uniform acceleration by analyzing motion data and solving relevant physics acceleration questions.

  6. Solve Unit Conversion Challenges -

    Perform unit conversions between meters, kilometers, seconds, and hours to ensure accurate speed and acceleration calculations.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Speed vs. Velocity Fundamentals -

    Review the difference between speed (scalar) and velocity (vector) by remembering "speed has no direction, velocity does." Use the formula v = d/t to solve interesting speed questions where you calculate how fast an object moves regardless of direction (source: MIT OpenCourseWare).

  2. Core Acceleration Questions -

    Understand acceleration as the rate of change of velocity, given by a = Δv/Δt, with units m/s². Practice physics acceleration questions by calculating how quickly a car speeds up from 0 to 20 m/s in 4 seconds to boost your confidence (source: Khan Academy).

  3. Graphical Analysis Techniques -

    Learn to interpret speed-time and acceleration-time graphs: the slope of a speed-time graph gives acceleration, and the area under the acceleration curve gives change in velocity. Tackle speed and acceleration practice test problems by sketching simple line graphs to visualize each scenario (source: University Physics).

  4. Kinematic Equations Mastery -

    Memorize the SUVAT equations - v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², and v² = u² + 2as - using the mnemonic "Sally Uses Very Advanced Tactics." Apply these to both constant acceleration questions and interesting speed questions for systematic problem solving (source: HyperPhysics).

  5. Real-World Application Drills -

    Challenge yourself with real-world scenarios like cars accelerating on highways or rockets launching, then solve related acceleration questions step-by-step. Integrate insights from engineering case studies to see how these formulas drive practical design and then test with a speed and acceleration practice test (source: NASA).

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