Lesson 3.3.2

3.3.2 Kinetic and potential energies Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.3.2, Kinetic and potential energies: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 2: Forces and motion, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. The kinetic energy of an object of mass m moving at speed v is:

    • (1/2) m v
    • m g h
    • m v^2
    • (1/2) m v^2

  2. Which formula gives the gravitational potential energy of a mass in a uniform field?

    • m h / g
    • m g / h
    • m g h
    • 0.5 m g h

  3. For a freely falling object with no air resistance, the total mechanical energy is:

    • Decreasing
    • Zero
    • Increasing
    • Constant

  4. What type of physical quantity is kinetic energy?

    • Scalar
    • Base SI quantity
    • Vector
    • Tensor

  5. By what factor does kinetic energy increase if the speed of an object doubles?

    • 2
    • 4
    • 8
    • 16

  6. Why can the zero reference level for gravitational potential energy be chosen arbitrarily?

    • Gravity is constant
    • Height is absolute
    • Only changes matter
    • Mass is invariant

  7. According to the work-energy theorem, net work done on an object equals what?

    • Kinetic energy change
    • Rate of power
    • Total momentum change
    • Potential energy change

  8. A 3 kg object moves at 4 m s^-1. What is its kinetic energy?

    • 48 J
    • 24 J
    • 6 J
    • 12 J

  9. A 0.5 kg ball is at a height of 4 m. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is its gravitational potential energy?

    • 39.2 J
    • 19.6 J
    • 4.9 J
    • 2.0 J

  10. A ball is dropped from rest from a height of 5 m. Ignoring air resistance, what is its speed on landing? Use g = 9.8 m s^-2.

    • 49 m s^-1
    • 9.9 m s^-1
    • 4.9 m s^-1
    • 98 m s^-1

  11. A 0.2 kg object falls through 1.5 m from rest. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2 and ignoring air resistance, what is its kinetic energy at the bottom?

    • 14.7 J
    • 1.5 J
    • 2.9 J
    • 0.3 J

  12. A car of mass 1000 kg moves at 20 m s^-1. What is its kinetic energy?

    • 2.0 x 10^4 J
    • 4.0 x 10^5 J
    • 2.0 x 10^5 J
    • 1.0 x 10^5 J

  13. A 6 kg mass is lowered by 3 m. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the change in its gravitational potential energy?

    • -353 J (a loss of 353 J)
    • -176 J (a loss of 176 J)
    • +59 J (a gain of 59 J)
    • +18 J (a gain of 18 J)

  14. A roller coaster starts from rest 20 m above the bottom of a frictionless track. What is its speed at the bottom? Use g = 9.8 m s^-2.

    • 9.9 m s^-1
    • 392 m s^-1
    • 39.2 m s^-1
    • 19.8 m s^-1

  15. A 0.4 kg object moves at 3 m s^-1 at a height of 2 m. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is its total mechanical energy?

    • 1.8 J
    • 9.6 J
    • 7.8 J
    • 17.4 J

  16. Which step correctly derives kinetic energy from the work done by a constant force F that accelerates a mass m from rest to speed v over distance s?

    • F s = m g s
    • F s = m a s = (1/2) m v^2
    • F / s = m v
    • F s = m v^2

  17. A 2 kg ball falls 3 m from rest and reaches the bottom at 5 m s^-1. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, how much energy is transferred to other forms?

    • 58.8 J
    • 8.8 J
    • 33.8 J
    • 25 J

  18. A 1 kg object has speed 2 m s^-1 and height 1 m above the reference level. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is its total energy?

    • 2 J
    • 9.8 J
    • 4 J
    • 11.8 J

  19. An object has four times the mass of another but equal kinetic energy. What is its speed?

    • Twice as fast
    • Same speed
    • Quarter as fast
    • Half as fast

  20. A ball is thrown vertically upwards at 12 m s^-1. Ignoring air resistance and using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is its maximum height above the launch point?

    • 7.3 m
    • 14.7 m
    • 6.1 m
    • 12 m

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