Lesson T2.1.3

T2.1.3 Relative motion Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T2.1.3, Relative motion: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Motion and forces, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is relative motion?

    • Stationary state
    • Motion between objects
    • Gravitational force
    • Absolute speed

  2. Two cars travel in the same direction at 20 m/s and 15 m/s. How fast does the faster car appear to move as seen by the slower car?

    • 20 m/s
    • 35 m/s
    • 5 m/s
    • 15 m/s

  3. Two trains travel towards each other at 30 m/s and 20 m/s. What is their closing speed?

    • 25 m/s
    • 10 m/s
    • 600 m/s
    • 50 m/s

  4. A passenger sits still on a moving train. What is their speed relative to the seat?

    • Terminal velocity
    • Maximum speed
    • Zero
    • Train speed

  5. A train at 40 m/s and a second train at 10 m/s both travel in the same direction. What is the first train's speed relative to the second?

    • 50 m/s
    • 0 m/s
    • 10 m/s
    • 30 m/s

  6. A car is travelling at 25 m/s and passes a stationary cyclist. How fast does the car pass the cyclist?

    • 12.5 m/s
    • 50 m/s
    • 0 m/s
    • 25 m/s

  7. Two cars travel in the same direction. Car A is 30 m/s and car B is 30 m/s. What is the relative speed of car B as seen from car A?

    • 30 m/s
    • 60 m/s
    • 0 m/s
    • 15 m/s

  8. A train passes a platform. If the train travels at 20 m/s and a person walks along the train at 2 m/s in the same direction, what is the person's speed relative to the platform?

    • 40 m/s
    • 18 m/s
    • 2 m/s
    • 22 m/s

  9. Which measurements help calculate the time taken to overtake?

    • Mass and air resistance
    • Tyre grip and temperature
    • Relative speed and length
    • Engine power and fuel

  10. Two boats move in opposite directions on a river. Boat A moves at 6 m/s and boat B at 4 m/s. What is their relative speed?

    • 10 m/s
    • 24 m/s
    • 5 m/s
    • 2 m/s

  11. A runner runs at 5 m/s in the same direction as a conveyor belt moving at 2 m/s. What is the runner's speed relative to the ground?

    • 10 m/s
    • 2.5 m/s
    • 3 m/s
    • 7 m/s

  12. What determines the measured speed of a moving object according to observers?

    • Total distance
    • Object mass
    • Reference point
    • Air temperature

  13. A bus travelling at 15 m/s overtakes a bicycle moving at 5 m/s in the same direction. What is the bus's speed relative to the bicycle?

    • 20 m/s
    • 75 m/s
    • 3 m/s
    • 10 m/s

  14. A car is moving north at 20 m/s and another car is moving south at 20 m/s. What is their closing speed?

    • 40 m/s
    • 0 m/s
    • 20 m/s
    • 10 m/s

  15. Two trains travel at 25 m/s in the same direction. How does one appear to the other?

    • Reversing
    • Slowing down
    • Moving fast
    • Stationary

  16. A cyclist moves at 6 m/s. A car in the same direction moves at 14 m/s. How long does the car take to gain 40 m on the cyclist?

    • 2.5 s
    • 54 s
    • 20 s
    • 5 s

  17. What does relative speed depend upon?

    • Earth mass
    • Reference object
    • Atmospheric pressure
    • Total distance

  18. A passenger walks towards the front of a train moving at 30 m/s. The passenger walks at 1 m/s relative to the train. What is the passenger's speed relative to the ground?

    • 31 m/s
    • 29 m/s
    • 1 m/s
    • 30 m/s

  19. Two cars leave a junction in opposite directions. Car A travels at 12 m/s and car B at 18 m/s. After 10 s, how far apart are they?

    • 30 m
    • 120 m
    • 300 m
    • 180 m

  20. A bird flies at 8 m/s in the same direction as a wind blowing at 3 m/s. What is the bird's speed relative to the ground?

    • 24 m/s
    • 11 m/s
    • 5 m/s
    • 8 m/s

All KS3 Physics quizzes