The following 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) are based on
Chapter 8: Measurement of Time and Motion from the NCERT Class 7
Science textbook Curiosity. Each question has four options - select the
best answer and click to check.
Instructions: Read each question carefully. Choose the most
appropriate option from (a), (b), (c), or (d). Click
Show Answer to reveal the correct answer with explanation.
Multiple Choice Questions
1Early calendars were based on:
(a) Repeating natural events
(b) Random numbers
(c) Electric circuits only
(d) Chemical indicators
(a) is correct
Sunrise, Moon phases and seasons provided regular cycles for timekeeping.
2A sundial tells time using:
(a) Flowing sand only
(b) A swinging bob
(c) Burning fuel
(d) The changing position of a shadow
(d) is correct
The Sun's apparent movement changes the shadow's direction and length.
3A water clock measures time using:
(a) Sound
(b) Magnetic attraction
(c) A regulated flow of water
(d) Moonlight
(c) is correct
Water entering or leaving a marked vessel provides a repeated measure of duration.
4An hourglass measures time by the flow of:
(a) Oil through a wire
(b) Sand
(c) Water vapour
(d) Electric charge
(b) is correct
Fine sand passes through a narrow opening at a roughly steady rate.
5A simple pendulum consists of a bob suspended by a:
(a) Light string from a fixed support
(b) Metal plate
(c) Battery
(d) Spring balance only
(a) is correct
The bob swings to and fro about its mean position.
6One oscillation of a pendulum is:
(a) Motion from one extreme to the centre only
(b) Any pause
(c) One minute always
(d) One complete to-and-fro motion
(d) is correct
Returning to the starting extreme after visiting the other extreme completes one oscillation.
7The time taken for one complete oscillation is the:
(a) Distance
(b) Frequency only
(c) Time period
(d) Speed
(c) is correct
Period is the duration of one repeated cycle.
8For small swings, the time period of a pendulum depends mainly on its:
(a) Amplitude without limit
(b) Length
(c) Colour of the bob
(d) Material of the string only
(b) is correct
A longer simple pendulum has a longer time period.
9The SI unit of time is the:
(a) Second
(b) Minute
(c) Hour
(d) Day
(a) is correct
The second is the internationally agreed base unit of time.
10Which instrument is suitable for timing a short race?
(a) Sundial
(b) Calendar
(c) Thermometer
(d) Stopwatch
(d) is correct
A stopwatch measures short intervals with suitable precision.
11Speed is calculated as:
(a) Distance multiplied by time
(b) Mass divided by time
(c) Distance travelled divided by time taken
(d) Time divided by distance
(c) is correct
Speed describes how much distance is covered per unit time.
12The SI unit of speed is:
(a) metre
(b) metre per second
(c) kilometre
(d) second per metre
(b) is correct
SI distance in metres divided by time in seconds gives m/s.
13A cyclist covers 100 m in 20 s. The speed is:
(a) 5 m/s
(b) 20 m/s
(c) 80 m/s
(d) 2000 m/s
(a) is correct
Speed = 100/20 = 5 m/s.
14A car moves at 60 km/h for 2 h. Distance travelled is:
(a) 30 km
(b) 62 km
(c) 180 km
(d) 120 km
(d) is correct
Distance = speed x time = 60 x 2 = 120 km.
15A bus travels 150 km at 50 km/h. Time taken is:
(a) 7.5 h
(b) 100 h
(c) 3 h
(d) 2 h
(c) is correct
Time = distance/speed = 150/50 = 3 h.
16Uniform linear motion means an object covers:
(a) A circular path at any speed
(b) Equal distances in equal time intervals along a straight path
(c) Unequal distances in equal intervals
(d) No distance
(b) is correct
Constant speed in a straight line produces uniform linear motion.
17Which is usually non-uniform motion?
(a) A bus moving through city traffic
(b) A train moving steadily on a straight track
(c) A conveyor belt at constant speed
(d) A clock hand over equal intervals
(a) is correct
Starting, stopping and changing speed make city traffic non-uniform.
18A distance-time graph for uniform motion is generally:
(a) A random curve
(b) A vertical line
(c) A circle
(d) A straight sloping line
(d) is correct
Equal distance increases in equal times give a constant slope.
19A horizontal line on a distance-time graph indicates:
(a) Distance is decreasing
(b) Time has stopped
(c) The object is at rest
(d) The object is speeding up
(c) is correct
The recorded distance remains unchanged while time passes.
20Two runners cover the same distance. The faster runner takes:
(a) No time
(b) Less time
(c) More time
(d) The same time by definition
(b) is correct
For fixed distance, greater speed corresponds to shorter duration.
