JEE Main · Physics ↓ Falling

Work, Energy and Power appeared 31 times across 3 years — 3.6% of Physics. This question is from Potential Energy.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 8 15 8 31
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Potential energy (V) versus distance (x) is given by the graph, Rank various regions as per the magnitudes of the force (F) acting on a particle from high to low.
Potential Energy diagram for Q26 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
The image shows a graph of potential energy versus distance with marked regions AB, BC, CD, and DE.

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
F = -(dV)/(dx)
Core Logic

The magnitude of the force is given by the absolute value of the slope of the potential energy versus position curve: |F| = |slope of V-x graph|.

Comparing the slopes of different regions from the graph:

  • Region BC has the steepest slope (largest magnitude).
  • Region AB has a moderate positive slope.
  • Region DE has a moderate negative slope, but less steep than AB.
  • Region CD is perfectly flat (slope = 0).
Step 1: Ranking Forces

Therefore, magnitudes of the force follow the order:

FBC > FAB > FDE > FCD
Pattern Recognition

In a V-x graph, steeper slopes always mean a stronger restoring or repulsive force. A flat line means zero force (equilibrium).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Work, Energy and Power

More Work, Energy and Power Previous-Year Questions — Page 7

Q49 jee_main_2024_31_jan_morning Conservation Of Momentum
An artillery piece of mass M₁ fires a shell of mass M₂ horizontally. Instantaneously after the firing, the ratio of kinetic energy of the artillery and that of the shell is :
  • A. M₁ / (M₁ + M₂)
  • B. (M₂)/(M₁)
  • C. M₂ / (M₁ + M₂)
  • D. (M₁)/(M₂)

Solution

Related Formula
KE = (p²)/(2m)
Core Logic

By conservation of linear momentum (since no external horizontal force acts on the system):

0 = M₁ v₁ + M₂ v₂ | p₁| = | p₂| = p

Both the artillery and the shell acquire the exact same magnitude of momentum during firing.

Step 2: Kinetic Energy Ratio

The kinetic energy is related to momentum by KE = (p²)/(2m). Since p is identical for both bodies:

KE ∝ (1)/(m)

Therefore, the ratio of kinetic energy of the artillery (M₁) to the shell (M₂) is:

KE₁KE₂ = ((p²)/(2M₁))/((p²)/(2M₂)) = (M₂)/(M₁)
Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Work, Energy And Power

More Work, Energy and Power Questions — jee_main_2026_21_jan_morning

Practice all Work, Energy and Power previous-year questions →

Rankbit System
JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)