Middle School Science Quiz: Describe Motion Clearly

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Describe Motion Clearly, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Middle School Science.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. $2.0\ \text{m/s}$ north relative to the ground. (correct answer)
2. $1.0\ \text{m/s}$ north relative to the ground.
3. $2.0$ north relative to the ground.
4. $2.0\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the walkway (no direction needed).

Question 2

1. Relative to the ground (the building/Earth). (correct answer)
2. Relative to the person.
3. Relative to the moving walkway.
4. No reference frame is needed if you give a speed.

Question 3

1. The passenger is moving west at $30\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the ground and is at rest ($0\ \text{m/s}$) relative to the train. (correct answer)
2. The passenger is at rest ($0\ \text{m/s}$) relative to the ground.
3. The passenger is moving at $30\ \text{m/s}$ (direction not needed).
4. The passenger is moving west at $30$ relative to the train.

Question 4

1. A direction for the velocity (for example, $+x$ or east). (correct answer)
2. A different unit for distance (kilometers).
3. The drone's battery percentage.
4. A statement that the drone is "high in the air."

Question 5

1. A reference frame for the position (relative to what point/object the $300\ \text{m}$ is measured).
2. Units for the speed (for example, $\text{m/s}$). (correct answer)
3. A direction for the position (east or west of the start).
4. A time value (for example, $t=0\ \text{s}$).

Question 6

1. The person's speed is 0 m/s relative to the ground because they are on the walkway.
2. The person's speed is 1 m/s relative to the ground because that is the walkway's speed.
3. The person's speed is 2 m/s forward relative to the ground. (correct answer)
4. The person's speed is 2 m/s forward relative to the walkway.

Question 7

1. Add a direction (for example, 25 m/s east) and state the reference frame is relative to the ground. (correct answer)
2. Change the speed to 25 km/h so the number is smaller.
3. Say the car is moving "fast" instead of giving a number.
4. State the car is moving at 25 m/s relative to the car itself.

Question 8

1. Relative to the toy car itself.
2. Relative to the ground (the floor/table) next to the track. (correct answer)
3. Relative to a bird flying overhead (unknown speed).
4. Relative to "forward," without stating what forward means.

Question 9

1. The boat is at rest relative to the ground because the water is moving.
2. The boat moves 4 m/s north relative to the ground (current does not matter).
3. The boat moves 2 m/s east relative to the ground (motor does not matter).
4. Relative to the ground, the boat moves north and east at the same time; the speeds are 4 m/s north and 2 m/s east. (correct answer)

Question 10

1. Relative to the ground (the building/Earth). (correct answer)
2. Relative to the person.
3. Relative to the moving walkway.
4. No reference frame is needed if you give a speed.

Question 11

1. Relative to the shore, the boat moves north at $5\ \text{m/s}$.
2. Relative to the shore, the boat moves north at $3\ \text{m/s}$. (correct answer)
3. Relative to the water, the boat moves north at $3\ \text{m/s}$.
4. Relative to the shore, the boat moves south at $1\ \text{m/s}$ because the current is south.

Question 12

1. The car is going fast.
2. The car moves $18\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the ground.
3. Relative to the ground, the car's velocity is $18\ \text{m/s}$ north. (correct answer)
4. The car moves north, but its speed is not important.

Question 13

1. The boat moves $6\ \text{m/s}$ north relative to the shore.
2. The boat moves $2\ \text{m/s}$ north relative to the shore. (correct answer)
3. The boat moves $4\ \text{m/s}$ north relative to the shore.
4. The boat moves $2\ \text{m/s}$ south relative to the water.

Question 14

1. The ball moves at $5\ \text{m/s}$ east.
2. The ball moves at $25\ \text{m/s}$ east relative to the ground. (correct answer)
3. The ball moves at $20\ \text{m/s}$ east relative to the bus.
4. The ball moves at $25$ east.

Question 15

1. The passenger moves $12\ \text{m/s}$ east relative to the ground.
2. The passenger moves $8\ \text{m/s}$ east relative to the ground. (correct answer)
3. The passenger moves $2\ \text{m/s}$ west relative to the ground.
4. The passenger is at rest relative to the ground.

Question 16

1. Relative to the ground, the person moves $2\ \text{m/s}$ north. (correct answer)
2. Relative to the ground, the person moves $1\ \text{m/s}$ north.
3. Relative to the walkway, the person moves $2\ \text{m/s}$ north.
4. The person moves $2$ north.

Question 17

1. The boat moves east at $4\ \text{m/s}$.
2. The boat moves east at $6\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the shore. (correct answer)
3. The boat moves at $6$ relative to the shore.
4. The boat moves east at $2\ \text{m/s}$ relative to the shore.

Question 18

1. The ball moves at $5\ \text{m/s}$ east.
2. The ball moves at $25\ \text{m/s}$ east relative to the ground. (correct answer)
3. The ball moves at $25$ east.
4. The ball moves at $5\ \text{m/s}$ east relative to the ground because the bus is its reference frame.

Question 19

1. Description 2 is clearer because it includes a reference frame and a direction with units. (correct answer)
2. Description 1 is clearer because it is shorter.
3. Both are equally complete because speed never needs direction.
4. Description 2 is unclear because it uses meters per second instead of meters.

Question 20

1. A reference frame for the position (relative to what point/object the $300\ \text{m}$ is measured).
2. Units for the speed (for example, $\text{m/s}$). (correct answer)
3. A direction for the position (east or west of the start).
4. A time value (for example, $t=0\ \text{s}$).