Physics · Class 11 · Kinematics

Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D) for JEE

Everything you need for this topic on one page: the ideas, the formulas, the traps, and free lectures that explain it well.

Last updated: 26 October 2026

Direct answer

Kinematics describes motion without asking what causes it: displacement, velocity, acceleration, graphs, projectile motion and relative motion.

Key ideas

Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D): what you must understand

Slope of x–t graph is velocity; slope of v–t graph is acceleration; area under v–t is displacement
Projectile: horizontal velocity constant, vertical acceleration g
Relative velocity: v_AB = v_A − v_B
Use calculus when acceleration is not constant

Formula sheet

Must-know formulas for Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D)

v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as
Range R = u² sin2θ / g, max height H = u² sin²θ / 2g
Time of flight T = 2u sinθ / g
River crossing: shortest time t = d / v_boat

One-page formula sheet

Printable Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D) formula sheet: formulas, key ideas and traps on one page. Save it as a PDF for offline revision.

Avoid

Common mistakes students make

Using constant-acceleration equations when a depends on t or v
Sign errors with upward/downward g
Mixing distance and displacement in graph questions

For the exam

How this topic is asked in JEE

Appears frequently. Graph questions and projectile questions are the usual JEE Main pattern. Practise reading v–t and a–t graphs quickly.

Prerequisites: Units, Dimensions and Errors.

NCERT map

Where Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D) is in NCERT

Chapter names follow the current rationalised NCERT textbooks. Read these sections before solving PYQs.

Class	Book	Chapter	Sections JEE asks from
Class 11	Physics Part I	Motion in a Straight Line	Instantaneous velocity and speed; Acceleration; Kinematic equations for uniformly accelerated motion; Relative velocity
Class 11	Physics Part I	Motion in a Plane	Scalars and vectors; Motion in a plane with constant acceleration; Projectile motion; Relative velocity in two dimensions

JEE Advanced level

A JEE Advanced-level example on Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D)

Question. Two particles A and B are projected simultaneously from the same point. Particle A is projected horizontally with speed 20 m/s from a height of 45 m above the ground. Particle B is projected from the ground directly below A at an angle of 53° with the horizontal such that it collides with particle A in mid-air. Find the initial speed of particle B and the time after which they collide. (Take g = 10 m/s², sin 53° = 4/5, cos 53° = 3/5)

Show solution

Set up coordinates with A at origin (height 45 m). For A: x_A = 20t, y_A = -5t². For B starting from ground: x_B = (3u/5)t, y_B = -45 + (4u/5)t - 5t²
For collision, equate x-coordinates: 20t = (3u/5)t. Since t ≠ 0, we get u = 100/3 m/s
Equate y-coordinates: -5t² = -45 + (4u/5)t - 5t². This simplifies to 45 = (4u/5)t
Substitute u = 100/3: 45 = (4/5)(100/3)t = (80/3)t, giving t = 135/80 = 27/16 s

Answer: Initial speed of B = 100/3 m/s (≈ 33.3 m/s), Time of collision = 27/16 s (≈ 1.69 s)

This example was solved twice independently and both solutions agree.

Free lectures

Best free lectures for Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D)

Full-chapter free lectures picked from YouTube search results by views, from established JEE channels (mostly in Hinglish). Use the subtopic list to jump straight to the part you need (timestamps come from each video's own chapter list). Watch one, then solve PYQs the same day.

KINEMATICS in One Shot: All Concepts & PYQs Covered | JEE Main & Advanced — JEE Wallah, 9:01:51
Jump to a subtopic (17)
- 00:00 Introduction
- 08:10 Distance and Displacement
- 28:13 Average velocity and speed
- 32:27 Graph questions
- 52:04 Velocity
- 1:28:35 Acceleration
- 1:46:46 Graph questions
- 4:10:26 Equation of motion
- 4:37:32 Questions based on Differentiation and Integration
- 4:53:50 Motion under gravity (1D)
- 5:37:27 Projectile motion
- 5:56:20 Formula based questions
- 6:32:38 Relative motion
- 7:35:07 River-boat problem
- 8:02:00 Lift problems
- 8:12:06 JEE PYQs
- 9:01:34 Thank You Bachhon!
Motion in One Dimension | Kinematics | Complete REVISION for JEE Physics | Mohit Sir (IIT KGP) — Eduniti - Physics by Mohit Goenka_IITKGP, 34:43
Jump to a subtopic (15)
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:24 Topics to be discussed
- 02:19 All links for Revision series
- 02:48 Average Velocity & Acceleration
- 05:45 Instantaneous Velocity & Acceleration
- 08:15 Calculus Based Numerical
- 13:32 Uniform Acceleration
- 17:28 Motion Under Gravity - Key Points
- 21:54 Basics of Graphs
- 23:23 Position vs time Graph
- 25:01 Velocity vs time Graph
- 26:45 Acceleration vs time Graph
- 27:09 Velocity vs Position Graph
- 28:41 Questions in Graphs
- 33:40 PYQs Links

Practise

Where to practise for free

11 JEE Main 2026 PYQs on Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D), with solutions.
Read the chapter in NCERT textbooks (official, free), then solve its NCERT Exemplar (official, free) questions.
Chapter-wise past questions: JEE Main and Advanced PYQs and question bank.
Timed practice tests: NTA Abhyas practice tests (official, free) and our free mock tests.
See it move: interactive simulation.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D) important for JEE Main 2027?

Appears frequently. It is part of the official 'Kinematics' unit in the JEE Main 2027 syllabus.

What are the most important formulas in Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D)?

v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², v² = u² + 2as; Range R = u² sin2θ / g, max height H = u² sin²θ / 2g; Time of flight T = 2u sinθ / g.

How should I study Kinematics (Motion in 1D and 2D) for JEE?

Understand the key ideas from NCERT or one full lecture, learn the formula sheet, then solve 25–30 past JEE questions on the topic. Graph questions and projectile questions are the usual JEE Main pattern. Practise reading v–t and a–t graphs quickly.