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Work, Energy and Simple MachinesCBSE Class 9 Science Important Questions

13 hand-picked CBSE Class 9 Science important questions for Work, Energy and Simple Machines, each with a full model answer — the formats and topics most likely to appear in your board exam.

13
Questions
6
Question types
32
Total marks
₹0
With answers
Quick answer

The key Work and Energy questions test the definition W=FscosθW=Fs\cos\thetaW=Fs, kinetic energy 12mv2\tfrac12mv^212mv^2 and potential energy mghmghmgh, the work-energy theorem, power P=WtP=\dfrac{W}{t}P=W/t, and the law of conservation of energy. Numericals on energy interconversion and power (including the commercial unit kWh\text{kWh}kWh) are frequently asked.

About Work, Energy and Simple Machines

This chapter defines work done by a force as W=FsW=FsW=Fs, and develops the two main forms of mechanical energy: kinetic energy 12mv2\tfrac12mv^212mv^2 and potential energy mghmghmgh. It explains power, the law of conservation of energy, and how simple machines help us do work more conveniently.

Work done by a force ($W=Fs$)Kinetic energy and potential energyLaw of conservation of energyPower and the commercial unit of energy (kWh)Simple machines and mechanical advantage

Key concepts & formulas

Work and its unit

Work is done when a force displaces its point of application: W=FscosθW=Fs\cos\thetaW=Fs. For force along displacement, W=FsW=FsW=Fs. SI unit is the joule (1 J=1 N m1\ \text{J}=1\ \text{N m}1 J=1 N m).

Kinetic and potential energy

Kinetic energy Ek=12mv2E_k=\tfrac12mv^2E_k=12mv^2; gravitational potential energy Ep=mghE_p=mghE_p=mgh. The work-energy theorem states the work done by the net force equals the change in kinetic energy.

Power and conservation of energy

Power P=WtP=\dfrac{W}{t}P=W/t, SI unit watt (1 W=1 J s11\ \text{W}=1\ \text{J s}^{-1}1 W=1 J s^-1); commercial unit 1 kWh=3.6×106 J1\ \text{kWh}=3.6\times10^6\ \text{J}1 kWh=3.6×10^6 J. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed.

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Important questions with answers

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Question typeCountMarks
MCQ41
Assertion–Reason11
Very Short22
Short Answer33
Long Answer25
Case-based14

Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)

Q1MCQEasy1 mark

The SI unit of work (and of energy) is the:

  1. (a)

    Newton

  2. (b)

    Watt

  3. (c)

    Joule

  4. (d)

    Pascal

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Answer: (c) Joule.

Work === force ×\times× displacement, so its unit is N×m=N m=joule\text{N}\times\text{m}=\text{N m}=\text{joule}N×m=N m=joule. Energy, being the capacity to do work, has the same unit.

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Q2MCQModerate1 mark

A coolie carries a load on his head and walks a horizontal distance holding it steady. The work done by him against gravity is:

  1. (a)

    Maximum

  2. (b)

    Equal to mghmghmgh

  3. (c)

    Zero

  4. (d)

    Negative

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Answer: (c) Zero.

Gravity acts vertically downward while the displacement is horizontal, so the angle between force and displacement is 9090^\circ90^. Since W=Fscos90=0W=Fs\cos90^\circ=0W=Fs90^=0, the work done against gravity is zero.

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Q3MCQModerate1 mark

If the velocity of a moving body is doubled, its kinetic energy becomes:

  1. (a)

    Double

  2. (b)

    Half

  3. (c)

    Four times

  4. (d)

    Unchanged

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Answer: (c) Four times.

Kinetic energy Ek=12mv2v2E_k=\tfrac12mv^2\propto v^2E_k=12mv^2 v^2. Doubling vvv multiplies v2v^2v^2 by 444, so the kinetic energy becomes four times its original value.

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Q4MCQEasy1 mark

One kilowatt-hour (1 kWh1\ \text{kWh}1 kWh) is equal to:

  1. (a)

    3.6×103 J3.6\times10^3\ \text{J}3.6×10^3 J

  2. (b)

    3.6×106 J3.6\times10^6\ \text{J}3.6×10^6 J

  3. (c)

    1000 J1000\ \text{J}1000 J

  4. (d)

    3600 W3600\ \text{W}3600 W

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Answer: (b) 3.6×106 J3.6\times10^6\ \text{J}3.6×10^6 J.

1 kWh=1000 W×3600 s=3.6×106 J1\ \text{kWh}=1000\ \text{W}\times3600\ \text{s}=3.6\times10^6\ \text{J}1 kWh=1000 W×3600 s=3.6×10^6 J. It is the commercial unit of electrical energy.

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Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)

Q5Assertion–ReasonHOTS1 mark

Assertion (A): When a body moves in a circle at constant speed, the work done by the centripetal force is zero.

Reason (R): The centripetal force is always perpendicular to the direction of motion.

  1. (a)

    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. (b)

    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. (c)

    A is true but R is false

  4. (d)

    A is false but R is true

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Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. Since the centripetal force is directed toward the centre, perpendicular to the velocity, θ=90\theta=90^\circ=90^ and W=Fscos90=0W=Fs\cos90^\circ=0W=Fs90^=0.

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Very short answer questions (2 marks)

Q6Very ShortEasy2 marks

Define power and state its SI unit. How is 1 watt1\ \text{watt}1 watt defined?

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Power is the rate of doing work (or of transferring energy): P=WtP=\dfrac{W}{t}P=W/t.

Its SI unit is the watt (W\text{W}W). One watt is the power of an agent that does 1 joule1\ \text{joule}1 joule of work in 1 second1\ \text{second}1 second: 1 W=1 J s11\ \text{W}=1\ \text{J s}^{-1}1 W=1 J s^-1.

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Q7Very ShortModerate2 marks

A force of 15 N15\ \text{N}15 N moves a body through 3 m3\ \text{m}3 m in the direction of the force in 5 s5\ \text{s}5 s. Calculate the work done and the power.

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Work: W=Fs=15×3=45 JW=Fs=15\times3=45\ \text{J}W=Fs=15×3=45 J.

Power: P=Wt=455=9 WP=\dfrac{W}{t}=\dfrac{45}{5}=9\ \text{W}P=W/t=45/5=9 W.

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Short answer questions (3 marks)

Q8Short AnswerModerate3 marks

Derive the expression for the kinetic energy of a body of mass mmm moving with velocity vvv.

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Consider a body of mass mmm at rest (u=0u=0u=0). A constant force FFF acts on it over a displacement sss, giving it acceleration aaa and final velocity vvv.

Work done =Fs=(ma)s=Fs=(ma)s=Fs=(ma)s.

Using v2=u2+2asv^2=u^2+2asv^2=u^2+2as with u=0u=0u=0: v2=2asv^2=2asv^2=2as, so as=v22as=\dfrac{v^2}{2}as=v^2/2.

Therefore the work done, which is stored as kinetic energy:
Ek=m(as)=mv22=12mv2.E_k=m(as)=m\cdot\dfrac{v^2}{2}=\tfrac12mv^2.E_k=m(as)=m·v^2/2=12mv^2.

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Q9Short AnswerModerate3 marks

A body of mass 10 kg10\ \text{kg}10 kg is raised to a height of 5 m5\ \text{m}5 m and then allowed to fall freely. Taking g=10 m s2g=10\ \text{m s}^{-2}g=10 m s^-2, find its potential energy at the top and its kinetic energy just before hitting the ground.

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Potential energy at the top:
Ep=mgh=10×10×5=500 J.E_p=mgh=10\times10\times5=500\ \text{J}.E_p=mgh=10×10×5=500 J.

Kinetic energy just before landing: By the law of conservation of energy, all the potential energy converts to kinetic energy (ignoring air resistance):
Ek=Ep=500 J.E_k=E_p=500\ \text{J}.E_k=E_p=500 J.

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Q10Short AnswerHOTS3 marks

An electric bulb of 60 W60\ \text{W}60 W is used for 6 h6\ \text{h}6 h every day. Calculate the energy consumed in 303030 days in kilowatt-hours (kWh\text{kWh}kWh).

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Power =60 W=0.06 kW=60\ \text{W}=0.06\ \text{kW}=60 W=0.06 kW.

Daily usage =0.06 kW×6 h=0.36 kWh=0.06\ \text{kW}\times6\ \text{h}=0.36\ \text{kWh}=0.06 kW×6 h=0.36 kWh.

Energy in 303030 days:
E=0.36×30=10.8 kWh.E=0.36\times30=10.8\ \text{kWh}.E=0.36×30=10.8 kWh.

Thus 10.810.810.8 units of electrical energy are consumed.

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Long answer questions (5 marks)

Q11Long AnswerHOTS5 marks

State the law of conservation of energy. For a body of mass mmm falling freely from a height HHH, show that the total mechanical energy remains constant. Illustrate the energy conversion.

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Law of conservation of energy: energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it only changes from one form to another, and the total energy of an isolated system remains constant.

Free fall (taking ggg as acceleration, ignoring air resistance):

At the top (height HHH, at rest): Ep=mgHE_p=mgHE_p=mgH, Ek=0E_k=0E_k=0, so total =mgH=mgH=mgH.

At a point after falling a distance xxx: velocity v2=2gxv^2=2gxv^2=2gx, height =(Hx)=(H-x)=(H-x).
Ek=12mv2=12m(2gx)=mgx,Ep=mg(Hx).E_k=\tfrac12mv^2=\tfrac12m(2gx)=mgx,\quad E_p=mg(H-x).E_k=12mv^2=12m(2gx)=mgx, E_p=mg(H-x).
Total=mgx+mg(Hx)=mgH.\text{Total}=mgx+mg(H-x)=mgH.Total=mgx+mg(H-x)=mgH.

Just before landing (h=0h=0h=0): v2=2gHv^2=2gHv^2=2gH, so Ek=12m(2gH)=mgHE_k=\tfrac12m(2gH)=mgHE_k=12m(2gH)=mgH, Ep=0E_p=0E_p=0, total =mgH=mgH=mgH.

At every stage the total mechanical energy equals mgHmgHmgH; the potential energy steadily converts into kinetic energy, confirming conservation of energy.

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Q12Long AnswerModerate5 marks

(a) What is a simple machine? Define mechanical advantage. (b) A lever is used to lift a load of 200 N200\ \text{N}200 N by applying an effort of 50 N50\ \text{N}50 N. Calculate its mechanical advantage. (c) Draw a labelled diagram of a class-I lever showing load, effort and fulcrum.

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(a) A simple machine is a device that helps us do work more conveniently by changing the magnitude or direction of an applied force, e.g. a lever, pulley or inclined plane.

Mechanical advantage (MA) is the ratio of the load lifted to the effort applied:
MA=loadeffort.\text{MA}=\dfrac{\text{load}}{\text{effort}}.MA=load/effort.

(b) MA=20050=4\text{MA}=\dfrac{200}{50}=4MA=200/50=4. Since MA >1>1>1, the lever multiplies the effort four times.

(c) In a class-I lever the fulcrum lies between the load and the effort:

CBSE Class 9 Science — Work, Energy and Simple Machines: (a) What is a simple machine? Define mechanical advantage. (b) A lever is used to lift a load of 200\ \text{N} by applying
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Case-based questions (4 marks)

Q13Case-basedModerate4 marks

Read the passage and answer the questions.

At a hydroelectric power station, water stored high up in a dam is allowed to fall. As it falls, it gains speed and is directed onto the blades of a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. A dam holds water 80 m80\ \text{m}80 m above the turbine. (Take g=10 m s2g=10\ \text{m s}^{-2}g=10 m s^-2.)

(i) What form of energy does the stored water possess at the top?
(ii) Name the main energy conversions taking place from the dam to the electricity produced.
(iii) Calculate the potential energy of 500 kg500\ \text{kg}500 kg of water at the top of the dam.
(iv) Assuming no losses, what is the kinetic energy of this water just before it strikes the turbine?

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(i) At the top the stored water possesses gravitational potential energy.

(ii) Potential energy \rightarrow kinetic energy (of falling water) \rightarrow mechanical energy (spinning turbine) \rightarrow electrical energy (generator).

(iii) Ep=mgh=500×10×80=4×105 J=400000 JE_p=mgh=500\times10\times80=4\times10^{5}\ \text{J}=400000\ \text{J}E_p=mgh=500×10×80=4×10^5 J=400000 J.

(iv) By conservation of energy with no losses, all potential energy converts to kinetic energy:
Ek=Ep=4×105 J=400000 J.E_k=E_p=4\times10^{5}\ \text{J}=400000\ \text{J}.E_k=E_p=4×10^5 J=400000 J.

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    A full mix — multiple-choice questions, assertion–reason questions, very short answer questions, short answer questions, long answer questions, case-based questions — so every format in the CBSE paper is covered.

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