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FE · 4% of the exam

Dynamics practice questions

10 free Dynamics questions for the FE Civil Exam (FE) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question FE quiz

What this domain covers

One of the smallest domains: the motion of particles and rigid bodies and the forces and energy involved.

Exam weight
4%
On a real exam
≈ 4 questions
In our bank
24 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Kinematics of particles and rigid bodies
  • Newton's second law and force-acceleration
  • Work-energy methods
  • Impulse and momentum
  • Mass moment of inertia

How to study it

For each problem decide first whether force-acceleration, work-energy or impulse-momentum is quickest; energy methods usually save time when speed and distance are given.

Sample Dynamics questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    The work required to lift a 50-kg mass vertically by 2 m is about:

    • A100 J
    • B981 J
    • C490 J
    • D9,810 J
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 981 J

    • AIncorrect. Include g.
    • BCorrect. \(W = mgh = 50(9.81)(2)\).
    • CIncorrect. That's for 1 m.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.

  2. Question 2

    A ball is thrown straight up at 20 m/s. Neglecting air resistance, its maximum height is about:

    • A20.4 m
    • B40.8 m
    • C2.04 m
    • D10.2 m
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 20.4 m

    • ACorrect. \(h = v^2/(2g) = 400/19.62\).
    • BIncorrect. Include the factor of 2 in 2g.
    • CIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.

  3. Question 3

    A ball is thrown horizontally from a 45-m cliff. Neglecting air resistance, it reaches the ground in about:

    • A4.6 s, dividing height by g
    • B3.0 s
    • C9.2 s
    • D1.5 s
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 3.0 s

    • AIncorrect. That isn't the formula.
    • BCorrect. \(t = \sqrt{2h/g}\).
    • CIncorrect. That's far too long.
    • DIncorrect. That's too short.

  4. Question 4

    A car travels at 20 m/s around a curve of radius 100 m. Its centripetal acceleration is:

    • A0.2 m/s²
    • B4 m/s²
    • C2,000 m/s²
    • D5 m/s²
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 4 m/s²

    • AIncorrect. Square the velocity.
    • BCorrect. \(a = v^2/r = 400/100\).
    • CIncorrect. Divide by the radius.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.

  5. Question 5

    A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2 m/s² for 5 s. The distance traveled is:

    • A25 m
    • B10 m
    • C50 m
    • D12.5 m
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 25 m

    • ACorrect. \(s = \tfrac{1}{2}at^2 = \tfrac{1}{2}(2)(5)^2\).
    • BIncorrect. That's the final velocity in m/s.
    • CIncorrect. The ½ factor is missing.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.

  6. Question 6

    A block slides down a frictionless 30° incline. Its acceleration is about:

    • A9.81 m/s², free fall
    • B4.9 m/s²
    • C8.5 m/s², using cos 30°
    • D0 m/s²
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 4.9 m/s²

    • AIncorrect. The incline reduces it.
    • BCorrect. \(a = g\sin\theta\).
    • CIncorrect. Use sin θ along the incline.
    • DIncorrect. With no friction, it accelerates.

  7. Question 7

    A projectile is launched at 20 m/s at 45° above horizontal over level ground. Neglecting air resistance and using g = 9.81 m/s², its horizontal range is most nearly:

    • A40.8 m
    • B20.4 m
    • C57.7 m
    • D28.8 m
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 40.8 m

    On level ground the range is R = v²·sin(2θ)/g. At 45°, sin(2θ) = 1, so R = 400/9.81 ≈ 40.8 m.

    • ACorrect. R = v²·sin(2θ)/g = (20)²·sin 90°/9.81 = 400/9.81 ≈ 40.8 m.
    • BIncorrect. This is v²·sinθ·cosθ/g, which drops the factor of 2 in sin(2θ) = 2·sinθ·cosθ.
    • CIncorrect. This multiplies the time of flight (2v·sinθ/g ≈ 2.88 s) by the full launch speed of 20 m/s. It should use the horizontal component, v·cosθ ≈ 14.1 m/s.
    • DIncorrect. This uses sinθ instead of sin(2θ): 400·sin 45°/9.81 ≈ 28.8 m.

  8. Question 8

    A mass of 2 kg hangs on a spring with k = 800 N/m. Its natural circular frequency is:

    • A1,600 rad/s
    • B400 rad/s, omitting the square root
    • C20 rad/s
    • D3.2 rad/s
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) 20 rad/s

    • AIncorrect. That multiplies instead.
    • BIncorrect. Take the square root.
    • CCorrect. \(\omega_n = \sqrt{k/m}\).
    • DIncorrect. That's the frequency in Hz.

  9. Question 9

    A wheel speeds up uniformly from rest to 30 rad/s in 6 s. What is its angular acceleration?

    • A5 rad/s²
    • B180 rad/s²
    • C0.2 rad/s²
    • D30 rad/s²
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 5 rad/s²

    With uniform angular acceleration starting from rest, α = Δω/Δt = 30 rad/s ÷ 6 s = 5 rad/s².

    • ACorrect. For constant angular acceleration, α = (ω − ω₀)/t = (30 − 0)/6 = 5 rad/s².
    • BIncorrect. This comes from multiplying the change in angular velocity by the time (30 × 6) when you should divide.
    • CIncorrect. This flips the ratio (6/30). Angular acceleration is the change in angular velocity divided by time.
    • DIncorrect. 30 rad/s is the final angular velocity, not the rate at which it changes.

  10. Question 10

    A 2-kg ball moving at 10 m/s is brought to rest in 0.1 s. The average stopping force is:

    • A2,000 N
    • B20 N
    • C2 N
    • D200 N
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 200 N

    • AIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.
    • BIncorrect. Divide by the time interval.
    • CIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.
    • DCorrect. \(F = m\Delta v/\Delta t = 2(10)/0.1\).

Dynamics: FAQs

How much of the FE exam is Dynamics?

Dynamics is 4% of the FE exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 110-question form works out to roughly 4 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Dynamics domain cover?

One of the smallest domains: the motion of particles and rigid bodies and the forces and energy involved.

How should I study Dynamics for FE?

For each problem decide first whether force-acceleration, work-energy or impulse-momentum is quickest; energy methods usually save time when speed and distance are given.

Where can I practise more Dynamics questions?

This page has 10 free Dynamics questions with answers. The ExamWize FE question bank has 24 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other FE topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the FE cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Dynamics exam-ready

The full FE bank has 24 Dynamics questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full FE practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with NCEES; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.