Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Which of the following is not a function of kinematics?

1. Describing how objects move

2. Determining the speeds of objects

3. Investigating forces acting on bodies

4. Analyzing motion without regard to its causes

The correct answer is: Investigating forces acting on bodies

Kinematics primarily focuses on the description and analysis of motion itself, without delving into the underlying causes of that motion. This branch of mechanics deals with concepts such as displacement, velocity, acceleration, and time, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how objects move. Determining the speeds of objects and describing how they move are integral aspects of kinematics, highlighting its role in quantifying and characterizing motion. While analyzing motion without regard to its causes is a foundational principle of kinematics, investigating the forces acting on bodies is a function that falls under dynamics, a related but distinct area of physics. Dynamics specifically considers the reasons behind motion, linking it to forces and masses, while kinematics is concerned only with the patterns of motion themselves. Thus, the option that refers to investigating forces is not part of kinematics.