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Chapter 5 Circular motion

Including STPM
2013 2014 2015

1 For a particle moving in a circle with constant speed, the physical quantity which is always
constant is
A displacement
B acceleration
C linear momentum
D angular momentum

2. A cyclist makes a left turn at constant speed v. The mass of the bicycle and rider is m and
their centre of mass is G. Which diagram shows correctly the forces on the bicycle and its rider
when viewed from the back? (N, Normal Reaction)

3. A particle moves with constant speed in a horizontal circle. Which of the following quantities
is zero?
A Angular velocity
B Angular acceleration
C Centripetal acceleration
D Resultant force

4. A pail filled with water of mass m is whirled in a vertical circle of radius r.

Figure R5- 1
When the pail is at its highest point, its speed is v and the normal reaction of the pail on the
water is R. Water does not fall out because

A B C D

5 The Mars planet moves in a circular orbit with a constant speed. The force acting on
the planet is
A zero

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B parallel with the direction of its motion

C in the direction toward the centre of the orbit
D in the direction away from the centre of the orbit
STPM 2013 P1/Q5
6 A plane flies in a vertical circle with a uniform speed of 78.0 m s . What is the
-1

minimum radius of the circle that should be taken by the plane to ensure that its acceleration
does not exceed three times the acceleration due to gravity?
A 103 m B 155 m C 207 m D 310m
STPM 2013 P1/Q6
7 A disc rotates from rest with a constant angular acceleration. It reaches an angular
speed of 2.5 r.p.m. in five revolutions. What is the magnitude of its angular acceleration'?
A 1.7 x 10-4 rad s-2
B 1.1 x 10-3 rad s-2
C 9.9 x 10-2 rad s-2
D 6.3 x 10-1 rad s-2
STPM 2012 P1/Q5
8 Which statement explains why a racing motor cyclist inclines his body- towards the
inner part of a turn while negotiating the turn?
A It reduces air resistance.
B It attains a static equilibrium.
C It balances a torque due to friction.
D It provides an additional centripetal force.
STPM 2012 P1/Q6
9 An object performing circular motion at constant speed is acted upon by
A forces which are in equilibrium
B a force along the direction of motion
C a force which causes the change in velocity
D a force which is directed away from the centre
STPM 2011 P1/Q5
10 The positions of two children with the same mass riding on a merry-go-round are
shown in the diagram below.

Child 2

Child 1

Figure R5- 2
If the merry-go-round rotates at constant angular speed,
A both children will have the same linear speed
B child 1 will have a greater angular speed than child 2
C both children will have angular and centripetal accelerations
D child 1 will have a smaller centripetal acceleration than child 2

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STPM 2011/P1 Q7
11 The Mars planet moves in a circular orbit with a constant speed. The force acting on1
the planet is
A zero
B parallel with the direction of its motion
C in the direction toward the centre of the orbit
D in the direction away from the centre of the orbit
STPM 2013 P1 Q5
12 A mass tied to one end of a string is whirled in a horizontal motion with uniform speed.
Which statement is true of the motion of the mass?
A An outward force acts on the mass.
B The net force acting on the mass is zero.
C The tension in the string is balanced by an outward force on the mass.
D The tension in the string enables the mass to move in a circular path.
STPM 2014 P1 Q6
13 A particle of mass 0.020 kg is attached to an elastic string which is fixed at one end on
a smooth horizontal table. The length of the string is 0.50 m with force constant 40 N m-1. When
the particle is moving in a horizontal circle of radius 0.65 m, what is the angular velocity of the
particle?
A 21 rad s-1 B 24 rad s-1 C 45 rad s-1 D 51 rad s-1
STPM 2015 P1 Q5
14 A car of mass m is moving along a sideways slope with centre O as shown in the diagram
below.

Figure R5- 3
If N is the normal reaction on the car and f is the friction on the tyres, the centripetal force on
the car is
A f +mgsin θ B f +mgcosθ C N sinθ +f cosθ D N cosθ+f sin θ
STPM 2015 P1 Q6

STRUCTURED QUESTIONS
5.1 Circular Motion (Kinematic)
1 A stationary wheel begins to rotate at constant angular acceleration of 2.0 rad s-2. Determine
(a) the angular velocity of the wheel at the instant when the wheel has rotated through 240°
(b) the time taken by the wheel to rotate through 240°

2 A wheel rotates at constant angular velocity of 180 rpm. Then it is made to accelerate at
constant angular acceleration of 2.0 rad s-2 After the wheel has rotated through 10 revolutions,
determine
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(a) the angular velocity

(b) the time taken to achieve this new velocity.

3 A stationary wheel starts to rotate at constant angular acceleration. At the instant t = 3.0s, its
angular velocity reaches 240 rpm. Determine
(a) the angular acceleration of the wheel
(b) the number of revolutions turned through at time t = 3.0 s

Figure R5- 4
The graph in Figure above shows how the angular velocity  of a wheel varies with time t.
Determine
(a) the number of revolutions turned through by the wheel in the time interval between t = 1.0 s
and t = 3.0S
(b) the angular acceleration of the wheel
(c) the angular velocity of the wheel at time t = 4.0 s

5
Determine
(a) the angular velocity of rotation of the Earth
(b) the tangential linear speed of an object on the surface of the Earth,
(c) refer to (b) sketch the direction of tangential linear speed by referring to radius of the earth
and angular velocity of the earth.
(Radius of the Earth = 6.37 x l06 m)

Figure R5- 5
A stationary wheel starts to rotate at an angular acceleration  whose magnitude is as shown
in the graph in Figure above. Determine
(a) the angular velocity of the wheel at time t = 8.0 s
(b) the number of revolutions turned through by the wheel in 8.0s.

5.2 Centripetal acceleration

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7. Define angular velocity and angular acceleration.

Each wheel of a car has a radius of 30 cm. The car, initially at rest, begins to move in a straight
line at constant linear acceleration. At time t = 5.0 s, the speed of the car is 90 km per hour. At
time t = 3.0 s, determine
(a) the linear speed of the car
(b) the angular velocity of each wheel
(c) the angular acceleration of each wheel
(d) the number of revolutions turned through by each wheel
(e) the tangential linear speed of a particle on the wheel 20 cm from the centre of the
wheel
(f) the magnitude of the tangential linear acceleration of the particle mentioned in (e)
above.

5.3 Dynamic in circular motion : Centripetal Force

8. A stone of mass m at the end of a string of length L is whirled in a vertical circle. The string
will break if its tension exceeds T.
(a) Show on a diagram, the forces on the stone when it is at (i) the top and (ii) the
bottom of the circle. The speed of the stone is increased slowly.
(b) At which position relative to the axis of rotation will the string be most likely to
break?
(c) Find the angular velocity when this happens in terms of T, L, m and the
acceleration due to gravity g.
92. A particle of mass 0.001 kg lies at rest on a horizontal turn-table which rotates about a
vertical axis. The particle is 5.0 cm from the axis. The angular velocity of the turn-table is slowly
increased, and at a particular velocity the particle is about to slide on the surface. The
coefficient of static friction between the particle and the surface is 0.25.
(a) Draw a diagram to show the direction at an instant of the resultant force which acts on
the particle and along the surface of the turn-table as the angular velocity increases
with time.
(b) At the moment when the particle is about to slide, determine
(i) the angular velocity of the turn table
(ii) the tangential linear speed of the particle
(iii) the centripetal force acting on the particle
10.

Figure R5- 6

2
Need more info on forces that act on the object

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An object P is tied to one end of a light string which passes through a smooth vertical tube. An
object Q of mass 2.0 kg is tied to the other end of the string, as shown in Figure above. P is
made to move at constant angular velocity in a horizontal circle such that the string makes an
angle  = 60° to the vertical. The length of the string PX is 50 cm. Determine
(a) the tension in the string
(b) the mass of P
(c) the centripetal force which acts on P
(d) the angular velocity of P

Essay Question
1. (a) State Newton's First Law of Motion. Use this law to explain why a body moving
with uniform speed in a circle is accelerating.
[4 marks]
(b) A mass hangs at the end of a string from the roof of a train carriage. Describe and
explain the motion or position of the mass as seen by a passenger in the train,
(i) when the train travels on a straight horizontal track with an acceleration
that increases uniformly
(ii) when the train travels along a horizontal circular track of radius 50 m at a
constant speed of 27 km h-1.
(c) During a show, a motorcyclist travelling at a constant speed is just able to
completely go round a vertical circular track of radius 8.0 m. The total mass of the
motorcyclist and the bike is 210 kg. Calculate
(i) the angular velocity of the motorcyclist at the top
(ii) the maximum force on the track
(iii) the force on the track when the motorcyclist is at the same level as the
centre of the circular track.

2. A particle move in a circular motion radius, r with a constant tangent linear velocity, v. Show

that .

3. The figure shows a Ferris wheel which has a diameter of 135 m. It takes 1.0 minute to
complete a revolution. A person of mass 52 kg takes a ride on the Ferris wheel.

Figure R5- 7
(a) Calculate

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(i) the angular velocity of the Ferris wheel

(ii) the speed of a basket on the Ferris wheel.
(b) Show on a diagram, the forces on the person
(i) in the basket A
(ii) in the basket B
Hence, calculate the reaction of the basket on the person in each of the baskets A and B.

4 A level circular track of radius 120 m is designed for a car moving at 80.0 km h-1. Calculate
the minimum value of the coefficient of static friction between the tyres and the track so that the
car does not skid.
STPM 2009/P2 Q1
5. (a) Explain why a particle moving in a circular path with constant speed has acceleration.
[2 marks]
(b) A particle moves from position A to position B in a circular path of radius r with constant
speed v in time At is shown in the diagram below.

(i) Draw a vector diagram for the change in velocity . [1 mark]

(ii) Show that the angle between the velocity vectors at A and B is .[2 marks]
(iii) Derive the expression for the centripetal acceleration a in terms of v and r.
[2 marks]
(c) A large spinning swing revolving about a vertical axis is shown in the diagram below.

The swing with a cable length of 8.0 m and a boy with a mass of 70.0 kg, including the chair he
is sitting on, are swung from the edge of a rotating disc with a radius of 5.0 m. The boy is
moved in a horizontal circular path with the cable making an angle of inclination 50° with the
vertical axis. Neglect the air resistance and the mass of the cable.
(i) Sketch the forces which act on the boy. [2 marks]
(ii)Calculate the tension in the cable. [2 marks]
(iii) Determine the speed of the boy. [4 marks]
STPM P1 2014 Q18

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