Chapter 6.

Circular motion and gravitation

1. An object of mass m at the end of a string of length r moves in a vertical circle at constant
angular speed 𝜔.
What is the tension in the string when the object is at the bottom of the circle?
(May 2018, P1, TZ1, Q18)

0B. m(ω r − g) 啠㗊
A. m(ω2 r+g)
2
下 以
C. mg(ω2 r+1)
t mutt
D. mg(ω2 r − 1)
Tlw T ng
m Curt t g
2. An object of mass m moves in a horizontal circle of radius r with a constant speed v. What is
the rate at which work is done by the centripetal force? (May 2018, P1, TZ2, Q17)
⼀
mv3
A.
r

B.
mv3
2πr 器 Eiis.co
mv3
C.
4πr

0
D. Zero

3. A satellite X of mass m orbits the Earth with a period T. What will be the orbital period of
satellite Y of mass 2m occupying the same orbits as X? (Nov 2017, P1, TZ0, Q19)
T
A.
2

B. T
C. √2T
D. 2T
 兴
4. An object of constant mass is tied to an end of a rope length l and made to move in a
horizontal circle. The speed of the object is increased until the rope breaks at speed v. The
length of the rope is then changed. At what other combination of rope length and speed will

巺
the rope break? (May 2017, P1, TZ1, Q19)
a

0 器 兴
i 是
毙
⼆

不
5.
不 iw
2_ in a vertical circle of radius R.
A small ball of weight W is attached to a string and moves

i
能量 守恒 1不

IR
业
等 ÈWR
What is the smallest kinetic energy of the ball at position X for the ball to maintain the
-
circular motion with radius R? (May 2017, P1, TZ2, Q18)

A.
WR
2 jpe s 为三
B. WR
C. 2WR
-
5WR
对 ke i
0
D.
2
6. The center of the Earth is separated from the center of the Moon by a distance D. Point P
lies on a line joining the center of the Earth and the center of the Moon, a distance X from
the center of the Earth. The gravitational field strength at P is zero.

mass of the Moon

(D−X)2
A.
X2
(D−X)
B.
X

X2
C.
(D−X)2
X
D.
(D−X)

7. An object at the end of a wooden rod rotates in a vertical circle at a constant angular
velocity. What is correct about the tension in the rod? (Nov 2016, P1, TZ0, Q19)

oA.B. ItIt isis greatest when the object is at the bottom of the circle
greatest when the object is halfway up the circle
C. It is greatest when the object is at the top of the circle
D. It is unchanged throughout the motion
8. A mass connected to one end of a rigid rod rotates at constant speed in a vertical plane
about the other end of the rod.

The force exerted by the rod on the mass is (May 2016, P1, TZ0, Q14)
A. Zero everywhere
B. Constant in magnitude
C. Always directed towards the center
D. A minimum at the top of the circular path

9. What is the correct definition of gravitational field strength? (Nov 2015, P1, TZ0, Q22)
A. The mass per unit weight
B. The weight of a small test mass
C. The force acting on a small test mass
D. The force per unit mass acting on a small test mass

10. The Earth is a distance rS from the Sun. The Moon is a distance rM from the Earth.
gravitational field strength at the Earth due to the Sun
The ratio is proportional to
gravitational field strength at the Earth due to the Moon

(Nov 2015, P1, TZ0, Q23)

rS
B.
rM

rS 2
C.
rM 2

rM 2
D.
rS 2
11. A mass is suspended by a string from a fixed point. The mass moves with constant speed
along a circular path in a horizontal plane.

The resultant force acting on the mass is (May 2015, P1, TZ1, Q5)
A. Zero
B. Directed upwards along the string
C. Directed towards the center of the circular path
D. In the same direction as the velocity of the mass

12. Which single condition enables Newton’s universal law of gravitation to be used to predict
the force between the Earth and the Sun? (May 2015, P1, TZ1, Q22)
A. The Earth and the Sun both have a very large radius
B. The distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately constant
C. The Earth and the Sun both have a very large mass
D. The Earth and the Sun behave as point masses

13. An electron moves with uniform circular motion in a region of magnetic field. Which
diagram shows the acceleration a and velocity v of the electron at point P?
(May 2015, P1, TZ2, Q5)
14. An object rotates in a horizontal circle when acted by a centripetal force F. What is the
centripetal force acting on the object when the radius of the circle doubles and the kinetic
energy of the object halves? (Nov 2014, P1, TZ0, Q5)
F
A.
4

F
B.
2
C. F
D. 4F

15. Planet X has mass M and radius R. Planet Y has mass 10M and radius 5R.
gravitational field strength at the surface of planet X
What is the ratio ?
gravitational field strength at the surface of planet Y

(Nov 2014, P1, TZ0, Q22)

16. The maximum speed with which a car can take a circular turn of radius R is v. The maximum
speed with which the same car, under the same conditions, can take a circular turn of radius
2R is (May 2014, P1, TZ1, Q6)
A. 2v
B. v√2
C. 4v
D. 2v√2

17. The gravitational field strength at a point X in a gravitational field is defined as the force
(May 2014, P1, TZ2, Q22)
A. Per unit mass on a mass placed at X
B. On a mass placed at X
C. Per unit mass on a small point mass placed at X
D. On a small point mass placed at X
18. A body moves with uniform speed around a circle of radius r. The period of the motion is T.
What is the speed of the body? (Nov 2013, P1, TZ0, Q5)
2πr
A.
T

2πT
B.
r
C. Zero
πr2
D.
T

19. A horizontal disc is rotating about a vertical axis through its center. Points P and Q on the
disc arc at distances R and 2R respectively from the center

2⽇
z

The acceleration at P is a. Which of the following is the acceleration at Q?

2an
20. A satellite is moved from a low orbit to a higher orbit. Which of the following accurately
describes the energy of the satellite? (May 2013, P1, TZ1, Q24)

21. The magnitude of the gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet of mass M and
radius R is g. What is the magnitude of the gravitational field strength at the surface of a
planet of mass 2M and radius 2R? (May 2013, P1, TZ2, Q22)
g
A.
4

g
B.
2

C. g
D. 2g

22. The centers of two planets are separated by a distance R. The gravitational force between
the two planets is F. What will be the force between the planets when their separation
increased to 3R? (Nov 2012, P1, TZ0, Q28)
F
A.
9

F
B.
3
C. F
D. 3F
23. The acceleration of free fall of a mass 2.0kg close to the surface of Mars is 3.6ms -2. What is
the gravitational field strength at the surface of Mars in Nkg -1? (Nov 2012, P1, TZ0, Q29)
A. 1.8
B. 3.6
C. 7.2
D. 9.8

24. A car moves at constant speed around a horizontal circular track. The resultant force on the
car is always equal to (May 2012, P1, TZ1, Q5)
A. The forward force from the engine
B. The sideways friction between the tyres and the track
C. The weight of the car
D. Zero

25. An astronaut of mass 60kg is on board the International Space Station, which is in low orbit
around the Earth. The gravitational force of attraction between the Earth and astronaut is
approximately (May 2012, P1, TZ1, Q22)
A. Zero
B. 6 N
C. 60 N
D. 600 N

26. A particle of mass m is moving with constant speed v in uniform circular motion. What is the
total work done by the centripetal force during one revolution? (May 2011, P1, TZ1, Q4)
A. Zero
mv2
B.
2
C. mv2
D. 2πmv2
27. A cyclist rides around a circular track at a uniform speed. Which of the following correctly
gives the net horizontal force on the cyclist at any given instant of time?
(May 2011, P1, TZ1, Q5)

28. A mass m attached to a string of length R moves in a vertical circle with a constant speed.
The tension in the string at the top of the circle is T. What is the kinetic energy of the mass
at the top of the circle? (Nov 2018, P1, TZ0, Q5)
W
Fc ⼆ Tt
R(T+mg)
ke
0
I
A.
2

B.

C.
R(T−mg)

Rmg
2
1
兕 Ttiy.e.IN
iw V2
2

咔
R(2T+mg)
D.
2
xr

29. Satellite X orbits a planet with orbital radius R. Satellite Y orbits the same planet with orbital
radius 2R. Satellites X and Y have the same mass.
centripetal acceleration of X
What is the ratio ? (May 2019, P1, TZ1, Q20)
centripetal acceleration of Y

1
A. 4

1
B. 2
C. 2
D. 4
30. A motorcyclist is cornering on a curved race track.
Which combination of changes of banking angle 𝜃 and coefficient of friction μ between the
tyres and road allows the motorcyclist to travel around the corner at greater speed?
(May 2019, P1, TZ1, Q21)

31. Satellite X is in orbit around the Earth. An identical satellite Y is in a higher orbit. What is
correct for the total energy and the kinetic energy of the satellite Y compared with satellite
X? (May 2019, P1, TZ2, Q10)
32. A particle of mass 0.02 kg moves in a horizontal circle of diameter 1 m with an angular
velocity of 3π rad s-1.
What is the magnitude and direction of the force responsible for this motion?
(May 2019, P1, TZ2, Q32)

33. An object hangs from a light string and moves in a horizontal circle of radius r.

The string makes an angle 𝜃 with the vertical. The angular speed of the object is ω . What
is tan𝜃? (Nov 2019, P1, TZ0, Q18)
𝜔2𝑟
A.
g
g
B.
𝜔2r

𝜔𝑟 2
C.
g
g
D.
𝜔𝑟 2
34. Mass M is attached to one end of a string. The string is passed through a hollow tube and
mass m is attached to the other end. Friction between the tube and string is negligible.

Mass m travels at constant speed v in a horizontal circle of radius r. What is mass M?

mv2
A.
r

B. mv2 rg
mgv2
C.
r

mv2
D.
gr

35.