First Year Short Questions Physics

CHAPTER NO. 5 (CIRCULAR MOTION)

Question 5.1:- Explain the difference between tangential velocity and the
angular velocity. If one of these is given for a wheel of known radius, how
will you find the other?
Answer:-
The linear velocity of an object moving The rate of change of angular
along a curve or circular track is displacement of an object with respect
directed along the tangent at any point to time moving across the circular path
to the curve and is called tangential is called angular velocity.
velocity. It is denoted by ω. Its unit is rad s-1.
It is denoted by vt. Its unit is m s-1. For a wheel of known radius, it is
For a wheel of known radius, it is determined by the formula ω = vt/r.
determined by the formula vt = rω.
Question 5.2:- Explain what is meant by centripetal force and why it must

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be furnished to an object if the object is to follow a circular path?
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Answer:- The force which is needed to bend the normal straight path of an object
into circular trajectory is called centripetal force. It is denoted by Fc.
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Mathematically, Fc = mv2/r.
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In order to move an object in a circular path, its direction needs to be changed at

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every point. To change the direction of motion continuously, a perpendicular

force needs to be applied. This force is known as centripetal force and is directed
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along the radius towards the centre of the circle. In the absence of centripetal
force, object will move along the straight path making tangent with the circular
trajectory.
Question 5.3:- What is meant by moment of inertia? Explain its
significance.
Answer:- The intrinsic property of an object to resist any change in its state of
uniform circular motion is called moment of inertia. It depends upon mass and
distribution of mass with respect to chosen axis of rotation.
For a rigid body, moment of inertia is calculated as I = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑖 𝑟𝑖2 .
Moment of inertia plays the same role in angular motion as the mass plays in
translational motion. It is the rotational analogue of mass in rotational motion.
Question 5.4:- What is meant by angular momentum? Explain the law of
conservation of angular momentum.

Shahzad Ali Nasir, Government Postgraduate College, Sahiwal ([email protected])

First Year Short Questions Physics

Answer:- The cross or vector product of position vector and linear momentum is
⃗ = 𝑟 𝑥 𝑃⃗. It is a similar quantity to
called angular momentum. Mathematically, 𝐿
linear momentum and can also be expressed as product of moment of inertia and
angular velocity.
The law of conservation of angular momentum states that total angular
momentum of a system remains constant provided no external torques acts on
the system. Mathematically, I1ω1 = I2ω2.
Question 5.5:- Show that orbital angular momentum Lo = mvr.
⃗ = 𝑟 𝑥 𝑃⃗ . Its magnitude is given by L = rP sin θ.
Answer:- We know that 𝐿
For circular/orbital motion, L = Lo, P = mv and θ = 90o.
Lo = r(mv) sin 90o = mvr.
Question 5.6:- Describe what should be the minimum velocity, for a
satellite, to orbit close to the Earth around it.
Answer:- In order to put a satellite in an orbit close to the earth, the necessary

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centripetal force is provided by gravitational force of attraction between earth and
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satellite.
Fc = mg
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Since r = R = Radius of earth, we can say that mv2/R = mg and v = √𝑔𝑅 =

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√9.8 𝑥 6.4 𝑥 106

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v = 7.9 x 103 m s-1 = 7.9 km s-1.

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This is the minimum velocity to put a satellite into orbit around the Earth.
Question 5.7:- State the directions of the following vectors in simple
situations; angular momentum and angular velocity.
⃗ = 𝑟 𝑥 𝑃⃗, the angular momentum is directed
Answer:- According to the relation 𝐿
in a direction perpendicular to the plane containing the radius of circular path
and momentum of the object i.e. along the axis of rotation.
The direction of angular velocity is also taken along the axis of rotation for
counter clockwise rotation by using right hand rule.
Question 5.8:- Explain why an object, orbiting the Earth, is said to be freely
falling. Use your explanation to point out why objects appear weightless
under certain circumstances.
Answer:- Any object which is orbiting around the earth is accelerated towards
the centre of the earth with an acceleration equal to the acceleration due to
gravity g and is considered as freely falling object.

Shahzad Ali Nasir, Government Postgraduate College, Sahiwal ([email protected])

First Year Short Questions Physics

When any object is accelerated towards the earth, its apparent weight is T = mg –
ma.
For a freely falling object, a = g so T = mg – mg = 0.
Therefore, all freely falling objects including the satellites orbiting the earth
appear weightless.
Question 5.9:- When mud flies off the tyre of a moving bicycle, in what
direction does it fly? Explain.
Answer:- The mud flies off the tyres of a moving bicycle, it flies in a direction
making tangent to the tyre.
When speed of the tyre increases, the required centripetal force increases and
adhesive force between tyres and mud is not enough to keep the mud stick with
the tyre. Thus, it flies off the tyre in a direction making tangent to the tyre.
Question 5.10:- A disc and a hoop start moving down from the top of an
inclined plane at the same time. Which one will be moving faster on
reaching the bottom?
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Answer:- When a disc and hoop start moving down from top of an inclined plane
at height h,
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DISC HOOP
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Potential energy at top = Translational Potential energy at top = Translational

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K.E. + Rotational K.E. K.E. + Rotational K.E.

1 1 1 1
mgh = m v2 + I ω2 mgh = m v2 + I ω2
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2 2 2 2

For a disc, I =
1
m r2 For a disc, I = m r2
2
1 1
1 1 1 3 mgh = m v2 + m r2ω2 = m v2
mgh = m v2 + m r2 ω 2 = m v2 2 2
2 2 2 4

4𝑔ℎ
v = √𝑔ℎ
v=√
3

The disc moves faster when reaches at bottom of the inclined plane.
Question 5.11:- Why does a diver change his body positions before and after
diving in the pool?
Answer:- The diver obeys law of conservation of angular momentum according to
following relation I1ω1 = I2ω2.
When diver is about to jump from the diving board, his arms and legs are fully
stretched having a large moment of inertia and small angular velocity. After
jumping from the board, he closes his body in a closed tuck position reducing
moment of inertia and increasing the spinning velocity.
Shahzad Ali Nasir, Government Postgraduate College, Sahiwal ([email protected])
First Year Short Questions Physics

A diver changes his body position after diving in the pool in order to cover some
extra somersaults.
Question 5.12:- A student holds two dumb-bells with stretched arms while
sitting on a turn table. He is given a push until he is rotating at certain
angular velocity. The student then pulls the dumb-bells towards his chest.
What will be the effect on rate of rotation?
Answer:- According to the law of conservation of angular momentum, I1ω1 = I2ω2.
When arms of the students are stretched, its moment of inertia is large and
angular velocity is small.
When he pulls the dumb-bells towards his chest, his moment of inertia decreases
and hence angular velocity increases to keep the angular momentum constant.
Question 5.13:- Explain how many minimum number of geo-stationary
satellites are required for global coverage of TV transmission.
Answer:- A geo-stationary satellite covers 120o of longitude, so the whole of the

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Earth’s surface for global transmission can be covered by three correctly
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positioned geo-stationary satellites i.e. 120o x 3 = 360o.
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