Circular motion worksheet with answers

Free printable Circular motion worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
r = 90 m21 m/sac​ = ?

A 600 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 90 m at a constant 21 m/s. Find its centripetal acceleration ac.

m = 600 kgv = 21 m/sr = 90 m
ac = m/s²
2.Easy
r = 1.1 mvmax​ = ?

A 1.8 kg stone is whirled in a horizontal circle of radius 1.1 m on a smooth, level table, held by a string that breaks at a tension of 100 N. Find the highest speed vmax the stone can have.

m = 1.8 kgr = 1.1 mTmax = 100 N
vmax = m/s
3.Medium
r = 50 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 50 m. The coefficient of static friction between tyres and road is 0.5. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the highest speed vmax at which the car can take the curve without skidding.

r = 50 mμs = 0.5g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
4.Medium
r = 45 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 45 m. The coefficient of static friction between tyres and road is 0.4. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the highest speed vmax at which the car can take the curve without skidding.

r = 45 mμs = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
5.Hard
r = 0.7 mv = 6 m/s

A 0.9 kg ball on a string 0.7 m long is swung in a vertical circle. At the lowest point it moves at 6 m/s. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the tension T in the string at the lowest point.

m = 0.9 kgr = 0.7 mv = 6 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N
6.Hard
θ = 20°to centrevmax​ = ?

A curve of radius 280 m is banked at 20°, and the coefficient of static friction between tyres and road is 0.4. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the highest speed vmax at which a car can take the curve without sliding up and out.

r = 280 mθ = 20°μs = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. ac = 4.9 m/s²
  2. 2. vmax = 7.817 m/s
  3. 3. vmax = 15.66 m/s
  4. 4. vmax = 13.29 m/s
  5. 5. T = 55.11 N
  6. 6. vmax = 49.56 m/s

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.