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.

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1.Easy
r = 140 m20 m/sF = ?

A 600 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 140 m at a constant 20 m/s. Find the inward (centripetal) force Fc needed.

m = 600 kgv = 20 m/sr = 140 m
Fc = N
2.Easy
r = 150 m10 m/sac​ = ?

A 900 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 150 m at a constant 10 m/s. Find its centripetal acceleration ac.

m = 900 kgv = 10 m/sr = 150 m
ac = m/s²
3.Medium
r = 45 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 45 m. The coefficient of static friction between tyres and road is 0.7. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the highest speed vmax at which the car can take the curve without skidding.

r = 45 mμs = 0.7g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
4.Medium
r = 30 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 30 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 = 30 mμs = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
5.Hard
r = 0.9 mv = 6 m/s

A 0.3 kg ball on a string 0.9 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 = 0.3 kgr = 0.9 mv = 6 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N
6.Hard
r = 1.2 mv = 9 m/s

A 1.6 kg ball on a string 1.2 m long is swung in a vertical circle. At the lowest point it moves at 9 m/s. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the tension T in the string at the lowest point.

m = 1.6 kgr = 1.2 mv = 9 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N

Answer key

  1. 1. Fc = 1714 N
  2. 2. ac = 0.6667 m/s²
  3. 3. vmax = 17.58 m/s
  4. 4. vmax = 10.85 m/s
  5. 5. T = 14.94 N
  6. 6. T = 123.7 N

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