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 = 1.05 mv = ?200 rpm

A small object sits 105 cm from the axis of a disc that turns at a steady 200 revolutions per minute. Find the speed v of the object.

n = 200 rpmr = 1.05 m
v = m/s
2.Easy
r = 60 m10 m/sF = ?

A 1800 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 60 m at a constant 10 m/s. Find the inward (centripetal) force Fc needed.

m = 1800 kgv = 10 m/sr = 60 m
Fc = N
3.Medium
L = 1.6 m45°

A small ball on a string of length 1.6 m moves in a horizontal circle so that the string makes a constant angle of 45° with the vertical (a conical pendulum). Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the time T for one revolution.

L = 1.6 mθ = 45°g = 9.81 m/s²
T = 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 0.3. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the highest speed vmax at which the car can take the curve without skidding.

r = 30 mμs = 0.3g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
5.Hard
r = 1.5 mv = 6.5 m/s

A 0.8 kg ball on a string 1.5 m long is swung in a vertical circle. At the lowest point it moves at 6.5 m/s. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the tension T in the string at the lowest point.

m = 0.8 kgr = 1.5 mv = 6.5 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N
6.Hard
r = 0.8 mv = 9 m/s

A 1.2 kg ball on a string 0.8 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 = 1.2 kgr = 0.8 mv = 9 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 21.99 m/s
  2. 2. Fc = 3000 N
  3. 3. T = 2.134 s
  4. 4. vmax = 9.396 m/s
  5. 5. T = 30.38 N
  6. 6. T = 133.3 N

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