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 = 120 m25 m/sac​ = ?

A 1400 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 120 m at a constant 25 m/s. Find its centripetal acceleration ac.

m = 1400 kgv = 25 m/sr = 120 m
ac = m/s²
2.Easy
r = 0.8 mvmax​ = ?

A 1 kg stone is whirled in a horizontal circle of radius 0.8 m on a smooth, level table, held by a string that breaks at a tension of 170 N. Find the highest speed vmax the stone can have.

m = 1 kgr = 0.8 mTmax = 170 N
vmax = m/s
3.Medium
r = 130 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 130 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 = 130 mμs = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
4.Medium
r = 70 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 70 m. The coefficient of static friction between tyres and road is 0.6. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the highest speed vmax at which the car can take the curve without skidding.

r = 70 mμs = 0.6g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
5.Hard
r = 1.3 m9.5 m/svtop​ = ?

A 1.3 kg ball on a light string 1.3 m long is swung in a vertical circle. At the lowest point its speed is 9.5 m/s. Ignore air resistance and use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the tension Ttop in the string at the highest point.

m = 1.3 kgr = 1.3 mvbottom = 9.5 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
Ttop = N
6.Hard
θ = 12°to centrevmax​ = ?

A curve of radius 270 m is banked at 12°, 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 = 270 mθ = 12°μs = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. ac = 5.208 m/s²
  2. 2. vmax = 11.66 m/s
  3. 3. vmax = 22.59 m/s
  4. 4. vmax = 20.3 m/s
  5. 5. Ttop = 26.48 N
  6. 6. vmax = 42.11 m/s

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