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 = 70 m28 m/sac​ = ?

A 1200 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 70 m at a constant 28 m/s. Find its centripetal acceleration ac.

m = 1200 kgv = 28 m/sr = 70 m
ac = m/s²
2.Easy
r = 120 m18 m/sac​ = ?

A 1700 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 120 m at a constant 18 m/s. Find its centripetal acceleration ac.

m = 1700 kgv = 18 m/sr = 120 m
ac = m/s²
3.Medium
r = 20 mvmax​ = ?

A car takes a flat curve of radius 20 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 = 20 mμs = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s
4.Medium
θ = 18°to centrev = ?

A curve of radius 140 m is banked at 18°. At what speed v can a car take it with no friction needed at all? Use g = 9.81 m/s².

r = 140 mθ = 18°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
r = 1.5 mv = 3.5 m/s

A 0.9 kg ball on a string 1.5 m long is swung in a vertical circle. At the lowest point it moves at 3.5 m/s. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the tension T in the string at the lowest point.

m = 0.9 kgr = 1.5 mv = 3.5 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N
6.Hard
θ = 25°to centrevmax​ = ?

A curve of radius 50 m is banked at 25°, and the coefficient of static friction between tyres and road is 0.1. 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 = 50 mθ = 25°μs = 0.1g = 9.81 m/s²
vmax = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. ac = 11.2 m/s²
  2. 2. ac = 2.7 m/s²
  3. 3. vmax = 8.859 m/s
  4. 4. v = 21.12 m/s
  5. 5. T = 16.18 N
  6. 6. vmax = 17.07 m/s

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