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 worksheet Practise 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

A small object sits 115 cm from the axis of a disc that turns at a steady 33 revolutions per minute. Find its centripetal acceleration a_c.

n = 33 rpmr = 1.15 m

a_c = m/s²

2.Easy

A 1700 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 90 m at a constant 30 m/s. Find the inward (centripetal) force F_c needed.

m = 1700 kgv = 30 m/sr = 90 m

F_c = N

3.Medium

In a fairground rotor, riders stand against the wall of a vertical cylinder of radius 2.3 m. When it spins fast enough the floor drops away and friction holds them up. The coefficient of static friction is 0.8. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the smallest angular speed ω in rad/s.

r = 2.3 mμ_s = 0.8g = 9.81 m/s²

ω = rad/s

4.Medium

A curve of radius 360 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 = 360 mθ = 18°g = 9.81 m/s²

v = m/s

5.Hard

A 0.5 kg ball on a string 1.3 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 = 0.5 kgr = 1.3 mv = 3.5 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²

T = N

6.Hard

A curve of radius 50 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 v_max at which a car can take the curve without sliding up and out.

r = 50 mθ = 20°μ_s = 0.4g = 9.81 m/s²

v_max = m/s

Answer key

1. a_c = 13.73 m/s²
2. F_c = 17000 N
3. ω = 2.309 rad/s
4. v = 33.87 m/s
5. T = 9.617 N
6. v_max = 20.94 m/s

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