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 = 60 m11 m/sF = ?

A 1700 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 60 m at a constant 11 m/s. Find the inward (centripetal) force Fc needed.

m = 1700 kgv = 11 m/sr = 60 m
Fc = N
2.Easy
r = 150 m15 m/sF = ?

A 1400 kg car drives around a flat curve of radius 150 m at a constant 15 m/s. Find the inward (centripetal) force Fc needed.

m = 1400 kgv = 15 m/sr = 150 m
Fc = N
3.Medium
L = 0.7 m25°

A small ball on a string of length 0.7 m moves in a horizontal circle so that the string makes a constant angle of 25° with the vertical (a conical pendulum). Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the time T for one revolution.

L = 0.7 mθ = 25°g = 9.81 m/s²
T = s
4.Medium
r = 25 m10 m/s

A 1300 kg car drives over the top of a hump in the road at 10 m/s. The top of the hump is a circular arc of radius 25 m. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the normal force N of the road on the car at the top.

m = 1300 kgv = 10 m/sr = 25 mg = 9.81 m/s²
N = N
5.Hard
r = 1 mv = 7 m/s

A 2 kg ball on a string 1 m long is swung in a vertical circle. At the lowest point it moves at 7 m/s. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the tension T in the string at the lowest point.

m = 2 kgr = 1 mv = 7 m/sg = 9.81 m/s²
T = N
6.Hard
r = 0.5 mv = ?

A ball on a string 0.5 m long is swung in a vertical circle. Use g = 9.81 m/s². What is the smallest speed vmin at the top for which the string just stays tight?

r = 0.5 mg = 9.81 m/s²
vmin = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. Fc = 3428 N
  2. 2. Fc = 2100 N
  3. 3. T = 1.598 s
  4. 4. N = 7553 N
  5. 5. T = 117.6 N
  6. 6. vmin = 2.215 m/s

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