PHY10 PROBLEM SET: Circular Motion

1. A 50.0-g mass is tied at the end of a 1.00-m long string and is whirled
in a horizontal circle. (a) If the string is horizontal and is moving at a
rate of 5.00 rev/s, what is the tension in the string? (b) What is the
centripetal acceleration of the mass?

2. A small ball of mass 50.0 g is tied at the end of a 75.0-cm long string
and is whirled in a horizontal circle as a conical pendulum where the
string makes an angle of 40.0o with the vertical. (a) How many
revolutions does the ball make in 1 minute? (b)What is the tension in
the string?

3. A 75.0-kg motorcycle stuntman rides his 100.0-kg motorcycle in a

vertical circle inside a hollow cylinder of radius 15.0 m. (a) With what
minimum speed can the stuntman complete the vertical circle? (b) If
the stuntman moves around the vertical circle at a constant speed of
28.0 m/s, what is the magnitude of the normal force exerted on the
motorcycle by the walls of the cylinder when it is at the top of the circle?
(c) If the stuntman moves around the vertical circle at a constant speed
of 28.0 m/s, what is the magnitude of the normal force exerted on the
motorcycle by the walls of the cylinder when it is at the bottom of the
circle?

4. A road curve with a 100-m radius is banked at the correct angle for a
speed of 25.0 m/s (without depending on friction). If the coefficient of
friction between the road and the tires of a car is 0.800, with what
maximum speed can a car make the turn without skidding?

5. The radius of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun 9asumed to be circular)
is 1.50 x 108 km, and the Earth travels around this orbit in 365 days.
(a) What is the magnitude of the orbital velocity of the Earth? (b) What
is the centripetal acceleration of the Earth toward the Sun in m/s2?

6. A Ferris wheel with radius 14.0 m is turning about a horizontal axis

through its center. The linear speed of a 75.0-kg passenger on the seat
near the rim is 7.00 m/s. What is the magnitude of the force exerted
by the seat on the passenger as he passes through (a) the lowest point
in his circular motion? (b) the highest point in his circular motion?