CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 16
Exam-style questions c  he weight is only equal to the tension
T
when the ball is at rest in the vertical
1 C[1] position.[1]
2 B[1] The ball is not in equilibrium in the
3 a The angle subtended at the centre of a vertical position because it has an
circle by an arc equal in length to the upward (centripetal) acceleration.[1]
radius.[1] 7 F
 riction between the tyres and the road
2π provides the centripetal force.[1]
b a ngular speed ω = [1]
15  il reduces the frictional force, so the car
O
= 0.42 rad s−1[1] carries on in a wider arc. (The frictional force
4 a At the position shown, the weight of is not enough to push the car around the
the truck[1] desired curve.)[1]
v2 8 a 
Weight acting vertically downwards, lift
b s peed of the truck: g = [1]
r force perpendicular to the aeroplane
v = gr = 9.8 × 4 [1] wings[2]
v = 6.3 m s−1[1] b (lift = L, angle with horizontal = θ)
2
5 a force = mrω 2 = 60 × 10 −3 × 0.15 ×  2 × π 
20
Therefore the vertical force = L cos θ = mg

 60  [1]
 [2]
horizontal force = L sin θ = mv2/r[1]
= 0.039 N[1]
Now,
mv 2 m × 752
b The centripetal force on the toy increases sinθ r 800 = 0.717
= tanθ = =
with its speed.[1] cosθ mg m× g
 [1]
 he toy falls off because the frictional
T θ = 36°[1]
force between the turntable and the toy
is not sufficient to provide the centripetal 9 a 
Angle covered per unit time[1]
force.[1] Angle in radians[1]
change in potential energy = kinetic
6 a  0.20 × 9.8
T cos θ = mg leading to T =
b i 
energy[1] cos 56°
1 [1]
mg ∆h = mv 2 , therefore,
2 T = 3.5[1]
2 m × 9.8 × 0.70
v= = 3.7 m s −1 [1] centripetal force = T sin θ = mrω 2 [1]
ii 
m
T sin θ 3.5 × sin θ
mv 2 0.050 × 3.72 ω= = [1]
b centripetal force Fc = = mr 0 .20 × 0.40
r 1.5
 [1] = 6.0 rad s [1]
−1

= 0.46 N[1] 2π 2π
iii time period T = = = 1.0 s [1]
tension in the string T = Fc+ mg = 0.46 + ω 6.0
(0.05 × 9.8) = 0.95 N[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

10 a 
The force acting towards the centre of c Sharp turns in combat at high speed[1]
a circle[1] mean the pilot will experience high g
on a body moving round that circle[1] forces.[1]
mv 2 angle in radians = length of arc radius
12 a 
b i  = mg
centripetal force = [1]
r For a complete circle, arc length =
1.8 circumference = 2pr[1]
therefore, v = rg = × 9.8 [1]
2 angle in radians = 2pr/r = 2π[1]
v = 3.0 m s [1]
−1

540 rpm = 540/60 rev s−1, therefore,

b i 
F = 2mg = 2 × 5.4 × 9.8[1]
ii 
ω = 9 × 2π rad s−1[1]
= 106 N[1]
v = rω = 0.10 × 9 × 2π = 5.7 rad s−1[1]
11 a 
Pilot feels thrown out from the circle or
ii F = mrω 2 = 20 × 10 −6 × 0.10 × 5.72 [1]
pilot feels pressed outwards against seat.[1]
= 6.4 × 10-3 N[1]
Inertia means that with no force pilot
would travel in a straight line.[1] c gravitational force ≈ 20 × 10−3 × 10 = 0.2 N
Centripetal force pulls the pilot in [1]
towards the centre of the circle.[1] Very much less than the centripetal
mv 2 force[1]
F=
b i  , therefore,
r
v = Fr = 6 m × 9.8 × 5 [2]
m m
v = 17.1 m s−1[1]
ii w = v/r = 17.1 × 5[1]
= 86 rad s −1
revs per minute = 86 × 60/2 p
= 820 revs per minute[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020