Topic 6 Circular Motion and Gravitation Quiz

Name __________________________
Score: /25

1 A B C D
2 A B C D
3 A B C D
4 A B C D
5 A B C D
6 A B C D
7 A B C D
8 A B C D
9 A B C D
10 A B C D
1. [1 mark]
The mass at the end of a pendulum is made to move in a horizontal circle of radius r at constant speed.
The magnitude of the net force on the mass is F.

What is the direction of F and the work done by F during half a revolution?

2. [1 mark]
An object of mass m at the end of a string of length r moves in a vertical circle at a constant angular speed
ω.
What is the tension in the string when the object is at the bottom of the circle?
A. m(ω2r + g)
B. m(ω2r – g)
C. mg(ω2r + 1)
D. mg(ω2r – 1)

3. [1 mark]
Where would the gravitational field strength not be zero
A. In the center of a planet
B. an infinite distance from a planet
C. At a point between a planet and its moon
D. On the surface of a planet
4. [1 mark]
What is the acceleration of an object rotating with constant speed v in a circle of radius r?

5. [1 mark]
A small sphere X of mass 𝑀 is placed a distance 𝑑 from a point mass. The gravitational force on sphere X is
90 N. Sphere X is removed and a second sphere Y of mass 4𝑀 is placed a distance 3𝑑 from the same point
mass. The gravitational force on sphere Y is
A. 480 N.
B. 160 N.
C. 120 N.
D. 40 N.
6. [1 mark]
A ball is tied to a string and rotated at a uniform speed in a vertical plane. The diagram shows the ball at
its lowest position. Which arrow shows the direction of the acceleration of the ball?

7. [1 mark]
A motorcyclist is cornering on a curved race track.
Which combination of changes of banking angle θ and coefficient of friction μ between the tyres and road
allows the motorcyclist to travel around the corner at greater speed?
8. [1 mark]
Satellite X orbits a planet with orbital radius R. Satellite Y orbits the same planet with orbital radius 2R.
Satellites X and Y have the same mass.
𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑋
What is the ratio 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑌
?

1
A. 4

1
B. 2

C. 2
D. 4
9. [1 mark]
A particle of mass 0.02 kg moves in a horizontal circle of diameter 1 m with an angular velocity of 3π rad
s-1.
What is the magnitude and direction of the force responsible for this motion?

10. [1 mark]
Which graph shows the relationship between gravitational force F between two point masses and their
separation r?
11a. [3 marks]

Outline why Phobos moves with uniform circular motion.

11b. [2 marks]
Show that the orbital speed of Phobos is about 2 kilometers per second.

11c. [3 marks]
Deduce the mass of Mars.
12a. [2 marks]
There is a proposal to place a satellite in orbit around planet Mars.
Outline what is meant by gravitational field strength at a point.

12b. [2 marks]
Newton’s law of gravitation applies to point masses. Suggest why the law can be applied to a satellite
orbiting Mars.
13a. [1 mark]
The two arrows in the diagram show the gravitational field strength vectors at the position of a planet
due to each of two stars of equal mass M.

Each star has mass M=2.0×1030kg. The planet is at a distance of 6.0×1011m from each star.
Show that the gravitational field strength at the position of the planet due to one of the stars is
g=3.7×10–4Nkg–1.

13b. [2 marks]
Calculate the magnitude of the resultant gravitational field strength at the position of the planet.