Wrksht

MOTION IN A CIRCLE

1. A space shuttle of total mass 1000 kg is travelling round the earth in a circular
orbit of radius 12000 km at constant speed. The gravitational field strength at that
distance from the earth’s centre is 3 Nkg-1.

a) What is the magnitude of the force directed towards the centre of the earth
acting on the space shuttle? [2]

b) Calculate the speed of the shuttle . [2]

c) If the space shuttle had been in a circular orbit of twice the radius it would have
experienced a gravitational force only ¼ as large . How would its speed have
compared with its speed in the 1st orbit. Explain your answer. [2]

d) A part of the space shuttle is fired forward at 50 ms-1 relative to the remainder. If
the mass of this part is 200 kg, what would be the change in the speed of the
remainder? [2]

2. An object of mass 4 kg moves round a circle of radius 6 m with a constant speed

of 12 ms-1. Assuming g = 10 ms-1 or 10 Nkg-1 Calculate :

a) the angular speed.

b) the force directed towards the centre.[2]

3. An object of mass 10 kg is whirled around in a horizontal circle of radius of 4 m

by a revolving string is inclined to the vertical. If the uniform speed of the object
is 5 ms-1 , Calculate :
a) the tension in the string. [2]
b) the angle of inclination of the string.[2]
c)