2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

9 Uniform Circular Motion

Quick check 1 (p.372) Exercise 9.1 (p.377)
1 1 A
45° 30° 165° 150° 321° They have the same angular displacement.
∴ (3) is incorrect.
2.62 5.60

2 By ω = , they have the same angular speed.

∴ (2) is incorrect.
2π 0.8π
By v = rω, R moves in a path with the largest
1 0.25 0.4 radius r and thus has the highest linear speed v.
3 b<c<a ∴ (1) is correct.
4 (a) Correct (b) Correct
(c) Incorrect (d) Incorrect 2 v= = = 2 m s–1
By v = rω,
Quick check 2 (p.376) 2 =5×ω
1 (a) 1160 (b) 2.00 ω = 0.4 rad s–1
(c) 2.5 3 Consider S.
2 F T = 60 s
3 (a) Correct (b) Incorrect
(c) Incorrect ω= = = s–1
Consider M.
Learn by practice 1 (p.376) T = 60 × 60 = 3600 s

1 (a) Period T = = = 0.667 s ω= = = s–1

Consider H.
(b) Period T = = = 5.24 s T = 60 × 60 × 12 = 43 200 s

2 Angular speed ω = = = s–1 ω= = = s–1

4 (a) By v= rω,
Linear speed v = rω = 0.2 × = 0.0419 m s–1 10 = 20 × ω
ω = 0.5 rad s–1
3 t= = = 37.7 s The angular speed is 0.5 rad s–1.
It takes 37.7 s to complete 3 revolutions. (b) Angular displacement θ
= ωt = 0.5 × 3 = 1.5 rad
4 (a) Angular speed ω = = = s–1
=
(b) Linear speed v = rω = 5 × = 1.57 m s–1 θ = 85.9°
(c) Time to complete a revolution

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

= = = 12.6 s 5 (a) The cabin moves revolution from X to

Y.

Period T = (3 × 60) ÷ = 720 s

(b) By θ = ωt and ω = ,

θ= t

=  (10  60)

=
(c) Angular speed ω

= = = s–1
Linear speed v

= rω = × = 0.253 m s–1

Example 2 Think about …

(p.381)
The car moves at a constant linear speed but not a
constant angular speed. The derivation using the
formula a = rω2 is wrong as ω changes with r.

Quick check 3 (p.381)

1 B
2 (a) Andy’s path has a smaller radius.

By a = , Andy has a higher

acceleration.
(b) Betty’s path has a larger radius.
By a = rω2, Betty has a higher
acceleration.

Learn by practice 2 (p.382)

1 (a) Centripetal acceleration a

= = = 0.0313 m s–2

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

(b) Centripetal acceleration a 2 By a = rω2,

= rω2 = 12.5 × (0.8π)2 = 79.0 m s–2 2 = 1.2 × ω2
ω = 1.29 rad s–1

By a = ,

2 =
v = 1.55 m s–1

Quick check 4 (p.385)

1 (a) 0.768 N (b) 1280 kg
(c) 60 m (d) 8 m s–1
2 (a) 31.1 N (b) 42.6 kg
(c) 1.20 m (d) 1.58 rad s–1
3 B
4 C

Exercise 9.2 (p.386)

1 D

By a = , the magnitude of the acceleration is

larger when the speed is higher.
∴ (3) is correct.
2 C
At speed v,

centripetal force = =F
At speed 2v,

centripetal force = = = 2F

3 Centripetal force = = = 3.6 N

4 Centripetal force = mrω = (2.4)(4)(0.5)2 = 2.4 N
2

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

6 (a) Learn by practice 3 (p.398)

normal force 1 By F = ,

tension 40 000 =
v = 36.5 m s–1
weight The maximum speed that the car can turn the
corner without skidding is 36.5 m s–1.
(b) Tension in the string
2 (a) Consider the vertical direction.
mg = L cos 20°
(c) By F = ,
m(9.81) = 180 000 cos 20°
m = 17 240 kg  17 200 kg
5 =
The mass of the plane is 17 200 kg.
v = 1.94 m s–1
(b) Consider the horizontal direction.

Writing practice (p.390) = L sin 20°

1 He should take path Y. 1A

= 180 000 sin 20°

By F = , the car requires a smaller
r = 4030 m
centripetal force F as the radius of path Y is
The radius of the path is 4030 m.
larger. 1A
3 (a) Consider the vertical direction.
It is less likely that the friction is not large
mg = R cos 30°
enough to provide the centripetal force required
(900)(9.81) = R cos 30°
in path Y. 1A
R = 10 200 N
The normal force is 10 200 N.
Example 4 Think about … (b) Consider the horizontal direction.
(p.392) Centripetal force = Fnet
= R sin 30°
Unchanged. The angle is given by tan θ = , which
= 10 200 sin 30°
is independent of the mass of the aeroplane.
= 5100 N

Quick check 5 (p.397) (c) By F = ,

1 (a) the centripetal force
(b) zero
5100 =
2 (a) L sin θ, L cos θ
v = 10.6 m s–1
(b) R sin θ – f cos θ, R cos θ + f sin θ
The linear speed of the car during turning
(c) R, f
is 10.6 m s–1.

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

4 Let  be the ideal banking angle. v = 21.2 m s1

Consider the horizontal direction.

R sin  = ……(1)
Consider the vertical direction.
R cos  = mg ……(2)
Divide (1) by (2):

tan θ =

=
θ = 11.5°
The ideal banking angle is 11.5°.

Learn by practice 4 (p.402)

1 (a) Consider the vertical direction.
mg = T cos 30°
(0.3)(9.81) = T cos 30°
T = 3.40 N
The tension in the string is 3.40 N.
(b) Radius of the path
= 0.5 sin 30°
= 0.25 m
(c) Consider the horizontal direction.
T sin 30° = mrω2
3.40 sin 30° = (0.3)(0.25)ω2
ω = 4.76 rad s–1

Exercise 9.3 (p.403)

1 C
2 D
When the road is dry,
maximum sideways friction
mv 2 m(30)2 900 m
= r = r = r
When the road is wet,
mv 2
maximum sideways friction = r
mv 2
× = r

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

3 Centripetal force F required 7 (a) The force acting on the passenger by the
aircraft
= =
= 30 000 N < 60 000 N
The bus will not skid when turning as the (b) =
centripetal force will be provided by the
sideways friction. =

4 (a) = = = 0.7854 rad s1 =

Friction on X = centripetal force of X = 0.408
= mr 2 The ratio is 0.408 : 1.
= (0.8)(0.2)(0.7854)2 (c)
= 0.0987 N
Friction on Y = (0.8)(0.4)(0.7854)2
= 0.197 N
(b) By F = mr , Y requires a larger
2

centripetal force F as the radius of Y’s path

is larger.
∴ Y will slip first.
5 (a) Centripetal force L sin  = centripetal force (1)
L cos  = weight (2)
= = = 7140 N Divide (1) by (2):
tan θ = 0.408
(b) Maximum friction = θ = 22.2°

8730 = Revision 9
r = 57.3 m Multiple-choice questions (p.405)
The minimum value of r is 57.3 m. 1 A
6 (a) Consider the vertical direction.
mg = T cos 20° Angular speed = = 180π s–1
(0.8)(9.81) = T cos 20° Acceleration = r 2
T = 8.35 N
(b) Centripetal force F =( × 0.0635)(180π)2
= T sin 20° = 8.35 sin 20° = 2.86 N = 10 200 m s–2
mv 2 2 C
(c) By F = r , 3 A
They have the same angular speed ω.
2.86 = ∴ (1) is correct.
–1
v = 1.34 m s By v = rω, the linear speed v increases with the
–1
The linear speed is 1.34 m s . radius r.

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

∴ (2) is incorrect. By a = rω2, the centripetal acceleration a

increases with the radius r.
∴ (3) is incorrect.
4 D
The angular speed ω is constant.
∴ (1) is incorrect.
By v = rω, the linear speed v decreases when the
radius r decreases.
∴ (2) is correct.
By F = mrω2, the net force (centripetal force) F
decreases when the radius r decreases.
∴ (3) is correct.
5 B
By v = r, since vY = vZ and rY  rZ,
Y  Z.
Since X = Y > Z, X will overtake Z.
∴ (1) is correct.
By a = r2, since X > Z and rX = rZ,
aX > aZ.
∴ (2) is incorrect.
The accelerations always point to O. Since the
positions of X and Y are always aligned with O,
their accelerations always point in the same
direction.
∴ (3) is correct.
6 A
The free-body diagram of the doll is as shown.
θ tension T

weight mg

The horizontal net force points towards the right,

so the car is turning right.
Consider the vertical direction.
T cos  = mg (1)
Consider the horizontal direction.
T sin  = ma (2)

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

Divide (2) by (1):

(c) θ = 60° =
tan  =
a = g tan  Time taken =
7 D
The horizontal forces acting on X and Y are as
shown.
= 1M
X Y = 0.667 s 1A
T1 T2 T2
12 (a) Angular speed 

Let L be the length of string connecting O and X.

Apply F = mr 2. = 1M
–5 –1
Consider X. = 7.272 × 10 rad s

T1  T2 = mL 2 (1) ≈ 7.27 × 10–5 rad s–1 1A

Consider Y. (b) Centripetal acceleration a

T2 = m(2L) 2 (2) = r2

Divide (1) by (2): = (6.37 × 106 × cos 22.3°)(7.272 × 10–5)2

1M
–2
= 0.0312 m s 1A
=
(c) Centripetal force
= ma
1 =
= 60 × 0.0312 1M
= 1.87 N 1A
=
The ratio of T1 to T2 is 3 : 2.
8 (HKDSE 2015 Paper 1A Q10)
9 (HKDSE 2016 Paper 1A Q13)
10 (HKDSE 2020 Paper 1A Q9)

Conventional questions (p.407)

11 (a) Angular speed 
(Correct direction of force) 1A
= 1M (d) Yes 1A
2 2
13 (a) v = u + 2as
–1 –1
= s (or 1.57 rad s ) 1A 0 = v02 + 2as 1M
(b) Linear speed v of the tip of a blade
= r a=

= 20 × 1M The acceleration is (backwards).

–1
= 31.4 m s 1A 1A

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

16 (a) Centripetal force

(b) (i) F = ma =
=
= 1M
rmin = 2s 1A = 1M
The minimum value of r is 2s. = 813 N 1A
(ii) No 1A (b)
14 (a) F

friction
John
normal
force
weight mg
weight
Consider the vertical direction.
(1 correct force with correct name) 1A F cos  = mg (1) 1M
(All correct) 1A Consider the horizontal direction.
(b) Consider the vertical direction. F sin  = 813 N (2) 1M
2 2
Friction = mg (1) + (2) ,
= 70 × 9.81 1M F 2 = m2g2 + 8132
= 686.7 N ≈ 687 N 1A F 2 = 652  9.812 + 8132
(c) 0.6Rmin = 686.7 F = 1030 N 1A
Rmin = 1140 N 1A 17 (a) They move at the same angular speed.
The minimum normal force acting on the
skateboarder is 1140 N. Angular speed =

By F = , =
= 7.27  105 rad s1 1A
1140 = 1M Apply v = r.
vmin = 12.8 m s–1 1A Linear speed of Peter
15 (a) F = mr 2 = (6370  103)(7.27  105)
20mg = mr 2 = 463 m s1 1A
20g = r 2 Linear speed of Paul
20  9.81 = 8.84   2 = (6370  103  cos 60)(7.27  105)
1M = 232 m s1 1A
 = 4.71 rad s1 1A Linear speed of Mary
The angular speed is 4.71 rad s1. =0 1A
(b) According to F = mr 2, 1A (b) Apply a = r . 2

if r is reduced, the net force F will Centripetal acceleration of Peter

decrease. 1A = (6370  103)(7.27  105)2
= 0.0337 m s2 1A

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

Centripetal acceleration of Paul (c) The angular speed remains unchanged.

= (6370  10  cos 60)(7.27  10 )
3 5 2
1A
2
= 0.0168 m s 1A The linear speed increases. 1A
Centripetal acceleration of Mary (d) S45W 1A
2
=0 1A v
(c) 20 (a) a= r

5 × 9.81 = 1M
r = 117.8 m
≈ 118 m 1A
The radius of the corner is 118 m.
(b) Distance travelled
= vt =76  7 = 532 m 1M

(Each correct arrow) 2  1A = = 1M

18 (a) Let L be the length of the string. = 4.52 rad 1A
Consider the horizontal direction. The magnitude of the car’s angular
F = mr 2 displacement is 4.52 rad.
T sin  = m  L sin    2 1M (c) force F
by neck
T = mL 2
head
= 1.5  1.2  4 2
1M
weight mg
= 28.8 N 1A
The tension in the string is 28.8 N. Consider the vertical direction.
(b) Consider the vertical direction. F cos  = mg (1) 1M
T cos  = mg Consider the horizontal direction.
28.8  cos  = 1.5  9.81 1M
 = 59.3° 1A F sin  = (2) 1M
(c) According to T = mL , 2
1A 2
(1) + (2) , 2

T will increase when  increases. 1A

(d)  will increase. 1A F2 = m2g2 +

=
19 (a) ω = 1M
F = 300 N 1A
The magnitude of the force acting on his
= s–1 (or 0.196 rad s–1) 1A
head by his neck is 300 N.
(b) v = rω
21 (a) The object tends to move in straight line
due to inertia, 1A
0.5 = r  1M
while point X makes a turn with the car.
r = 2.55 m 1A
1A

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

(b) (i) Centripetal acceleration a (c) Consider the horizontal direction.

mv 2
= = = 4.5 m s–2 1M R sin 65 = r
T sin  = ma ……(1)
T cos  = mg ……(2) 1.162 sin 65 = 1M
Divide (2) by (1): r = 0.0684 m 1A
The radius of the path is 0.0684 m.
tan  = = 1M (d) No 1A
 = 24.6 1A 24 (a) Consider the vertical direction.
(ii) Unchanged 1A F cos  = mg
22 (a) Friction f = mg F cos 60 = 30  9.81 1M
= 50  9.81 1M F = 589 N 1A
= 490.5 N 1A (b) Consider the horizontal direction.
(b) (i) fmax = 0.5R F sin  = mr 2 1M
490.5 = 0.5  R 1M 589 sin 60 = 30  (1.5 sin 60)   2
R = 981 N 1A 1M
Centripetal force is provided by R  = 3.62 rad s –1
1A
and its magnitude is 981 N. (c) F should increase. 1A
(ii) F = mr 2
 should increase. 1A
981 = 50  2   2
1M 25 Switch on the motor. Record the reading F of
 = 3.13 rad s –1
1A the force sensor. 1A
(c) Yes 1A Use the stop-watch to measure the time taken for
(d) R would decrease and 1A several revolutions 1A
fmax would become smaller than mg. 1A and calculate the angular speed ω. 1A
As a result, the rider would fall. 1A Repeat the experiment with different rotating
23 (a) normal force R speed. 1A
Plot a graph of the centripetal force F against
 2. 1A
By F = mr , the graph should be a straight line
2

weight W
passing through the origin. 1A
26 (a) (i) Centripetal force = net force
(1 correct force with correct name) 1A
mr 2 = T – f
(All correct) 1A
0.5  0.1   min2 =3–2
(b) W = mg = 0.05  9.81 = 0.491 N 1A
1M
Consider the vertical direction.
R cos 65 = W = 0.491 1M
 min = 4.47 rad s–1 1A
(ii) Since the centripetal force needed
R = 1.162 N
(1 N) is smaller than the maximum
 1.16 N 1A
friction, 1A
the block would rotate with the
turntable without slipping. 1A

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 9 Uniform Circular Motion

(b) (i) Centripetal force = net force

mr 2 = T + f
0.5  0.1   max2 =3+2
 max = 10 rad s–1 1A
(ii) Since the centripetal force needed
(5 N) is larger than the maximum
friction, 1A
the block would slide off from the
circular path. 1A

27 (a) Linear speed v =

= 1M
–1
= 4.71 m s 1A
(b) Consider the vertical motion of the stone
from the initial position to the maximum
height.
Take upward as positive.
vy2 = uy2 + 2aysy
0 = uy2 + 2(–9.81)(3 – 1) 1M
–1
uy = 6.26 m s
Consider the vertical motion of the stone
from the initial position to the ground.

sy = uyt + ayt2

–1 = 6.26t + (–9.81)t2 1M
4.905t  6.26t  1 = 0
2

t = 1.42 s or –0.144 s (rejected) 1A

(c) Consider the horizontal direction.
sx = v x t
= 4.71  1.42 1M
= 6.69 m 1A
28 (HKDSE 2017 Paper 1B Q5)
29 (HKDSE 2019 Paper 1B Q4)

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