1.5.

4 Circular motion
1 Describe, qualitatively, motion in a circular path due to a force perpendicular to the motion as:
(a) speed increases if force increases, with mass and radius constant
(b) radius decreases if force increases, with mass and speed constant
(c) an increased mass requires an increased force to keep speed and radius constant
mv2
(F = is not required)
r

Uniform Circular Motion

05 or
 A uniform circular motion can be described as the motion of an object in a

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circle at a constant speed.
 As an object moves in a circle, it is constantly changing its direction.
 At all instances, the object is moving tangent to the circle. Since the
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direction of the velocity vector is the same as the direction of the object's
motion, the velocity vector is directed tangent to the circle as well.

4
 An object moving in a circle is accelerating. Accelerating objects are objects
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which are changing their velocity - either the speed (i.e., magnitude of the
velocity vector) or the direction.
 An object undergoing uniform circular motion is moving with a constant
speed. Nonetheless, it is accelerating due to its change in direction.
03 shi

 The direction of the acceleration is inwards.

01
 The final motion characteristic for an object undergoing uniform circular
motion is the net force.
 The net force acting upon such an object is directed towards the center of
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21

the circle. The net force is said to be an inward or centripetal force.

 Without such an inward force, an object would continue in a straight line,
never deviating from its direction.
 Yet, with the inward net force directed perpendicular to the velocity vector,
Sir

the object is always changing its direction and undergoing an inward

acceleration.

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 • Velocity is a vector quantity, and the velocity of an object is its speed in a given direction
• When an object travels along a circular path, its velocity is always changing
• The speed of the object moving in a circle might be constant - that is, it is travelling the same
distance every second
• However, the direction of travel is always changing as the object moves along the circular path
• This means that an object moving in circular motion travels at a constant speed but has a
changing velocity
• The image below shows an example of a famous object that moves in a circular path with a
constant speed but changing direction:

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an
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03 shi

01
The International Space Station’s velocity is always changing - it whizzes around the Earth
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at a constant speed of about 7660 m/s but is always changing direction

• If the force continues to act at 90 degrees to the motion, the object will keep
Sir

changing its direction (whilst remaining at a constant speed) and travel in a circle
• This is what happens when a planet orbits a star (or satellite orbits a planet)
The Moon is pulled towards the Earth (at 90 degrees to its direction of travel). This causes
it to travel in a circular path

The force needed to make something follow a

circular path depends on a number of factors:
• The mass of the object
o A greater mass requires a greater force
 when the speed and radius are constant
o The speed of the object
 A faster-moving object requires a greater
force when the mass and radius are constant
o The radius of the circle
 A smaller radius requires a greater force to keep the speed and radius
constant

Sir Rashid Manzoor Page 2 of 11 03332101054

 Practice Test 01
01 A satellite is orbiting the Earth.

What is the direction of the force on the satellite causing this circular motion?

A away from the centre of the Earth C in the opposite direction to the motion of the
satellite
B in the direction of motion of the satellite D towards the centre of the Earth

02 The Earth travels in a circular orbit around the Sun at constant speed.

or
Which arrows show the direction of the acceleration
of the Earth and the direction of the velocity of the

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Earth? P Earth

direction of
acceleration
direction of
velocity
an Q
R

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M
A P Q

B Q P orbit of Sun
the Earth
id
C
D
Q R
Q 10
sh

R
0
Ra

03 In a model of an atom, electrons move in circular orbits around a nucleus. Which statement about
21
the electrons is correct?

A The electrostatic force on the electrons C The speed of the electrons varies continuously.
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Sir

is away from the nucleus.

B The acceleration of the electrons is D The velocity of the electrons remains constant.
towards the central nucleus.
03

B
A

04 The diagram shows an aeroplane turning in a

horizontal circle at constant speed. D
In which direction is there a resultant force?

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 05 A body is moving in a circle at a constant speed. Which of the following statements about
the body is true?

A There is no acceleration. C There is a force acting away from the centre of

the circle.
B There is a force acting at a D There is a force acting towards the centre of
tangent to the circle. the circle.

06 A boy sits on a playground roundabout (carousel).

The roundabout carries the boy in a horizontal, anticlockwise circle at a constant

or
speed. The diagram shows the view of the roundabout from above.
What describes the resultant force on the boy?

zo
A The resultant force is zero. Y
W
B

an
The resultant force is in direction W.

C The resultant force is in direction X. X

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D
M
The resultant force is in direction Y.
id
10 direction of
movement
sh

07 Fig. shows a model car moving clockwise P

around a horizontal circular track.
0
model circular
car
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Where is the force acts on the car to keep it moving

21
in a circle.
track

Towards P
33

A Towards the center.

Sir

C From P away to the center D Along wthe the direction of the movement
03

P
08 A body P moves in a circle around a point S. A force F keeps it moving in the circle.
What happens if the force F suddenly disappears?
F
A P moves directly towards S. C P moves away from S in a curved path.
B P moves in a circle closer to S. D P goes off in a straight line. S

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09 A particle P is moving in a horizontal circle about O. P moves at constant speed v.
Which statement is true?
v A A force of constant magnitude is acting in the same
direction as v.
O P B A force of constant magnitude is acting towards O.

C The force on P varies in size as it moves around the circle.

D There is no resultant force acting on P.

or
zo
10 A car moves in a circle at constant speed.
What is the direction of the resultant force acting on the car?

an centre of circle

54
A B
M turned by car
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C 10
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0
D
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Sir
03

11 A satellite is in a circular orbit around a planet.

Which statement is correct?

A Its acceleration is constant in direction but not in size.

B Its acceleration is constant in size but not in direction.
C Its gravitational potential energy varies.
D Its velocity is constant.

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12 A satellite is orbiting the Earth in a circular orbit.

Which two quantities are always in the same direction as each other?

A the acceleration of the satellite and the displacement of the satellite

B the acceleration of the satellite and the velocity of the satellite
C the resultant force on the satellite and the acceleration of the satellite
D the resultant force on the satellite and the velocity of the satellite

or
13 A car travels at a constant speed along a circular, horizontal path.

away from

zo
the centre car
path of car

an towards

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the direction the centre
of travel
id
10
sh

0
Ra

Which statement describes the forces acting on the car?

21
A They are balanced as the car is moving at constant speed.
B They are unbalanced with a resultant in the direction away from the centre.
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Sir

C They are unbalanced with a resultant in the direction of travel of the car.
D They are unbalanced with a resultant in the direction towards the centre.
03

Marking Schemes

1 D 2D 3B 4D
5D 6D 7B 8D
9B 10 B 11 A 12 C
13 D

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 Practice Test 02
01 A car travels around a circular track at constant speed.

(a) Why is it incorrect to describe the circular motion as having constant velocity?

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) A force is required to maintain the circular motion.

(i) Explain why a force is required.

...........................................................................................................................................

or
...........................................................................................................................................

zo
..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) In which direction does this force act?

an
..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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(iii)
M
Suggest what provides this force.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
id
10 [Total: 5]
sh

02 Fig. 27.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shownare circles.
0
(a) On Fig.27.1, dra w an arrow to show the direction of
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not to the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth. [1]
scale
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
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Sir

Sun planet time for one orbit radius of orbit circumference of

in (Earth) years / million km orbit / million km

orbit of 0.7 108 679

03

Venus
Venus
Earth 1.0 150 942

orbit of
Earth
Earth

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 (i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..................................................................................................................................................................
...

..................................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................. [2]
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.
Calculate the largest possible distance between them.

or
zo
distance = ...................................... million km [1]

03

an
Fig. 28.1 shows the planet Venus orbiting the Sun in a circular orbit at constant speed.

54
M
A force acting on Venus keeps it moving in a circle.

(a) State the name of this force and the object that
id
causes it.
circular orbit
10
......................................................................................
sh

0
......................................................................................
Sun
Ra

21
......................................................................................
Venus
......................................................................................
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Sir

[2]
(b) (i)
Fig. 28.1 (not to scale) On Fig. 28.1, draw an arrow through Venus
03

that represents the direction of its acceleration [1]

(ii) The size of this acceleration is 9.7 × 10–3 m / s 2 and the mass of Venus is 4.9 × 1024 kg.
Calculate the size of the force acting on the planet.

force = ......................................... [2]

(c) As time passes, the planet Venus moves a considerable distance around the circular
orbit. State why no work is done by the force acting on the planet as it moves.

........................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................... ...... [2]

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04 Fig. 74.1 shows a satellite travelling at a constant speed in a circular orbit around the Earth.

satellite

or
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Fig. 74.1 (not to scale)

(a) State how speed differs from velocity.

an
54
M
...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]
id
(b) As it orbits the Earth, the satellite is experiencing an acceleration.
10
sh

(i) Explain, in terms of its velocity, why the satellite is accelerating.

0
Ra

...........................................................................................................................................
21
...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]
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Sir

(ii) On Fig. 74.1, draw an arrow, starting on the satellite, to show the direction of the satellite’s
acceleration. [1]
03

(c) As the satellite orbits the Earth, it experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.

State and explain whether this force does work on the satellite and state whether the energy
of the satellite is affected.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

Sir Rashid Manzoor Page 9 of 11 03332101054

 Marking Schemes

01 (a) Direction of the velocity is changing in every instant

B1
(b) (i) force is required from acting from the center. If the force at the center is not there body will always go linear

(ii) towards the center

(iii) another body at the center

02(a) arrow from Earth to Sun (by eye would pass through Sun) B1

(b) (i) use of circumference/time or s=d/t or radius/t C1

r
two speeds clearly found using circumference e.g. 970 and 942 (allow conversion to other units) A1

oo
(ii) 258 (million km)

nz
03 (a) gravitational/centripetal (pull/attraction) of the Sun
Ma B1 [2]

(b) (i) arrow touching Venus towards centre/left (must pass through Sun if extended) B1 [1]

4
(ii) (F =) ma or 4.9 × 1024 × 9.7 × 10–3 C1 4.8(4.753) × 1022 N A1 [2]

05
id
(c) direction of movement Þ direction of force C1
force/it is perpendicular/at right angles to distance moved or does not move any
sh

distance in direction of force

01 A1 [2]
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21
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Sir

04(a) it / speed does not have a direction / is a scalar quantity

(b)(i) direction (of velocity) changes (as it moves around the Earth)
03

its velocity changes with time (this is an acceleration)

(b)(ii) arrow from satellite towards (centre of) Earth

(c) no work done and force perpendicular to motion / no movement in direction of force

(kinetic and gravitational potential) energy remains constant / no effect

Sir Rashid Manzoor Page 10 of 11 03332101054

 05 or
nzo
Ma

4
id
sh

01
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Best of Luck
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33
Sir

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Rashid Manzoor
03

MSc - Physics

0333 2 10 10 54

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