1. Two satellites of equal mass, S1 and S2, orbit the Earth.

S1 is orbiting at a distance r from the

1
A. 8.

1
B. 4.

C. 4.

D. 8.
(1)

2. An object on the end of a light flexible string rotates in a circle as shown below.

o b je c t

The tension in the string is T when the string is at angle θ to the vertical. Which of the following
is true?

State Resultant force

A. not in equilibrium T

B. not in equilibrium T sinθ

C. in equilibrium T

D. in equilibrium T sinθ
(1)

3. A particle P is moving in a circle with uniform speed. Which one of the following diagrams

1
 correctly shows the direction of the acceleration a and velocity v of the particle at one instant of
time?

A . a B . a
v

P v P

C. D .

a P a P
v

(1)

4. The centripetal force that causes a car to go round a bend in the road is provided by

A. the force produced by the car engine acting on the wheels.

B. the friction between the tyres and the road.

C. the weight of the car.

D. the force exerted by the driver on the steering wheel.

2
5. A stone of mass m is attached to a string and moves round in a horizontal circle of radius R at
constant speed V. The work done by the pull of the string on the stone in one complete
revolution is

A. zero.

2
B. 2πmV .

2πmV 2
C. R .

2πmV
D. R .

(1)

6. The centripetal force F acting on a particle of mass m that is travelling with linear speed v along
the arc of a circle of radius r is given by

v2
.
A. F = mr

2
B. F = mv r.

2
C. F = mr v.

mv 2
.
D. F= r

(1)

3
7. A satellite of mass m and speed v orbits the Earth at a distance r from the centre of the Earth.
The gravitational field strength due to the Earth at the satellite is equal to

v
A. r.

v2
B. r .

mv
C. r .

mv 2
D. r .

(1)

8. Two points P and Q are at distances r and 2r respectively from the centre of a compact disc
(CD) as shown.

P
r

2r
Q

accelerati on at P
is
When the disc is rotating about its centre, the ratio of the accelerati on at Q

1
.
A. 2

B. 1.

C. 2.

D. 2.
(1)

4
9. Points P and Q are at distances R and 2R respectively from the centre X of a disc, as shown
below.

P 2R
R
X

The disc is rotating about an axis through X, normal to the plane of the disc. Point P has linear
speed v and centripetal acceleration a. Which one of the following is correct for point Q?

Linear speed Centripetal acceleration

A. v a

B. v 2a

C. 2v 2a

D. 2v 4a
(1)

5
10. A brick is placed on the surface of a flat horizontal disc as shown in the diagram below. The disc
is rotating at constant speed about a vertical axis through its centre. The brick does not move
relative to the disc.

b ric k

d is c

a x is o f ro ta tio n

Which of the diagrams below correctly represents the horizontal force or forces acting on the
brick?

A . B.

C . D .

(1)

6
11. A particle is moving around the circumference of a horizontal circle of radius r with constant
speed v.

Which of the following is the acceleration of the particle?

v2
A. r towards the centre of the circle

v2
B. r away from the centre of the circle

2
C. v r towards the centre of the circle

2
D. v r away from the centre of the circle
(1)

7
12. In a fairground ride, a car of mass M travels on rails around a vertical loop of effective radius R.
At the top of the loop, the speed of the car is v. The car stays in contact with the rails, as shown
below.

The acceleration of free fall is g.

Which of the following is the correct expression for the force that the rails exert on the car?

Mv 2  Mg
A. R

Mv 2
B. R

C. Mg

Mv 2  Mg
D. R

(1)

8
13. A satellite orbits the Earth at constant speed as shown below.

s a te llite

E a rth

(a) Draw on the diagram

(i) an arrow labelled F to show the direction of the gravitational force of the Earth on
the satellite.

(ii) an arrow labelled V to show the direction of the velocity of the satellite.
(2)

(b) Although the speed of the satellite is constant, it is accelerating. Explain why it is
accelerating.

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

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

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Discuss whether or not the gravitational force does work on the satellite.

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

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

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

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

9
14. This question is about the kinematics and dynamics of circular motion.

(a) A car goes round a curve in a road at constant speed. Explain why, although its speed is
constant, it is accelerating.

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

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

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

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

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

In the diagram below, a marble (small glass sphere) rolls down a track, the bottom part of which
has been bent into a loop. The end A of the track, from which the marble is released, is at a
height of 0.80 m above the ground. Point B is the lowest point and point C the highest point of
the loop. The diameter of the loop is 0.35 m.

m a rb le

0 .8 0 m C

0 .3 5 m

g ro u n d B

The mass of the marble is 0.050 kg. Friction forces and any gain in kinetic energy due to the
–2
rotating of the marble can be ignored. The acceleration due to gravity, g = 10 ms .

Consider the marble when it is at point C.

(b) (i) On the diagram opposite, draw an arrow to show the direction of the resultant force
acting on the marble.
(1)

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 (ii) State the names of the two forces acting on the marble.

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

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

–1
(iii) Deduce that the speed of the marble is 3.0 ms .

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

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

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

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(iv) Determine the resultant force acting on the marble and hence determine the
reaction force of the track on the marble.

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

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

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

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

...........................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 12 marks)

15. Kinematics

(a) State the principle of conservation of energy.

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

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

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(b) An aircraft accelerates from rest along a horizontal straight runway and then takes-off.
Discuss how the principle of conservation of energy applies to the energy changes that
take place while the aircraft is accelerating along the runway.

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

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

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

...................................................................................................................................
(3)

3
(c) The mass of the aircraft is 8.0 ´ 10 kg.

(i) The average resultant force on the aircraft while travelling along the runway is 70
–1
kN. The speed of the aircraft just as it lifts off is 75 m s . Estimate the distance
travelled along the runway.

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

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

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

.........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) The aircraft climbs to a height of 1250 m. Calculate the potential energy gained
during the climb.

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

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

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

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

12
When approaching its destination, the pilot puts the aircraft into a holding pattern. This means
–1
the aircraft flies at a constant speed of 90 m s in a horizontal circle of radius 500 m as shown
in the diagram below.

500 m

(d) For the aircraft in the holding pattern,

(i) calculate the magnitude of the resultant force on the aircraft;

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

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) state the direction of the resultant force.

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

.........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 11 marks)

13
16. This question is about circular motion.

A geo-stationary satellite is one that orbits the Earth in an equatorial plane in the same direction
of rotation as that of the Earth and with an orbital period of 24 hours. Since the period of
rotation of the Earth is 24 hours, this means that the satellite is stationary relative to a point on
the Equator.

(a) The diagram below shows a geostationary satellite in orbit about the Earth.

n o t to s c a le
s a te llite

E a rth

On the diagram above, draw an arrow to show the direction of acceleration of the
satellite.
(1)

(b) State the name of the force causing the satellite’s acceleration.

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

7
(c) The distance of the satellite from the centre of the Earth is 4.2 ´ 10 m. Calculate the
acceleration of the satellite.

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

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

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

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

...................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

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17. This question is about linear and circular motion.

A car moves along a straight road. At time t = 0 the car starts to move from rest and oil begins to
drip from the engine of the car. One drop of oil is produced every 0.80 s. Oil drops are left on
the road. The position of the oil drops are drawn to scale on the grid below such that 1.0 cm
represents 4.0 m. The grid starts at time t = 0.

d ire c tio n o f m o tio n

1 .0 c m

(a) (i) State the feature of the diagram above which indicates that, initially, the car is
accelerating.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) On the grid above, draw further dots to show where oil would have dripped if the
drops had been produced from the time when the car had started to move.
(2)

(iii) Determine the distance moved by the car during the first 5.6 s of its motion.

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

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

15
(b) Using information from the grid above, determine for the car,

(i) the final constant speed.

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

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

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) the initial acceleration.

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

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

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) The car then turns a corner at constant speed. Passengers in the car who were sitting
upright feel as if their upper bodies are being “thrown outwards”.

(i) Identify the force acting on the car, and its line of action, that enables the car to
turn the corner.

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

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

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Explain why the passengers feel as if they are being “thrown outwards”.

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

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

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

...........................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 13 marks)

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