Uniform Circular Motion MCQs

Is It possible for aan object moving with a constant speed to accelerate? Explain.

a. No, if the speed is constant then the acceleration is equal to zero.

b. Yes, if an object is moving it can experience acceleration

c. No, an object can accelerate only if there is a net force acting on it.

d. Yes, although the speed is constant, the direction of the velocity can be changing

Consider a particle moving with constant speed such that the magnitude of its acceleration is constant, the direction of its acceleration is always perpendicular to its velocity, one can say bout the motion of the particle:

a. It is moving in a straight line.

b. It is moving in a parabola.

c. It is moving in a circle

d. None of the above is definitely true all of the time.

An object moves in a circular path at a constant speed. Compare the direction of the object’s velocity and acceleration vectors:

a. The vectors are perpendicular.

b. Both vectors point in the same direction

c. The vectors point in opposite directions.

d. The question is meaningless, since the acceleration is zero.

Is it possible for an object moving around a circular path not have hace an acceleration?

a. No, because its speed increases at all times.

b. Yes, this is possible if the speed is constant.

c. Yes, this is possible if the net force is zero.

d. No, because its velocity changes direction constantly.

When an object experiences uniform circular motion, the direction of the net force is __.

a. in the opposite direction of the motion of the obkect.

b. is directed toward the center of the circular path.

c. in the same direction as the motion of the object.

d. is directed away from the center of the circular path.

Which force is responsible for holding a car in a frictionless banked curve?

a. the vertical component of the car’s weight

b. the vertical component of the normal force

c. the horizontal component of the normal force

d. None of the above

Which force is responsible for holding a car in an unbanked curve?

a. the car’s weight

b. the force of friction

c. the reaction force to the car’s weight

d. the vertical component of the normal force

Complete the following statement: The maximum speed at which a car can safely negotiate an unbanked curve depends on all of the following factors except

a. the acceleration due to gravity.

b. the coefficient of static friction between the raod and the tires.

c. the coeffiecient of kinetic friction between the road and the tires.

d. the ration of the static frictional force between the road and the tires and the normal force exerted on the car.

A ball is swung in a vertical circle such that at one point along its circular path the forces exerted on the ball can be represented by the free body diagram. The magnitude of the tension force exerted on the ball, T, is twice that of the force due to gravity exerted on the ball from Earth, Fg. What is the location of the ball, and what is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the ball?

a. Location: Bottom of the circle| Acceleration: g

b. Location: Bottom of the circle| Acceleration: 3g

c. Location: Top of the circle| Acceleration: g

d. Location: Top of the circle| Acceleration: 3g

A solid disk of diameter D spins counterclockwise about its center at a constant speed. One end of a string of length l is attached to the edge of the disk with the other end attached to an object of mass M. At time t0, as the disk spins, the string makes an angle (theta) with respect to the vertical, as shown in Figure 1. A force diagram of all of the forces exerted on the object at time t0 are shown in Figure 2. The direction of the centripetal acceleration of the object at t0 is shown in Figure 3. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the object of mass M at time t0?

a. T cos(theta)

b. T tan(theta)

c. g sin(theta)

d. g tan(theta)

A cart of mass m is moving with speed v on a smooth track when it encounters a vertical loop of radius R, as shown above. The cart moves along the inside of the entire loop without leaving the track. All frictional forces are negligible.

Which of the following free-body diagrams shows the force or forces exerted on the cart at point Q ?

a. Fcentripetal →

b. Fnet →(diagonal down)

c. Fcentripetal, Fgravity: perpendicular

d. Fnormal, Fgravity: perpendicular

A ball of mass M is on a horizontal surface with negligible friction. One end of a string is attached to the ball so that it is spun in a horizontal circle of radius R at tangential speed v0, as shown in Figure 1. A free-body diagram for the ball at an instant in time is shown in Figure 2. The magnitude of the tension force is also indicated in Figure 2. Which of the following equations represents the centripetal acceleration of the ball if its tangential speed is increased to 2v0?

a. ac=v0²/2R

b. ac=v0²/R

c. ac=2v0²/R

d. ac=4v0²/R

One end of a string is attached to the ceiling with the other end attached to a toy. The toy can be set into motion such that it travels in a horizontal circular path at a constant tangential speed, as shown above. Which of the following measuring tools, when used together, could be used to determine the time it takes for the toy to complete one revolution around the circle? Select two answers.

a. Protractor

b. Meterstick

c. Force probe

d. Motion sensor

A satellite of mass m orbits a moon of mass M in uniform circular motion with a constant tangential speed of v.

The figure shows the net force exerted on the satellite by the moon and the direction of the tangential velocity of the satellite at time t0. Which of the following statements is true regarding the motion of the satellite?

a. The gravitational force exerted on the satellite by the moon will increase after time t0.

b. The satellite accelerates in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the tangential velocity.

c. The satellite will move toward the moon after time t0.

d. The tangential velocity of the satellite does not remain constant.

One end of a string is attached to a vertical pole with the other end of the string attached to a ball that swings in a horizontal circular path, as shown. Which of the following free body diagrams represents the forces exerted on the ball?

a. perpendicular vector forces

b. one vector pointing down, one vector diagonal up

c. perpendicular vector forces sideways

d. one vector up, one down, one diagonal up