Week 2 Questions Name ……………….………………..

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1. (a) A satellite is moving at a constant speed v in a circular orbit around the Earth. The only force
acting on the satellite is its weight W.
v
S a te llite

E a rth

(i) Although an unbalanced force is acting on the satellite, its speed does not change. Explain
why.

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(ii) According to Newton’s second law, the unbalanced force causes an acceleration. Explain
how the satellite can accelerate while its speed remains constant.

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(4)

4
(b) A satellite used in the global positioning system travels in an orbit of radius 2.7 × 10 km. At this
–2
distance from the Earth, the acceleration of the satellite is 0.56 m s . Calculate its speed.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
2. A person at the equator of the Earth is moving, in a circle and
therefore must have a centripetal acceleration.

Explain why a person moving in a circle must have an

acceleration.

....................................................................................... R o ta tio n

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E q u a to r
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(1)

The Henrietta Barnett School 1

 Show that the centripetal acceleration of a person at the equator is about 0.03 m s –2. (Radius of the Earth
= 6.4 × 106 m.)

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(3)

For a person standing at the equator, the force R from the ground is slightly different from R
their weight mg as shown below. State and explain which of these forces is the larger.

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(2)

The size of the force R provides a measure of the apparent strength of the gravitational
field. Show that the apparent field strength g at the equator differs from that at the poles
by about 0.3%.
m g
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(1)
(Total 7 marks)

3. The picture shows a toy with two plastic spheres, each suspended by plastic rods. Each sphere is able to
swing freely in a vertical circle.

A student decides to carry out an experiment with the toy to investigate momentum. He allows one
sphere to strike the other, and measures their speeds just before and just after the collision.

The table shows his data for one collision.

mass of sphere 1 54.0 g

mass of sphere 2 29.0 g P iv o t
speed of sphere 1 –1
2.57 m s
before collision
speed of sphere 2 0 P la s tic ro d s
before collision
speed of sphere 2 2.12 m s
–1 1
Show that the after collision speed of 2 S p h e re
sphere 1 just after the
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 –l
collision is about 1.4 m s . Assume that the mass of each rod is negligible.

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(3)

Determine whether this is an elastic collision or an inelastic collision.

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(3)

In another experiment the student uses the toy to investigate motion in a vertical circle. He times sphere 2
(mass 29 g) as it swings around a complete vertical circle of radius 17 cm. This takes 0.37 s.

Calculate the average speed of the sphere.

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(2)

Assuming that the sphere travels at this speed throughout its circular path,

(i) calculate the centripetal force acting on it while it is in motion

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(2)

(ii) calculate the net force exerted by the rods on the sphere when it is at the top of the circle.

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(2)
(Total 12 marks)

4. To make an object of mass m move at speed around a circular path of radius r, a resultant force must
2
act on it. The magnitude of the resultant force is given by m /r.

Explain why a resultant force is required, and state its direction.

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(3)

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 When vehicles corner on a level road, the resultant force is provided by friction. For a given vehicle and
road surface, the friction cannot exceed a certain maximum value. Use these facts, together with the
expression for the resultant force, to explain why roads designed for high-speed travel have no sharp
bends.

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(2)

On a bobsleigh run, the bobsleigh travels along an ice channel with little friction. When cornering, it
slides up the side of the channel until the required resultant force is provided.

The diagram shows a head-on view of a bobsleigh travelling at speed round a bend which is part of a
horizontal circle centred at the point O. The bobsleigh is tilted through an angle .

Ic e

O B o b s le ig h
(C e n tre o f
c irc le )

Below is a free-body force diagram for the bobsleigh. Friction is assumed to be negligible.

B o b s le ig h

m g

The normal contact force exerted by the ice on the bobsleigh is N, and its weight is mg.

Write down an equation expressing the condition for no vertical acceleration.

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Write down an equation applying Newton’s second law horizontally.

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 2
Hence show that: tan  = rg (tan  = sin  / cos )

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(4)

Calculate the value of angle for a bobsleigh travelling at 30.0 m s around a bend of radius 20.0 m.
–1

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 =…...................................................
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

5. Riders on a theme park ride lie back in capsules round the rim of a large wheel. Initially the wheel is
horizontal but it then moves into a vertical plane in which it rotates. The diagram shows the wheel when
it is rotating in a vertical plane.

W
R o ta tio n

State the direction of the centripetal acceleration of the rider at A.

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(1)

Explain why the resultant force on the rider at A has to be in this same direction.

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 (1)

The radius of the wheel is 8.0 m and the time for 1 revolution at maximum speed is 4.5 s. Show that at
this speed the resultant force acting on a rider of mass 60 kg is about 900 N.

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(4)

Calculate the weight W of the rider.

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Weight = ..............................................................
(1)

Calculate P, the magnitude of the push from the capsule on the rider, when he is at point A.

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Push = ..................................................................
(1)

Draw labelled arrows on the diagram to show the two principal forces acting on the rider when he is at
point B.
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

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Week 2 Questions Mark Scheme
1. (a) (i) Why speed is unchanged
Force/Weight [not acceleration] is perpendicular to velocity/motion/direction of
travel/instantaneous displacement [not speed]
OR no component of force/weight in direction of velocity etc (1)
No work is done OR No acceleration in the direction of motion (1) 2
(ii) Why it accelerates
Direction (of motion) is changing (1)
Acceleration linked to a change in velocity (1) 2
(b) Speed of satellite
2
Use of a = v /r (1)
3 –1
Correct answer [3.8 to 4.0 × 10 m s ] (1)
Example calculation:
–2 –4 –1
v = √(2.7 × 107 m × 0.56 m s ) [Allow 1 mark for ω = 1.4 × 10 rad s ] 2
[6]

2. Why person moving in a circle must have an acceleration

Acceleration due to changing direction OR If not it would continue in straight line (1) 1
Centripetal acceleration
v2
OR rw 2
a= r (1)
2πr 2  6.4  106 
v   465(ms 1 )
T 24  60  60 
OR 
5 1 
w  7.3  10 (rad s ) 

(1)
 a = 0.034 (m s-2) [ no u.e.] (1) 3
Which force is the larger
mg is larger than R/R is smaller than mg (1)
mg – R / centripetal/accelerating/resultant force acts towards centre (1) 2
Differing apparent field strength
(0.034 ÷ 9.81) × 100% = 0.35%
OR (0.03 ÷ 9.81) × 100% = 0.31 % [NOT 0.3%] (1) 1
[6]

3. Speed of sphere
Momentum conserved [stated or implied] (1)
Correct subs L.H.S or R.H.S of conservation of momentum equation (1) 3
–1
Correct answer [ν = 1.43(m s )] (1)
Example of calculation:
–1
54 × 2.57 (+ 0) = 54 × ν + 29 × 2.12 (g m s )
–1
⇒ 138.78 = 54 × ν + 61.48 ⇒ ν = 1.43(m s )
Elastic or inelastic collision
2
Recall K.E: 1/2mν (1)
Correct values for both KEs [178(mJ), 120(mJ), no ue](1)
Conclusion consistent with their results for KE(1) 3
[max 1 if only words used and inelastic ≡ energy lost implied]
Example of calculation:
2
= ½ × 54 × 2.57 = 178 mJ
2 2
Final total K.E: ½ × 29 × 2.12 + ½ × 54 × 1.43 mJ = 65 mJ + 55 mJ = 120 mJ ⇒Inelastic
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 Average speed of the spheres
Recall ν = 2πr / t (1)
–1
Correct answer [2.9 m s ] (1) 2
–1
Example of calculation: ν = 2πr / t = π × 0.17 × 2 m / 0.37 s = 2.9 m s or 290 cm/s
Calculation of centripetal force
2 2
Recall F = mν / r OR mrω OR m ν ω (1)
Correct answer [1.43 N, ecf for their ν ] (1) 2
2 2
Example of calculation: F = mν / r = 0.029 × 2.9 / 0.17 N [watch out for 29 twice] = 1.43 N [ecf]
Tension
Weight of sphere (= mg = 0.029 × 9.81 N = )0.28 N (1)
T = F – W OR F = T + W [using their values for F and T] (1) 2
Example of calculation:
= 1.43 – 0.28 (N)  T = 1.15 N
[12]

4. Resultant force
Direction of travel changing (1)
Velocity changing/accelerating (1)
Force is towards centre of circle (1) 3
Why no sharp bends
Relate sharpness of bend to r (1)
Relate values of , r and F (1) 2
[e.g. if r large,  can be large without force being too large/if r small,  must be small to prevent force
being too large]
Bobsleigh
Ncos = mg (1)
2
Nsin (1) = m /r or ma(1)
Proof successfully completed [consequent on using correct formula] (1) 4
Calculation of angle
77  78° (1) 1
[10]

5. Direction of centripetal acceleration

Towards centre/downwards/inwards (1) 1
Explanation
F=ma, a and F in same direction (1) 1
Resultant force
2r 2  8
–1
 = T = 4.5 [Equation OR substitution] (1) = 11.2 m s (1)
mv 2 60  11.2 2
F= r = 8 [Equation OR substitution] (1) = 936 N (1)
2 2
–1
OR w = T = 4.5 [Equation OR substitution] (1) = 1.396 rad s (1)
2 2
F = mrw = 60 × 8 × 1.4 [Equation OR substitution] (1) = 936 N (1) 4
Calculation of weight
W = mg= 60 × 9.81 = 589 N (1) 1
Calculation of magnitude of push
Fnet = W + P P = F – W= 936 – 589 = 347 N (1) 1
Diagram
W  (1) P  (1) 2
[10]
The Henrietta Barnett School 8