AP Physics - Topic questions_L2.9-CircularMotiontopic.pdf

AP Physics - Topic questions

1. AP PHYSICS 1 Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
AP Physics 1 Page 1 of 8

2. 1.
A sled slides along a vertical circular track of radius, as shown. There is negligible friction between the sled and
the track. At the bottommost point of the track, the sled has speed. Which of the following graphs best show the
normal force exerted by the track on the sled at the bottommost point of the track as a function of?
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
Page 2 of 8 AP Physics 1

3. (A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
2.An object of masstravels in a horizontal circular path of radiusat constant speed. The object’s period of
revolution is. What is the centripetal acceleration of the object?
(A) Zero
(B)
(C)
(D)
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
AP Physics 1 Page 3 of 8

4. 3.
One end of a string is held in place and the other end of the string is attached to a disk. The disk can be set in motion
and travel in a circular path with constant speed along a horizontal surface. A force sensor with negligible mass is
attached to the string, as shown in the figure. There is negligible friction between both the disk and force sensor and
the surface. A student sketches the graph shown of the force measured by the force sensor for several values of the
speed. Is the student’s sketch accurate? Why or why not?
(A) Yes, because the centripetal force increases proportionally with the speed.
(B) Yes, because centripetal force increases proportional to the square of the speed.
(C) No, because the force should increase linearly with speed.
(D) No, because the force would decrease as speed increases.
4.A satellite orbits Earth in a circle of radiuswith speed. The satellite is then moved into a new circular orbit with
radius. What tangential speed must the satellite have in order to maintain the new orbit?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
Page 4 of 8 AP Physics 1

5. 5.
A cart is moving along a horizontal circular track. At the instant shown, the cart is moving to the right and its speed
is increasing. A student claims that the net force on the cart is directed toward the center of the track. Is the claim
correct? Why or why not?
(A) Yes, because the centripetal force always points toward the center of the circular motion.
(B) Yes, because the speed of the cart is increasing so there must be a nonzero net force.
(C)
No, because the cart has both a tangential acceleration parallel to the track and a centripetal acceleration
perpendicular to the track.
(D) No, because the speed is increasing and therefore the net force is directed to the right.
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
AP Physics 1 Page 5 of 8

6. 6.
A penny of massis revolving at the edge of a spinning turntable of radius, as shown. The penny has a constant
tangential speed, which is the maximum speed the penny can have without slipping. Which of the following is a
correct expression for the coefficient of static friction,, between the penny and the turntable?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
7.A satellite of massis in a circular orbit at a heightabove the surface of Earth, which has a massand a
radius. What is the period of the satellite’s orbit?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
Page 6 of 8 AP Physics 1

7. 8.
Three wheels are arranged as shown in the diagram. Wheelhas radiusand period. Wheelhas radius,
and Wheelhas a radius. The wheels turn each other without slipping. Which of the following correctly relates
the periodof Wheelto the periodof Wheel?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
AP Physics 1 Page 7 of 8

8. 9.
A motor swings a ball on a string in a vertical circle such that the tension in the string is constant throughout the
ball’s motion. Which of the following correctly indicates at which point the ball has the greatest speed and provides
a valid justification?
(A)
At the topmost point, because the tension force and gravitational force are both directed toward the center of
the ball’s motion.
(B) At the topmost point, because the net force on the ball is zero.
(C) At the bottommost point, because the tension offsets the gravitational force.
(D) At the bottommost point, because the net force on the ball is a maximum.
Test Booklet
Circular Motion topic
Page 8 of 8 AP Physics 1