IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

Class 2023
Hayah International Academy

Name:--------------------------------------------

[CIRCULAR MOTION AND

FIELDS]
IB Physics HL/SL
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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

Part I: MCQ [1M each]

1. A child stands on a horizontal rotating platform that is moving at constant angular
speed. The centripetal force on the child is provided by
A. the gravitational force on the child.
B. the friction on the child’s feet.
C. the tension in the child’s muscles.
D. the normal reaction of the platform on the child.

2. Which is the definition of gravitational field strength at a point?

A. The sum of the gravitational fields created by all masses around the point
B. The gravitational force per unit mass experienced by a small point mass at that point
𝑀
C. 𝐺 𝑟 2, where 𝑀 is the mass of a planet and 𝑟 is the distance from the planet to the point

D. The resultant force of gravitational attraction on a mass at that point

3. An object moves in a circle of constant radius. Values of the centripetal force 𝐹 are
measured for different values of angular velocity 𝜔. A graph is plotted with 𝜔 on the 𝑥-axis.
Which quantity plotted on the 𝑦-axis will produce a straight-line graph?

A. √𝐹
B. 𝐹
C. 𝐹 2
1
D. 𝐹

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

4. A sphere is suspended from the end of a string and rotates in a horizontal circle. Which
freebody diagram, to the correct scale, shows the forces acting on the sphere?

5. Mass 𝑀 is attached to one end of a string. The string is passed through a hollow tube and
mass 𝑚 is attached to the other end. Friction between the tube and string is negligible.

Mass 𝑚 travels at constant speed 𝑣 in a horizontal circle of radius 𝑟. What is

mass 𝑀?
𝑚𝑣 2
A. 𝑟

B. 𝑚𝑣 2 𝑟𝑔
𝑚𝑔𝑣 2
C. 𝑟

𝑚𝑣 2
D. 𝑔𝑟

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

6. Planet X has a gravitational field strength of 18𝑁𝑘𝑔−1 at its surface. Planet Y has the
same density as X but three times the radius of X. What is the gravitational field strength at
the surface of Y?
A. 6𝑚𝑠 −2
B. 18𝑚𝑠 −2
C. 54𝑚𝑠 −2
D. 162𝑚𝑠 −2

7. An object hangs from a light string and moves in a horizontal circle of radius r.

The string makes an angle θ with the vertical. The angular speed of the object is ω. What is
tan θ?
𝜔2𝑟
A. 𝑔
𝑔
B. 𝜔2𝑟

𝜔𝑟 2
C. 𝑔
𝑔
D. 𝜔𝑟 2

8. An object of mass m makes n revolutions per second around a circle of radius r at a

constant speed. What is the kinetic energy of the object?
1
A. 0 B. 2 𝜋 2 𝑚𝑛2 𝑟 2

C. 2𝜋 2 𝑚𝑛2 𝑟 2 D. 4𝜋 2 𝑚𝑛2 𝑟 2

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

9. A motorcyclist is cornering on a curved race track.

Which combination of changes of banking angle θ and coefficient of friction μ between the
tyres and road allows the motorcyclist to travel around the corner at greater speed?

10. [1 mark]
Which graph shows the relationship between gravitational force F between two point
masses and their separation r?

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

Part II:

1. This question is about circular motion.

A linear spring of negligible mass requires a force of 18.0 N to cause its length to increase by
1.0 cm.

A sphere of mass 75.0 g is attached to one end of the spring. The distance between the centre
of the sphere M and the other end P of the unstretched spring is 25.0 cm, as shown below.

P M

25.0 cm

The sphere is rotated at constant speed in a horizontal circle with centre P. The distance PM
increases to 26.5 cm.

(a) Explain why the spring increases in length when the sphere is moving in a circle.

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(2)

(b) Determine the speed of the sphere.

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(4)
(Total 6 marks)

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

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

satellite

Earth

(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.

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(2)

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

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(3)
(Total 7 marks)

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

3. This question is about atomic models. The diagram below (not to scale) shows a simple
model of the hydrogen atom in which the electron orbits the proton in a circular path of
radius R.

electron proton
charge –e charge +e

(a) State an expression for the magnitude of the electrostatic force F acting on the
electron.

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(1)

(b) The orbital speed of the electron is 2.2 × 106 m s–1.

Deduce that the radius R of the orbit is 5.2 × 10–11 m.

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(3)

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IBDP PHYSICS SL/HL Topic 6

(c) A more complex model of the atom suggests that the orbital radius can only take
certain discrete values. This leads to the idea of discrete energy levels within the atom.
Outline the evidence that supports the existence of discrete energy levels.

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(3)
(Total 7 marks)