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Physics Quiz - Forces - Circular Motion (Questions)

This GCSE Physics quiz looks at circular motion, centripetal force, and how speed, mass, and radius link together when objects move in circles.

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(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

The faster an object moves, the larger the centripetal force needed to keep it in a circle of the same radius.

In GCSE Physics, circular motion explains how objects move in circles when a resultant force acts towards the centre. You study how speed, radius, and mass affect the centripetal force required.

Key Terms

  • Circular motion: Motion of an object moving in a circle at a constant speed or changing speed.
  • Centripetal force: The resultant force acting towards the centre that keeps an object moving in a circle.
  • Centripetal acceleration: Acceleration towards the centre that changes the direction of the velocity in circular motion.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is centripetal force in GCSE Physics?

Centripetal force is the inward resultant force that keeps an object moving in a circular path. It constantly changes the direction of the velocity, so the object stays in the circle.

What factors affect the size of the centripetal force?

The centripetal force increases if the object moves faster, has a larger mass, or moves in a circle with a smaller radius. These three factors are linked in circular motion equations.

Where do we see centripetal force in real life?

You see centripetal force on cars going round bends, passengers on fairground rides, planets orbiting the Sun, and objects whirled on a string, all kept in circular paths by inward forces.

Try These Related Quizzes

1. An object moving in a circle continuously accelerates towards what?
[ ] A predefined point outside of the area of the circle
[ ] A path perpendicular to the surface of the circle
[ ] The centre of the circle
[ ] None of the above
2. What does increasing the acceleration of an object following uniform circular motion change?
[ ] Direction of motion
[ ] Speed of object
[ ] Both the direction and speed of the object
[ ] Neither speed nor direction
3. What can increase the centripetal force required to keep an object in uniform circular motion about a point?
[ ] The mass of the object
[ ] The speed of the object
[ ] The radius of the orbit
[ ] All of the above
4. What name is given to the resultant force that acts towards the centre of a circle?
[ ] Centrifugal
[ ] Centripetal
[ ] Centipede
[ ] Centimetre
5. Which of the following is an example of uniform circular motion?
[ ] A ball travelling through space
[ ] An artificial satellite
[ ] Racing car
[ ] All of the above
6. If an object orbits around a point five metres away in three seconds, what will happen to the speed of the object if the object's orbit is increased to six metres?
[ ] Stays the same
[ ] Decrease
[ ] Increase
[ ] Impossible to tell
7. Which force acts as the centripetal force responsible for the circular motion of planets orbiting the Sun?
[ ] Electrostatic force
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Tension (Pull)
[ ] Friction
8. Which force acts as the centripetal force responsible for a car travelling around a bend?
[ ] Friction
[ ] Electrostatic force
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Tension (Pull)
9. If the centripetal force acting on the Moon were to suddenly stop acting, what would happen to the Moon?
[ ] It would continue to orbit unaffected
[ ] It would come crashing to Earth
[ ] It would go flying off into space
[ ] It would be swallowed by the black hole that would result
10. If a driver drives around a bend faster than normal, what happens to the size of the centripetal force needed to keep the car going around the bend?
[ ] It doesn't change
[ ] It increases
[ ] It decreases
[ ] The car will crash whatever happens

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Motion

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Physics Quiz - Forces - Circular Motion (Answers)
1. An object moving in a circle continuously accelerates towards what?
[ ] A predefined point outside of the area of the circle
[ ] A path perpendicular to the surface of the circle
[x] The centre of the circle
[ ] None of the above
It accelerates towards the point of origin of the centripetal force
2. What does increasing the acceleration of an object following uniform circular motion change?
[x] Direction of motion
[ ] Speed of object
[ ] Both the direction and speed of the object
[ ] Neither speed nor direction
Acceleration is related to velocity so any answer that includes the word speed must be incorrect
3. What can increase the centripetal force required to keep an object in uniform circular motion about a point?
[ ] The mass of the object
[ ] The speed of the object
[ ] The radius of the orbit
[x] All of the above
An increase in mass and speed or a decrease in radius increases the centripetal force
4. What name is given to the resultant force that acts towards the centre of a circle?
[ ] Centrifugal
[x] Centripetal
[ ] Centipede
[ ] Centimetre
You need to be able to identify what is responsible for the centripetal force, for example gravity for orbiting bodies
5. Which of the following is an example of uniform circular motion?
[ ] A ball travelling through space
[x] An artificial satellite
[ ] Racing car
[ ] All of the above
Whilst a racing car during a race will experience circular motion, it is not uniform circular motion. Strictly speaking, only satellites in geostationary orbits are circular, however, for the GCSE, artificial satellites are regarded as following circular motion rules
6. If an object orbits around a point five metres away in three seconds, what will happen to the speed of the object if the object's orbit is increased to six metres?
[ ] Stays the same
[ ] Decrease
[x] Increase
[ ] Impossible to tell
The speed will increase as the object will take the same time to complete one orbit. As the distance the object needs to travel increases, the speed must also increase to obey the laws of motion
7. Which force acts as the centripetal force responsible for the circular motion of planets orbiting the Sun?
[ ] Electrostatic force
[x] Gravity
[ ] Tension (Pull)
[ ] Friction
Gravity is always a pulling force
8. Which force acts as the centripetal force responsible for a car travelling around a bend?
[x] Friction
[ ] Electrostatic force
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Tension (Pull)
If the centripetal force required to maintain the circular motion of the car is greater than the friction of the tyres against the road, the car skids. In wet conditions, friction is greatly reduced which is why you have to drive more slowly round corners when the road is wet
9. If the centripetal force acting on the Moon were to suddenly stop acting, what would happen to the Moon?
[ ] It would continue to orbit unaffected
[ ] It would come crashing to Earth
[x] It would go flying off into space
[ ] It would be swallowed by the black hole that would result
It would behave in accordance with Newton's first law and continue on a straight path through space until influenced by another force. The direction of travel would be the directional component of the velocity at the instant that the force of gravity stopped
10. If a driver drives around a bend faster than normal, what happens to the size of the centripetal force needed to keep the car going around the bend?
[ ] It doesn't change
[x] It increases
[ ] It decreases
[ ] The car will crash whatever happens
Make sure that you learn the factors that affect the magnitude of a centripetal force
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