Circular Motion Practice Problems

  1. The variables that contribute to the centripetal force on an object are mass moving in the circular path, the radius of the circle, and the period of rotation. What will happen to the centripetal force if:
  2. The mass is tripled
  3. The radius is doubled
  4. The period is doubled
  1. An object is being spun vertically around in a circle at a constant speed. Looking at the object in 3 different positions, at the top of the path, at the bottom of the path and half way in between, rank them in order from highest to lowest of tension force.
  1. A monkey, mass M, is on a gravitron. The coefficient of friction keeping him from slipping is µ and the radius of the gravitron is r. Find the speed of the monkey as he spins around (the floor has been lowered).
  1. A communications satellite of mass 200 kg is in a circular orbit and has altitude of 3300 km above Earth’s surface. Determine the speed of the satellite and the period of rotation. (Me = 5.98E24 kg, re = 6.38E6m)
  1. A roller coaster cart is moving at 45 m/s and enters a loopdy loop of radius 40 m. It has a mass of 150 kg. Find the apparent weight of the cart at the top and bottom of the loop.
  1. You (m=78 kg) are riding in a ferris wheel (m =1590 kg, radius 50 m) that gives you an apparent weight at the top of 564.4 N.
  2. What is your centripetal force?
  3. What is your normal force at the bottom?
  4. What is the constant speed you are traveling?
  1. The mass of planet A is twice the mass of Earth and it has a radius that is 1/4th that of Earth. Determine the acceleration due to gravity of planet A.