Circular Motion MCQ Questions and Answers for Practice

1. A body is moving along a circular path with variable speed, it has

1. Zero acceleration
2. Both radical and tangential acceleration
3. A radical acceleration
4. A tangential acceleration

2. A body is traveling in a circle at a constant speed. It

1. has an inward acceleration
2. has an outward radial acceleration
3. has a constant velocity
4. has no acceleration

3. A body of mass m moves in a horizontal circle of radius r at constant speed v for one complete revolution. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

1. The change in linear momentum of the body is zero.
2. The total energy of the body is constant.
3. The angular velocity of body is directed perpendicular to the plane of circular motion.
4. The work done by the centripetal force is 2 pi m v².

4. A car is making a turn at speed v. The radius of the turn is r and the centripetal force on the car is F. If the car rounds the same curve at speed 2v, the required centripetal force is

1. 2F
2. 4F
3. 1/2 F
4. F

5. A car sometimes overturns while taking a turn. When it overturns, it is

1. both the wheel leave the ground simultaneously
2. Either inner wheel or the outer wheel leaves the ground
3. The inner wheel which leaves the ground first
4. The outer wheel which leaves the ground first

6. A car travels in a circle with constant speed. The net force on the car

1. is directed toward the center of the curve.
2. none of the above
3. is zero because the car is not accelerating.
4. is directed forward, in the direction of travel.

7. A communication satellite is in a circular orbit around Earth. If the speed of the satellite is constant, the force acting on the satellite

1. points toward the center of the Earth at all times.
2. points in the direction that the satellite is moving.
3. is zero.
4. is decreasing.

8. A ladybug rests on the bottom of a tin can that is being whirled horizontally on the end of a string. Since the ladybug, like the can, moves in a circle, there must be a force on it. What exerts this force?

1. There is no force acting on it.
2. The can
3. Gravity
4. The string

9. A particle is acted upon by a force of constant magnitude which is always perpendicular to the velocity of the particle? The motion takes place in a plane. It follows that

1. its motion is linear
2. its motion is circular
3. its velocity is constant
4. its acceleration is constant

10. A particle is performing a U.C.M. Which is the wrong statement regarding its motion?

1. The acceleration vector is directed towards the center of the circle
2. The velocity and acceleration vectors are perpendicular to each other
3. The velocity vector is tangential to the circle
4. The acceleration vector is tangential to the circle

11. A rock attached to a string swings in a vertical circle. At the highest point,

1. two forces act on the rock and their resultant is zero.
2. two forces act on the rock and their resultant is not zero.
3. no forces act on the rock.
4. only one force acts on the rock.

12. A satellite moving in a circular orbit around Earth and maintaining a constant speed will experience a

1. changing acceleration away from Earth.
2. net acceleration away from Earth.
3. changing gravitational force towards Earth.
4. net gravitational force towards Earth.

13. A small car is being driven in a circular path at constant speed on a horizontal surface. What is the direction of the frictional force that keeps the car from skidding as it travels along this path?

1. toward the center of the circle
2. outward from the center of the circle
3. opposite the direction of the velocity of the car
4. in the same direction as the velocity of the car

14. A stone is tied to one end of a string. Holding the other end, the string is whirled in a horizontal plane with progressively increasing speed. It breaks at some speed because

1. The required centripetal force is less than the tension in the string.
2. The centripetal force is greater than the weight of the stone.
3. Gravitational forces of the earth are greater than the tension in the string.
4. The required centripetal force is greater than the tension sustained by the string.

15. A tin can whirled on the end of a string moves ina circle because

1. there is a force on the can pulling it outward.
2. there is an inward force acting on the can.
3. the can continually pulls on the string.
4. once the can starts moving, that is its natural tendency.