Topic 6 Review [161 marks]

1. A car on a road follows a horizontal circular path at a constant speed. [1 mark]

What is the direction of the net force acting on the car and the direction
of the instantaneous velocity of the car?

2. A mass attached to a string rotates in a gravitational field with a constant [1 mark]

period in a vertical plane.

How do the speed of the mass and the tension of the string compare at P and Q?
3. The centre of the Earth and the Moon are a distance D apart. There is a [1 mark]
point X between them where their gravitational fields cancel out. The
distance from the centre of the Earth to X is d. The mass of the Earth is ME and
the mass of the Moon is MM .

What is correct at X?

ME MM
A.
d
= D −d
ME
B.
D −d
= MdM
ME MM
C.
d2
=
( D −d ) 2
ME MM
D.
d2
= D 2−d2
 A mass is attached to one end of a rod and made to rotate with constant speed in
a vertical circle.

4a. The scale diagram shows the weight W of the mass at an instant when [2 marks]
the rod is horizontal.
Draw, on the scale diagram, an arrow to represent the force exerted on the mass
by the rod.

4b. Explain why the magnitude of the force exerted on the mass by the rod [3 marks]
is not constant.
5. A ball of mass 0.3 kg is attached to a light, inextensible string. It is rotated[1 mark]

in a vertical circle. The length of the string is 0.6 m and the speed of rotation of
the ball is 4 m s −1.

What is the tension when the string is horizontal?

A. 5 N
B. 8 N
C. 11 N
D. 13 N

6. A satellite is orbiting Earth in a circular path at constant speed. Three [1 mark]

statements about the resultant force on the satellite are:
I. It is equal to the gravitational force of attraction on the satellite.
II. It is equal to the mass of the satellite multiplied by its acceleration.
III. It is equal to the centripetal force on the satellite.
Which combination of statements is correct?
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III
7. Three statements about Newton’s law of gravitation are: [1 mark]
I. It can be used to predict the motion of a satellite.
II. It explains why gravity exists.
III. It is used to derive the expression for gravitational potential energy.
Which combination of statements is correct?
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

A student uses a load to pull a box up a ramp inclined at 30°. A string of constant
length and negligible mass connects the box to the load that falls vertically. The
string passes over a pulley that runs on a frictionless axle. Friction acts between
the base of the box and the ramp. Air resistance is negligible.

The load has a mass of 3.5 kg and is initially 0.95 m above the floor. The mass of
the box is 1.5 kg.
The load is released and accelerates downwards.

8a. Outline two differences between the momentum of the box and the [2 marks]
momentum of the load at the same instant.

−2
8b. The vertical acceleration of the load downwards is 2.4 m s−2. [2 marks]
Calculate the tension in the string.

8c. Show that the speed of the load when it hits the floor is about 2.1 m s−1. [2 marks]

8d. The radius of the pulley is 2.5 cm. Calculate the angular speed of [2 marks]
rotation of the pulley as the load hits the floor. State your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures.
8e. After the load has hit the floor, the box travels a further 0.35 m along the[4 marks]
ramp before coming to rest. Determine the average frictional force
between the box and the surface of the ramp.
8f. The student then makes the ramp horizontal and applies a constant [3 marks]
horizontal force to the box. The force is just large enough to start the
box moving. The force continues to be applied after the box begins to move.

Explain, with reference to the frictional force acting, why the box accelerates
once it has started to move.
 Airboats are used for transport across a river. To move the boat forward, air is
propelled from the back of the boat by a fan blade.

An airboat has a fan blade of radius 1.8 m. This fan can propel air with a
maximum speed relative to the boat of 20 m s−1. The density of air is 1.2 kg m −3.

9a. Outline why a force acts on the airboat due to the fan blade. [3 marks]
 In a test the airboat is tied to the river bank with a rope normal to the bank. The
fan propels the air at its maximum speed. There is no wind.

9b. Show that a mass of about 240 kg of air moves through the fan every [2 marks]
second.

9c. Show that the tension in the rope is about 5 kN. [1 mark]
 The rope is untied and the airboat moves away from the bank. The variation with
time t of the speed v of the airboat is shown for the motion.

9d. Estimate the distance the airboat travels to reach its maximum speed. [2 marks]
9e. Deduce the mass of the airboat. [3 marks]

9f. The fan is rotating at 120 revolutions every minute. Calculate the [2 marks]
centripetal acceleration of the tip of a fan blade.
10. A mass at the end of a string is moving in a horizontal circle at constant [1 mark]
speed. The string makes an angle θ to the vertical.

What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the mass?

A. g
B. g sin θ
C. g cos θ
D. g tan θ

11. The gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet of radius R is g . [1 mark]
A satellite is moving in a circular orbit a distance R above the surface of the
planet. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the satellite?

A. 0
g
B. 4
g
C. 2
D. g

Titan is a moon of Saturn. The Titan-Sun distance is 9.3 times greater than the
Earth-Sun distance.

12a. Show that the intensity of the solar radiation at the location of Titan is 16 [1 mark]
W m −2
12b. Titan has an atmosphere of nitrogen. The albedo of the atmosphere is [3 marks]
0.22. The surface of Titan may be assumed to be a black body. Explain
why the average intensity of solar radiation absorbed by the whole surface of
Titan is 3.1 W m −2

12c. Show that the equilibrium surface temperature of Titan is about 90 K. [1 mark]

12d. The orbital radius of Titan around Saturn is R and the period of [2 marks]
revolution is T .
4 π 2R 3
Show that T2 = GM
where M is the mass of Saturn.

9
12e. The orbital radius of Titan around Saturn is 1.2 × 109 m and the orbital [2 marks]
period is 15.9 days. Estimate the mass of Saturn.

13. A child stands on a horizontal rotating platform that is moving at constant [1 mark]
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.

14. Which is the definition of gravitational field strength at a point? [1 mark]

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
C. G M2 , where M is the mass of a planet and r is the distance from the planet to
r
the point
D. The resultant force of gravitational attraction on a mass at that point

15. An ion moves in a circle in a uniform magnetic field. Which single change [1 mark]
would increase the radius of the circular path?

A. Decreasing the speed of the ion

B. Increasing the charge of the ion
C. Increasing the mass of the ion
D. Increasing the strength of the magnetic field
16. An object moves in a circle of constant radius. Values of the centripetal [1 mark]
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
D. 1
F

17. A sphere is suspended from the end of a string and rotates in a horizontal [1 mark]
circle. Which freebody diagram, to the correct scale, shows the forces
acting on the sphere?
 A planet is in a circular orbit around a star. The speed of the planet is constant.

18a. Explain why a centripetal force is needed for the planet to be in a [2 marks]
circular orbit.

18b. State the nature of this centripetal force. [1 mark]

18c. Determine the gravitational field of the planet. [2 marks]

The following data are given:
Mass of planet = 8. 0 × 1024 kg
Radius of the planet = 9. 1 × 106 m.
 A football player kicks a stationary ball of mass 0.45 kg towards a wall. The initial
speed of the ball after the kick is 19 m s−1 and the ball does not rotate. Air
resistance is negligible and there is no wind.

19a. The player’s foot is in contact with the ball for 55 ms. Calculate the [2 marks]
average force that acts on the ball due to the football player.

19b. The ball leaves the ground at an angle of 22°. The horizontal distance [2 marks]
from the initial position of the edge of the ball to the wall is 11 m.
Calculate the time taken for the ball to reach the wall.
19c. The top of the wall is 2.4 m above the ground. Deduce whether the ball [3 marks]
will hit the wall.

19d. In practice, air resistance affects the ball. Outline the effect that air [2 marks]
resistance has on the vertical acceleration of the ball. Take the
direction of the acceleration due to gravity to be positive.
19e. The player kicks the ball again. It rolls along the ground without sliding [1 mark]
with a horizontal velocity of 1. 40 m s−1 . The radius of the ball is 0. 11 m .
Calculate the angular velocity of the ball. State an appropriate SI unit for your
answer.

20. Mass M is attached to one end of a string. The string is passed through a [1 mark]
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?
2
A. mv
r
B. mv2 rg
mgv2
C. r
2
D. mv
g r

21. Planet X has a gravitational field strength of 18 N kg −1 at its surface. [1 mark]

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. 6 m s−2
B. 18 m s−2
C. 54 m s−2
D. 162 m s−2
 The Rotor is an amusement park ride that can be modelled as a vertical cylinder
of inner radius R rotating about its axis. When the cylinder rotates sufficiently
fast, the floor drops out and the passengers stay motionless against the inner
surface of the cylinder. The diagram shows a person taking the Rotor ride. The
floor of the Rotor has been lowered away from the person.

22a. Draw and label the free-body diagram for the person. [2 marks]

22b. The person must not slide down the wall. Show that the minimum [2 marks]
angular velocity ω of the cylinder for this situation is

ω = √ μR
g

where μ is the coefficient of static friction between the person and the cylinder.
22c. The coefficient of static friction between the person and the cylinder is [3 marks]
0. 40. The radius of the cylinder is 3. 5 m. The cylinder makes 28
revolutions per minute. Deduce whether the person will slide down the inner
surface of the cylinder.

23. An object hangs from a light string and moves in a horizontal circle of [1 mark]
radius r.

The string makes an angle θ with the vertical. The angular speed of the object is
ω. What is tan θ?
2
A. ωg r
g
B.
ω 2r
2
C. ωr
g
g
D.
ωr2
24. An object of mass m makes n revolutions per second around a circle of [1 mark]
radius r at a constant speed. What is the kinetic energy of the object?
A. 0
B. 12 π 2 mn2 r2

C. 2π 2 mn2 r2
D. 4π 2 mn2 r2

25. A satellite travels around the Earth in a circular orbit. What is true about [1 mark]
the forces acting in this situation?
A. The resultant force is the same direction as the satellite’s acceleration.
B. The gravitational force acting on the satellite is negligible.
C. There is no resultant force on the satellite relative to the Earth.
D. The satellite does not exert any force on the Earth.

A proton is moving in a region of uniform magnetic field. The magnetic field is

directed into the plane of the paper. The arrow shows the velocity of the proton at
one instant and the dotted circle gives the path followed by the proton.

26a. Explain why the path of the proton is a circle. [2 marks]

 The speed of the proton is 2.0 × 106 m s–1 and the magnetic field strength B is
0.35 T.

26b. Show that the radius of the path is about 6 cm. [2 marks]

26c. Calculate the time for one complete revolution. [2 marks]

26d. Explain why the kinetic energy of the proton is constant. [2 marks]
27. A motorcyclist is cornering on a curved race track. [1 mark]
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?
28. Satellite X orbits a planet with orbital radius R. Satellite Y orbits the same [1 mark]
planet with orbital radius 2R. Satellites X and Y have the same mass.
centripetal acceleration of X
What is the ratio ?
centripetal acceleration of Y

A. 14

B. 12
C. 2
D. 4

29. Object P moves vertically with simple harmonic motion (shm). Object Q [1 mark]
moves in a vertical circle with a uniform speed. P and Q have the same
time period T. When P is at the top of its motion, Q is at the bottom of its motion.

What is the interval between successive times when the acceleration of P is equal
and opposite to the acceleration of Q?
A. T4

B. T2

C. 34T

D. T
30. A particle of mass 0.02 kg moves in a horizontal circle of diameter 1 m [1 mark]
with an angular velocity of 3π rad s-1.
What is the magnitude and direction of the force responsible for this motion?

31. Which graph shows the relationship between gravitational force F [1 mark]
between two point masses and their separation r?
 The Moon has no atmosphere and orbits the Earth. The diagram shows the Moon
with rays of light from the Sun that are incident at 90° to the axis of rotation of the
Moon.

32a. A black body is on the Moon’s surface at point A. Show that the [2 marks]
maximum temperature that this body can reach is 400 K. Assume that
the Earth and the Moon are the same distance from the Sun.

32b. Another black body is on the Moon’s surface at point B. [2 marks]

Outline, without calculation, why the aximum temperature of the black body at
point B is less than at point A.
32c. The albedo of the Earth’s atmosphere is 0.28. Outline why the maximum [1 mark]
temperature of a black body on the Earth when the Sun is overhead is
less than that at point A on the Moon.

32d. Outline why a force acts on the Moon. [1 mark]

32e. Outline why this force does no work on the Moon. [1 mark]
 A proton moves along a circular path in a region of a uniform magnetic field. The
magnetic field is directed into the plane of the page.

33a. Label with arrows on the diagram the magnetic force F on the proton. [1 mark]

33b. Label with arrows on the velocity vector v of the proton. [1 mark]

33c. The speed of the proton is 2.16 × 106 m s-1 and the magnetic field [3 marks]
strength is 0.042 T. For this proton, determine, in m, the radius of the
circular path. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
34. A particle of mass m and charge of magnitude q enters a region of [1 mark]
uniform magnetic field B that is directed into the page. The particle
follows a circular path of radius R. What are the sign of the charge of the particle
and the speed of the particle?

35. Two isolated point particles of mass 4M and 9M are separated by a [1 mark]
distance 1 m. A point particle of mass M is placed a distance x from the
particle of mass 9M. The net gravitational force on M is zero.

What is x?

4
A. 13
m
2
B. 5
m
3
C. 5
m
9
D. 13
m
36. The mass at the end of a pendulum is made to move in a horizontal circle [1 mark]
of radius r at constant speed. The magnitude of the net force on the mass
is F.

What is the direction of F and the work done by F during half a revolution?
 Ion-thrust engines can power spacecraft. In this type of engine, ions are created in
a chamber and expelled from the spacecraft. The spacecraft is in outer space
when the propulsion system is turned on. The spacecraft starts from rest.

The mass of ions ejected each second is 6.6 × 10–6 kg and the speed of each ion is
5.2 × 104 m s–1. The initial total mass of the spacecraft and its fuel is 740 kg.
Assume that the ions travel away from the spacecraft parallel to its direction of
motion.

37a. Determine the initial acceleration of the spacecraft. [2 marks]

An initial mass of 60 kg of fuel is in the spacecraft for a journey to a planet. Half of

the fuel will be required to slow down the spacecraft before arrival at the
destination planet.

37b. Estimate the maximum speed of the spacecraft. [2 marks]

37c. Outline why scientists sometimes use estimates in making calculations. [1 mark]

In practice, the ions leave the spacecraft at a range of angles as shown.

37d. Outline why the ions are likely to spread out. [2 marks]
37e. Explain what effect, if any, this spreading of the ions has on the [2 marks]
acceleration of the spacecraft.

On arrival at the planet, the spacecraft goes into orbit as it comes into the
gravitational field of the planet.

37f. Outline what is meant by the gravitational field strength at a point. [2 marks]

37g. Newton’s law of gravitation applies to point masses. Suggest why the law[1 mark]
can be applied to a satellite orbiting a spherical planet of uniform
density.
38. An object of mass m at the end of a string of length r moves in a vertical [1 mark]
circle at a constant angular speed ω.
What is the tension in the string when the object is at the bottom of the circle?
A. m (ω2r + g)
B. m (ω2r – g)
C. mg(ω2r + 1)
D. mg(ω2r – 1)

39. Newton’s law of gravitation [1 mark]

A. is equivalent to Newton’s second law of motion.
B. explains the origin of gravitation.
C. is used to make predictions.
D. is not valid in a vacuum.

40. A mass at the end of a string is swung in a horizontal circle at increasing [1 mark]
speed until the string breaks.

The subsequent path taken by the mass is a

A. line along a radius of the circle.
B. horizontal circle.
C. curve in a horizontal plane.
D. curve in a vertical plane.
 An electron moves in circular motion in a uniform magnetic field.

The velocity of the electron at point P is 6.8 × 105 m s–1 in the direction shown.
The magnitude of the magnetic field is 8.5 T.

41a. State the direction of the magnetic field. [1 mark]

41b. Calculate, in N, the magnitude of the magnetic force acting on the [1 mark]
electron.

41c. Explain why the electron moves at constant speed. [1 mark]

41d. Explain why the electron moves on a circular path. [2 marks]

A small ball of mass m is moving in a horizontal circle on the inside surface of a

frictionless hemispherical bowl.

The normal reaction force N makes an angle θ to the horizontal.

42a. State the direction of the resultant force on the ball. [1 mark]
42b. On the diagram, construct an arrow of the correct length to represent [2 marks]
the weight of the ball.

42c. Show that the magnitude of the net force F on the ball is given by the [3 marks]
following equation.
mg
F=
tan θ
42d. The radius of the bowl is 8.0 m and θ = 22°. Determine the speed of [4 marks]
the ball.

42e. Outline whether this ball can move on a horizontal circular path of [2 marks]
radius equal to the radius of the bowl.
42f. A second identical ball is placed at the bottom of the bowl and the first [3 marks]
ball is displaced so that its height from the horizontal is equal to 8.0 m.

The first ball is released and eventually strikes the second ball. The two balls
remain in contact. Determine, in m, the maximum height reached by the two
balls.

43. A mass attached to a string rotates in a gravitational field with a constant [1 mark]
period in a vertical plane.

How do the tension in the string and the kinetic energy of the mass compare at P
and Q?
44. A satellite X of mass m orbits the Earth with a period T. What will be the [1 mark]
orbital period of satellite Y of mass 2m occupying the same orbit as X?
A. T2
B. T
C. √ 2T
D. 2T

A satellite powered by solar cells directed towards the Sun is in a polar orbit about
the Earth.

The satellite is orbiting the Earth at a distance of 6600 km from the centre of the
Earth.

45a. Determine the orbital period for the satellite. [3 marks]

Mass of Earth = 6.0 x 1024 kg
 The satellite carries an experiment that measures the peak wavelength emitted
by different objects. The Sun emits radiation that has a peak wavelength λS of 509
nm. The peak wavelength λE of the radiation emitted by the Earth is 10.1 μm.

45b. Determine the mean temperature of the Earth. [2 marks]

45c. Suggest how the difference between λS and λE helps to account for [3 marks]
the greenhouse effect.
45d. Not all scientists agree that global warming is caused by the activities of [1 mark]
man.
Outline how scientists try to ensure agreement on a scientific issue.

46. Two pulses are travelling towards each other. [1 mark]

What is a possible pulse shape when the pulses overlap?

47. A horizontal disc rotates uniformly at a constant angular velocity about a [1 mark]
central axis normal to the plane of the disc.

Point X is a distance 2L from the centre of the disc. Point Y is a distance L from the
centre of the disc. Point Y has a linear speed v and a centripetal acceleration a.
What is the linear speed and centripetal acceleration of point X?

48. An object of constant mass is tied to the end of a rope of length l and [1 mark]
made to move in a horizontal circle. The speed of the object is increased
until the rope breaks at speed v. The length of the rope is then changed. At what
other combination of rope length and speed will the rope break?
 49. Two satellites of mass m and 2m orbit a planet at the same orbit radius. If [1 mark]
F is the force exerted on the satellite of mass m by the planet and a is the
centripetal acceleration of this satellite, what is the force and acceleration of the
satellite with mass 2m ?

50. The gravitational field strength at the surface of Earth is g. Another planet [1 mark]
has double the radius of Earth and the same density as Earth. What is the
gravitational field strength at the surface of this planet?
g
A. 2
g
B. 4

C. 2g
D. 4g

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2023

International Baccalaureate® - Baccalauréat International® - Bachillerato Internacional®

Printed for ST JOHN'S SCH