Practice questions chapter 6 (SL) [32 marks]

1.

A car on a road follows a horizontal circular path at a constant speed. What is the direction of
the net force acting on the car and the direction of the instantaneous velocity of the car?

[1]

2.

A mass attached to a string rotates in a gravitational field with a constant period in a vertical
plane.

How do the speed of the mass and the tension of the string compare at P and Q?
 [1]

3.

The centre of the Earth and the Moon are a distance D apart. There is a 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 M E and the mass of the Moon is M M.

What is correct at X?

ME M M
A. =
d D−d
ME MM
B. =
D−d d
ME MM
C. 2
=
d ( D−d )2

ME MM
D. 2
= 2 2
d D −d
[1]

4.

A ball of mass 0.3 kg is attached to a light, inextensible string. It is rotated 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

[1]

5.

A satellite is orbiting Earth in a circular path at constant speed. Three 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

[1]

6.

Three statements about Newton’s law of gravitation are:

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

[1]
7.

A mass is attached to one end of a rod and made to rotate with constant speed in a vertical
circle.

(a) The scale diagram shows the weight W of the mass at an instant when the rod is horizontal.

Draw, on the scale diagram, an arrow to represent the force exerted on the mass by the rod.

[2]

(b) Explain why the magnitude of the force exerted on the mass by the rod is not constant.

[3]
8.

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

(a.i) Show that the intensity of the solar radiation at the location of Titan is 16 W m −2

[1]

(a.ii) Titan has an atmosphere of nitrogen. The albedo of the atmosphere is 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

[3]

(a.iii) Show that the equilibrium surface temperature of Titan is about 90 K.

[1]

(b.i) The orbital radius of Titan around Saturn is R and the period of revolution is T .
2 3
4π R
Show that T 2= where M is the mass of Saturn.
GM
[2]

(b.ii) The orbital radius of Titan around Saturn is 1.2 × 109 m and the orbital period is 15.9 days.
Estimate the mass of Saturn.

[2]

9.

A planet is in a circular orbit around a star. The speed of the planet is constant.

(a.i) Explain why a centripetal force is needed for the planet to be in a circular orbit.

[2]

(a.ii) State the nature of this centripetal force.

[1]

(b) Determine the gravitational field of the planet.

The following data are given:

24
Mass of planet ¿ 8.0 ×10 kg
Radius of the planet ¿ 9.1 ×106 m.

[2]
10.

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.

(a) Draw and label the free-body diagram for the person.

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

ω=
√ g
μR
where μ is the coefficient of static friction between the person and the cylinder.

[2]

(c) The coefficient of static friction between the person and the cylinder is 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.

[3]

Markscheme

Practice questions chapter 6 (SL) [32 marks]

1.

[1]

Markscheme

2.

[1]

Markscheme

3.

[1]

Markscheme

[1]
 Markscheme

5.

[1]

Markscheme

[1]

Markscheme

7.

(a)

[2]

Markscheme

horizontal component of any length to the left ✓

vertical component two squares long upwards ✓
E.g.

Ignore point of application.

Award [1] max if arrowhead not present.

(b)
 [3]

Markscheme

ALTERNATIVE 1
the net/centripetal force has constant magnitude ✓
the direction of the net/centripetal force constantly changes ✓
this is achieved by vector-adding weight and the force from the rod
OR
the force from the rod is vector difference of the centripetal force and weight ✓

ALTERNATIVE 2
at the top Frod = Fc − W ✓
at the bottom, Frod = Fc + W ✓
net F/Fc is constant so the force from the rod is different «hence is changing» ✓

Accept reference to centripetal or net force indistinctly.

Allow reference to centripetal acceleration.

8.

(a.i)

[1]

Markscheme

1360
2 OR 15.7 ≈ 16 «W m » ✓
−2
incident intensity
9.3

Allow the use of 1400 for the solar constant.

(a.ii)

[3]

Markscheme

exposed surface is ¼ of the total surface ✓

absorbed intensity = (1−0.22) × incident intensity ✓
0.78 × 0.25 × 15.7 OR 3.07 «W m−2» ✓

Allow 3.06 from rounding and 3.12 if they use 16 W m−2.

(a.iii)

[1]
 Markscheme

σT 4 = 3.07
OR
T = 86 «K» ✓

(b.i)

[2]

Markscheme

correct equating of gravitational force / acceleration to centripetal force /

acceleration ✓
correct rearrangement to reach the expression given ✓

Allow use of
√ GM 2 πR for MP1.
R
=
T

(b.ii)

[2]

Markscheme

T =15.9 ×24 × 3600 «s» ✓

9 3
4 π ( 1.2× 10 )
2
26
M= −11 2
=5.4 ×10 «kg» ✓
6.67 ×10 × ( 15.9 ×24 × 3600 )

Award [2] marks for a bald correct answer.

Allow ECF from MP1.

9.

(a.i)

[2]

Markscheme

«circular motion» involves a changing velocity ✓

«Tangential velocity» is «always» perpendicular to centripetal force/acceleration
✓
there must be a force/acceleration towards centre/star ✓
without a centripetal force the planet will move in a straight line ✓
 (a.ii)

[1]

Markscheme

gravitational force/force of gravity ✓

(b)

[2]

Markscheme

GM
2 ✓ 6.4 «Nkg or ms » ✓
−1 −2
use of
R

10.

(a)

[2]

Markscheme

arrow downwards labelled weight/W/mg and arrow upwards labelled friction/ F ✓

arrow horizontally to the left labelled «normal» reaction/ N ✓

Ignore point of application of the forces but do not allow arrows that do not touch
the object. Do not allow horizontal force to be labelled ‘centripetal’ or R .

(b)

[2]

Markscheme

See F=μN AND N=mR ω 2 ✓ «substituting for N» μmω 2 R=mg ✓

(c)

[3]

Markscheme

ALTERNATIVE 1 minimum required angular velocity

«=
√9.81
0.40× 3.5
2π
»=2.6 « rad s−1 » ✓ actual angular velocity
−1
«= »=2.9« rad s »
60
28( ) ✓ actual angular velocity is greater than the minimum,

so the person does not slide ✓ ALTERNATIVE 2 Minimum friction

force ¿ mg=« 9.81 m » ✓ Actual friction force

( )
2
2 28
«=μmR ω =0.40 m ×3.5 2 π »=12.0 m ✓ Actual friction force is greater than
60
the minimum frictional force so the person does not slide ✓ Allow 2.7 from
−2
g=10 ms .