Rotational Motion Practice Test Answers in RED

1. Which of the following statements are true of an object moving in a circle at a constant speed?
Include all that apply.

a. The object experiences a force which has a component directed parallel to the
direction of motion.
b. Inertia causes objects to move in a circle.
c. There can be a force pushing outwards on the object as long as the net force in
inwards.
d. Because the speed is constant, the acceleration is zero.
e. The acceleration and the net force vector are directed perpendicular to each other.
f. If the net force acting upon the object is suddenly reduced to zero, then the object
would suddenly depart from its circular path and travel tangent to the circle.
g. The acceleration of the object is directed tangent to the circle.

Answer: CF

A is false; if the motion is in a circle at constant speed, the net force is perpendicular to the direction
of motion and there is neither a component parallel nor anti-parallel to the direction of motion.)

B is false; it is centripetal force which causes the circular motion. Inertia (which is NOT a force) is
merely the tendency of any moving object to continue in its straight-line constant speed path.

C is true; an object which moves in a circle must have a net inward force. There are many instances of
individual outwards forces which are exceeded by an individual inward force (e.g., see #5 below).

D is false; acceleration occurs when there is a change in velocity. Since the direction of the velocity
vector is changing, there is an acceleration - an inward acceleration.

E is false; the acceleration and net force are always directed in the same direction. In this
case, F and a are directed inward; this happens to be perpendicular to the tangential velocity vector.

F is true; if the net force is 0 N, then the moving object will maintain its state of motion. At the instant
that Fnetbecomes 0 N, the object is moving tangent to the circle.

G is false; the acceleration is directed inwards; only the velocity is directed tangent to the circle.

For Questions #2-#5, identify the type of force which causes the following bold-faced objects to
travel along a circular path.

2. An eraser is tied to a string swung in a horizontal circle.

a. gravity b. normal c. tension d. applied

e. friction f. spring g. electrical h. magnetic

3. The moon orbits the earth.

a. gravity b. normal c. tension d. applied

e. friction f. spring g. electrical h. magnetic

4. A car makes a sharp right-hand turn along a level roadway.

a. gravity b. normal c. tension d. applied

e. friction f. spring g. electrical h. magnetic

5. A roller coaster car passes through a loop. Consider the car at the bottom of the loop.

a. gravity b. normal c. tension d. applied

e. friction f. spring g. electrical h. magnetic

Answers:

2. C - Tension (A string is attached to the eraser and pulls it towards the center point of the circle.)

3. A - Gravity (All masses attract with a force of gravity. In the case of the moon and the earth,
gravity pulls on the moon in a direction which is roughly perpendicular to its path.)

4. E - Friction (Once the wheels are turned, friction can push perpendicular to the wheels' direction,
pushing the car towards the center of the circle.)

5. B - Normal (There are two forces at the bottom of the loop; gravity pulls outwards from the center;
but the normal force exceeds the magnitude of gravity, pushing inwards with sufficient force to supply
the needed centripetal force.)
17. A 1.20-kg bucket is held by a string and whirled in a vertical circle. The radius of the circle is 1.30
m. The speed of the bucket is 3.70 m/s at the top of the loop and 7.10 m/s at the bottom of the loop.
Construct a free-body diagram (label all forces according to type) for the bucket at both the top and
the bottom of the loop. Clearly indicate the magnitude of the individual force values on your free-body
diagram.

Answers: See diagram above.

In each case, the acceleration is found using the equation: a = v2/R. For the top of the loop, a =
(3.70)2/(1.30) = 10.53 m/s2. For the bottom of the loop, a = (7.10)2/(1.30) = 38.78 m/s2. The net
force is always found by Fnet = ma. At the bottom of the loop, Fnet = (1.20 kg)(10.53 m/s2) = 12.6
N. At the bottom of the loop, Fnet = (1.20 kg)(38.78 m/s2) = 46.5 N. The force of gravity is always
found by mg where g = 9.8 m/s2. At both top and bottom of the loop, this value is 11.8 N. From the
free-body diagram, one can reason the following:

Top: Fnet = Fgrav + Ftens which can be rearranged to Ftens = Fnet - Fgrav
Bottom: Fnet = Ftens - Fgrav which can be rearranged to Ftens = Fnet + Fgrav

Using these equations and the calculated values of Fgrav and Fnet, one can determine the tension at the
top and bottom of the circle.

18. For the problem below, construct a free-body diagram showing the direction and types of forces
acting upon the car at the top and the bottom of a loop. Be sure to label the forces according to type.

2
Anna experiences a downward acceleration of 24.0 m/s at the top of the loop and an upwards
2
acceleration of 12.0 m/s at the bottom of the loop. Use Newton's second law to find gravitational
force, centripetal force and the normal force acting upon Anna's 800 kg roller coaster car.
 Top Bottom
Fnet = 19200 N, down Fnet = 9600 N, up
Fgrav = 7840 N, down Fgrav = 7840 N, down
Fnorm = 11360 N, down Fnorm = 17440 N, up

Answer: See diagram and table above.

This problem is very similar to question #17 above. The net force is found by calculating ma; its
direction is in the same direction as the a vector. The gravitational force is found from mg; the value
of 9.8 m/s/s is used for g. Now the free-body diagram can be used to generate the following
equations for the top and the bottom of the loop:

Top: Fnet = Fgrav + Fnorm which can be rearranged to Fnorm = Fnet - Fgrav
Bottom: Fnet = Fnorm - Fgrav which can be rearranged to Fnorm = Fnet + Fgrav

The difference in these two equations is attributed to the fact that at the top of the loop, the F norm and
the Fgravpoint in the same direction as the net force vector; at the bottom of the loop, they point in
opposite directions. Using the calculated values of Fnet and Fgrav, the normal force can now be
calculated.

19. A fullback is running a sweep around the left side of the line. As he rounds the turn, he is
momentarily moving in circular motion, sweeping out a quarter-circle with a radius of 4.17 meters. If
the 83.5-kg fullback makes the turn with a speed of 5.21 m/s, then what is his acceleration, the net
force, and the coefficient of friction?

a = 6.51 m/s2
Fnet = 544 N

Fgrav = 818 N

Fnorm = 818 N

Ffrict = 544 N

Coefficient of friction = 0.67

Answer: See table above,

The acceleration is found using the equation: a = v2/R. For the top of the loop, a = (5.21)2/(4.17) =
6.51 m/s2. The net force is always found by Fnet = ma. For the fullback, Fnet = (83.5 kg)(6.51 m/s2)
= 544 N. This net force is directed inwards and as such, it is equal to the force of friction supplied by
the ground. Subsequently, Ffrict = 544 N. The force of gravity is always found by mg where g = 9.8
m/s2. Using the fullback's mass, this value is 818 N. Since the normal force must support the
fullback's weight, it is equal in magnitude to the force of gravity; so Fnorm = 818 N. To find coefficient
of friction, divide friction force by normal force.
20. Pete Zaria is riding the Cliff Hanger at Great America. Pete enters a cylindrical barrel which makes
18.5 revolutions every minute. The diameter of the barrel is 6.92 m. Pete's mass is 64.7 kg. Construct
a free-body diagram showing the forces acting upon Pete. Calculate the acceleration and net force
acting upon Pete Zaria. Finally, determine the coefficient of friction between Pete and the walls that
would be required to support Pete's weight.

Answer: 0.755

As usual, Fgrav = mg = (64.7 kg)(9.8 m/s/s) = 634 N. This downward force must be balanced by the
friction force since there is no vertical acceleration. Therefore, Ffrict = 634 N. The net inward force is
supplied by the normal force; so a calculation of the net force will yield the value of the normal force.
Acceleration is found from speed and radius. The speed is:

v = (18.5 rev/60 sec) (2 pi 3.46 m/rev) = 6.703 m/s.

Now the acceleration is:

a = v2/R = (6.703 m/s)2/(3.46 m) = 12.986 m/s2

Now the net force (and the normal force) can be calculated:

Fnet = Fnorm = ma = (64.7 kg)(12.986 m/s/s) = 840.20 N

Now that the normal force and the friction force have been found, the coefficient of friction can be
determined:

= (Ffrict)/(Fnorm) = (634 N)/(840.20 N) = 0.755

29. A roller coaster car loaded with passengers, has a mass of 500 kg; the radius of curvature of the
track at the bottom point of a dip is 12.0 m. The vehicle has a speed of 18.0 m/s at this point.

a. In the space below, draw a free-body diagram for the car (label forces according to
type).
b. Calculate the acceleration and the net force acting upon the car.
c. Calculate the force exerted on the vehicle by the track?

Answers:

The free-body diagram (part a) is shown at the left.

The acceleration of the car can be computed as follows:

a = v2/R = (18.0 m/s)2/(12.0 m) = 27.0 m/s2 (part b)

The net force can be found in the usual manner:

Fnet = ma = (500. kg)(27.0 m/s2) = 13500 N (part b)

Since the center of the circle (see diagram) is above the riders, then both the net force and the
acceleration vectors have an upward direction. The force of gravity is downwards, so the net force is
equal to the upward force minus the downward force:

Fnet = Fnorm - Fgrav

where Fgrav = m g = (500. kg) (9.8 m/s/s) = 4900 N

Thus,

Fnorm = Fnet + Fgrav = 13500 N + 4900 N = 18400 N (part c)

30. What is the acceleration of a piece of dust on an old-fashioned record album, 15 cm from the
center, if the record is spinning at 33.3 rpm?

Answer: 1.8 m/s/s

To find acceleration, the speed and the radius must be known. The radius is given; the speed can be
computed as distance per time. The dust moves a distance equivalent to 33.3 circumferences in 60
seconds. So

v = 33.3 2 pi (0.15 m) / (60 s) = 0.523 m/s.

The acceleration can now be computed using the centripetal acceleration equation:

a = v2/R = (0.523 m/s)2 / (0.15 m) = 1.8 m/s/s

31. What is the tension in a 0.500 meter rope which carries a 2.50 kg bucket of water in a vertical
circle with a velocity of 3.00 m/s when the bucket is at the bottom of its swing?

Answer: 69.5 N

Begin with a free-body diagram for the bucket at the bottom of its string. Since the bucket
is at the bottom of the circle, the net force is upwards (inwards). Notice that the tension force must be
greater than the force of gravity in order to have a net upwards (inwards) force. Also note that while
Ftens is directed in the direction of the net force, Fgrav is in the opposite direction. Thus, the equation
can be written:

Fnet = Ftens - Fgrav

This equation can be rearranged to solve for tension; the expressions for Fgrav (mg) and Fnet (mv2/R)
can be substituted into it:

Ftens = Fnet + Fgrav = mv2/R + mg = (2.50 kg)(3.00 m/s)2/(0.500 m) + (2.50 kg)(9.8 m/s2)
Ftens = 69.5 N

32. A 53.5-kg rider on a roller coaster car is moving 10.3 m/s at the top of a loop which has a radius
of curvature of 7.29 m. Determine the normal force experienced by the rider.

Answer: 254 N

At the top of the loop, both the gravitational and the normal force are directed inwards (as
shown in the free-body diagram at the right). Thus, the Fnet equation can be written as:

Fnet = Fgrav + Fnorm

This equation can be rearranged and the expressions for Fgrav (mg) and Fnet (mv2/R) can be
substituted into it:

Fnorm = Fnet - Fgrav = m v2 / R - m g

Fnorm = (53.5 kg) (10.3 m/s)2 / (7.29 m) - (53.5 kg) (9.8 m/s2)

Fnorm = 254 N

33. Determine the minimum coefficient of friction required to keep a 920.-kg car on a turn with a
radius of 26.8 m. The car is traveling 29.9 m/s and the roadway is level.

Answer: 3.40

As usual, begin with a free-body diagram. The gravity force is balanced by (and
equal to) the normal force and the force of friction is the net force. The solution then begins by
equating m a to Ffrict and carrying out the customary substitutions and algebra steps (using the fact
that a = v2 / R and Ffrict = Fnorm and Fgrav = m g).

ma = Ffrict
 m v2/R = Fnorm

m v2/R = m g

The mass now cancels and the equation can be rearranged to solve for mu:

= v2/(g R) = (29.9 m/s)2 / [ (9.8 m/s2) (26.8 m)] = 3.40

(This is not a likely mu value and as such the car does not have much of a chance negotiating the turn
at this speed.)