P3 - Circular Motion

Question 1

What happens to an object moving in a circle?

Answer 1

An object moving in a circle constantly accelerates towards the centre of the circle (even if it is at a different speed).

Question 2

How can you produce a centripetal force?

Answer 2

Tension (bung on string)
Gravity (planets)
Opposite Charges Attracting (electrons orbiting nucleus)

Question 3

How can you increase the centripetal force?

Answer 3

Increase the mass of the object on the end.
Increase the speed of the object travelling.
Decrease the radius of the circle.

Question 4

What is a centripetal force?

Answer 4

The force acting towards the centre of the circle when an object is in circular motion.

Question 5

How does the thing on the end of the circle accelerate despite the fact it is at a constant speed?

Answer 5

the direction of the object is constantly changing
therefore the velocity of the object is changing
and because acceleration is the rate of change of velocity the acceleration is changing

Question 6

Explain how a centripetal force does not exist in its own right.

Answer 6

A centripetal force does not exist in it’s own right but is always provided by something else (eg. gravitational force, friction or tension).