Name:______________________________Class:__________________ Date:__________________

Assessment

Chapter Test A
Teacher Notes and Answers
Circular Motion and Gravitation
CHAPTER TEST A (GENERAL)
1. c 11. d
2. c 12. a
3. d 13. b
4. d 14. b
5. c Given
6. a
Given F = 3.0
102 N
F1 = 36 N d = 0.80 m
r2 = 3r1 Solution
G = 6.673  10
11 N • m2 /kg2  = Fd = (3.0
102 N)(0.80 m) =
Solution
2.4
102 N • m
r2 = 3r1 15. c
m1 m2 16. c
F1 = G 2
= 36 N
r1 17. Acceleration depends on the change in an
m1 m2 m1 m2 m1 m2 object’s velocity. An object moving at a
F2 = G 2
=G 2
=G 2 constant speed can experience a nonzero
(r2 ) (3r1 ) 9r1
acceleration if the direction of the object’s
1 m1 m2 1
= G 2 = F1 motion changes.
9 r 9
1 18. Friction between the car’s tires and the track
1 provides the centripetal force.
F2 = (36 N) = 4.0 N
9 19. No, there is only an inward force causing a
7. d deviation from a straight-line path. The
8. b tendency to move in a straight line away
9. c from the circular path is inertia.
10. a 20. A satellite in a circular orbit around Earth
Solution moves like a projectile. One component of
its motion is parallel to Earth’s surface,
m 4m
vt 1 = G vt 2 = G while the other component is a free-fall
r1 r1
acceleration toward Earth. The horizontal
(4m) component of the motion is just the right
G
vt 2 r1 magnitude for Earth’s curved surface to fall
= = 4 =2 away at the same rate as the satellite’s free-
vt 1 m
G fall acceleration.
r1
vt 2 = 2vt 1 , i.e., speed would increase
by a factor of 2

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Holt Physics 1 Chapter Tests
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21. They both accelerate toward each other. 25. 14.3
Earth’s acceleration is extremely small Given
compared to that of the apple because Earth Fin = 255 N
has a much greater mass than the apple does.
Fout = 3650 N
22. No, astronauts in orbit are not truly
Solution
weightless. They experience apparent Fout 3650 N
weightlessness because they are in continual MA = = = 14.3
Fin 255 N
free fall, along with their surrounding
environment.
23. 2.1 m/s2
Given
v = 2.6 m/s
t
r = 3.2 m
Solution
vt 2 (2.6 m/s)2
ac = = = 2.1 m/s2
r 3.2 m
24. 74 N
Given
m = 35 kg
vt = 2.6 m/s
r = 3.2 m
Solution
mvt 2 (35 kg)(2.6 m/s)2
Fc = = = 74 N
r 3.2 m

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Holt Physics 2 Chapter Tests
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Assessment

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Chapter Test A
MULTIPLE CHOICE
In the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes
each statement or best answers each question.

_____ 1. When an object is moving with uniform circular motion, the object’s
tangential speed
a. is circular.
b. is perpendicular to the plane of motion.
c. is constant.
d. is directed toward the center of motion.
_____ 2. The centripetal force on an object in circular motion is
a. in the same direction as the tangential speed.
b. in the direction opposite the tangential speed.
c. in the same direction as the centripetal acceleration.
d. in the direction opposite the centripetal acceleration.
_____ 3. A ball is whirled on a string, then the string breaks. What causes the
ball to move off in a straight line?
a. centripetal acceleration c. centrifugal force
b. centripetal force d. inertia
_____ 4. If you lift an apple from the ground to some point above the ground,
the gravitational potential energy in the system increases. This potential
energy is stored in
a. the apple.
b. Earth.
c. both the apple and Earth.
d. the gravitational field between Earth and the apple.
_____ 5. When calculating the gravitational force between two extended bodies,
you should measure the distance
a. from the closest points on each body.
b. from the most distant points on each body.
c. from the center of each body.
d. from the center of one body to the closest point on the other body.
_____ 6. The gravitational force between two masses is 36 N. What is the
gravitational force if the distance between them is tripled?
(G = 6.673  10
11 N•m2/kg2)
a. 4.0 N c. 18 N
b. 9.0 N d. 27 N

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Holt Physics 3 Chapter Tests
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Chapter Test A continued

_____ 7. In the figure above, according to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion,

a. A1 = A2. c. if
t1 =
t2, then the orbit is circular.
b.
t1 >
t2. d. if
t1 =
t2, then A1 = A2.

_____ 8. Newton’s law of universal gravitation

a. can be derived from Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
b. can be used to derive Kepler’s third law of planetary motion.
c. can be used to disprove Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
d. does not apply to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.

m
_____ 9. The equation for the speed of an object in circular orbit is
t = G .
r
What does m represent in this equation?
a. the mass of the sun c.the mass of the central object
b. the mass of Earth d.the mass of the orbiting object
_____ 10. How would the speed of Earth’s orbit around the sun change if Earth’s
mass increased by 4 times?
a. It would increase by a factor of 2.
b. It would increase by a factor of 4.
c. It would decrease by a factor of 2.
d. The speed would not change.
_____ 11. When an astronaut in orbit experiences apparent weightlessness,
a. no forces act on the astronaut.
b. no gravitational forces act on the astronaut.
c. the net gravitational force on the astronaut is zero.
d. the net gravitational force on the astronaut is not balanced by a
normal force.
_____ 12. If you cannot exert enough force to loosen a bolt with a wrench, which
of the following should you do?
a. Use a wrench with a longer handle.
b. Tie a rope to the end of the wrench and pull on the rope.
c. Use a wrench with a shorter handle.
d. You should exert a force on the wrench closer to the bolt.

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Holt Physics 4 Chapter Tests
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Chapter Test A continued

_____ 13. Suppose a doorknob is placed at the center of a door. Compared with a
door whose knob is located at the edge, what amount of force must be
applied to this door to produce the torque exerted on the other door?
a. one-half as much c. one-fourth as much
b. two times as much d. four times as much
_____ 14. A heavy bank-vault door is opened by the application of a force of
3.0
102 N directed perpendicular to the plane of the door at a distance
of 0.80 m from the hinges. What is the torque?
a. 120 N•m c. 300 N•m
b. 240 N•m d. 360 N•m

_____ 15. What kind of simple machine are you using if you pry a nail from a
board with the back of a hammer?
a. a wedge c. a lever
b. a pulley d. a screw
_____ 16. Which of the following is not a valid equation for mechanical
advantage?
F W
a. MA = out c. MA = out
Fin Win
d output force
b. MA = in d. MA =
d out input force

SHORT ANSWER
17. Explain how an object moving at a constant speed can have a nonzero
acceleration.
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_________________________________________________________________

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18. What provides the centripetal force for a car driving on a circular track?
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
19. Is there an outward force in circular motion? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

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Holt Physics 5 Chapter Tests
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Chapter Test A continued

20. Discuss the following statement: “A satellite is continually in free fall.”

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
21. Earth exerts a 1.0 N gravitational force on an apple. Does the apple accelerate
toward Earth, or does Earth accelerate toward the apple? Explain your answer.
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
22. Are astronauts in orbit weightless? Explain your answer.
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

PROBLEM
23. A 35 kg child moves with uniform circular motion while riding a horse on a
carousel. The horse is 3.2 m from the carousel’s axis of rotation and has a
tangential speed of 2.6 m/s. What is the child’s centripetal acceleration?

24. What is the centripetal force on the child in item 23?

25. A force of 255 N is needed to pull a nail from a wall, using a claw hammer. If
the resistance force of the nail is 3650 N, what is the mechanical advantage of
the hammer?

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Holt Physics 6 Chapter Tests