5

Aquinas College Physics Module 5.1.
2: Out into Space
Module 5.1.2
Out into Space
5.1.2.A Circular Motion
Topic Notes
Name:__________
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Aquinas College Physics Module 5.1.2: Out into Space
Important resources for this module:

All Prezi presentations, booklets, homeworks and
practical sheets are all available on the departmental
website:
www.aquinasphysics.com/512-out-
into-space.html
www.alevelphysicsonline.com/circular-motion
Excellent video tutorials made by an A level physics teacher for A level physics students.
If you need to go over any concepts again, this is the first place that you should look.
Login Username: physics@aquinas.ac.uk Password: 1234
Free access to the course textbook (via

the departmental website). Follow the
instructions on the website for how to log
in.
www.aquinasphysics.com/kerboodle.html
Challenging questions from GCSE level to Undergraduate physics problems.

If you are hoping for a B, A or A* you must be visiting this site and regularly
practicing the problems. They also run excellent workshops. Look out for these!!
isaacphysics.org/
Multiple-choice practice revision

questions on your phone. Revise on the
bus on the way in to college!!
www.gojimo.com/
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Studentship checklist
Tick the boxes when you have completed each of the tasks to do with this topic:
Have you… 
Completed the notes in this booklet so that all important details are recorded?
Answered all the questions in the main part of this booklet, practising the key skills needed
Watched the videos linked to in each section?
Made further notes from Prezis / videos / other sources in the spaces provided throughout the booklet
Answered all the mastery questions at the back of this booklet?
Completed and marked the homework booklet(s) associated with this topic?
Watched the video explaining all the questions on the homework(s) on this topic and taken detailed notes
of any corrections?
Found extra questions related to this topic to answer (e.g. on IsaacPhysics ; physicsandmathstutor.com ; the
stretch & challenge questions at the front of each physics lab.)?
Made revision resources for this topic (mind-maps / flashcards etc.)?
Found some stretch & challenge questions to practice at the front of the physics lab?
Which are the trickiest parts of this topic that you will focus your revision on when it comes to exam time?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Two-Year Course Overview

w.b. Lower 6 Upper 6
Homework Pack Homework Pack
09-Sep Induction, Maths Skills & Vectors September Mock
16-Sep 4.2.A 5.1.3.B
5.1.3 Astrophysics
23-Sep 4.2.B
30-Sep 4.2 Motion & Mechanics 4.2.C 5.1.2.A
5.1.2 Circular Motion & Gravitational
07-Oct Fields
14-Oct 4.2.D 5.1.2.B
October Half Term October Half Term
28-Oct 4.2.E 6.1.2.A
6.1.2 Electric & Magnetic Fields ;
04-Nov 4.2 Motion & Mechanics 4.2.F 6.1.2.B
Particle Accelerators
11-Nov 4.2.G 6.1.2.C
18-Nov 3.2.A 6.2.1.A
25-Nov 3.2.B 6.2.1 Particle Physics 6.2.1.B
3.2 Materials
02-Dec 3.2.C 6.2.1.C
09-Dec 5.2.1.A
5.2.1 Heat Energy & Ideal Gases
16-Dec 3.1.2 Electricity 3.1.2.A 5.2.1.B
Christmas Holidays Christmas Holidays
06-Jan 3.1.2.B 5.2.2 Boltzmann Factor 5.2.1.

13-Jan 3.1.2.C 5.1.1.A
3.1.2 Electricity 5.1.1 Modelling (Radioactivity,
20-Jan 3.1.2.D 5.1.1.B
Capacitors & Oscillations)
27-Jan 3.1.2.E
03-Feb Mock Exam 3.1.2.E Mock Exam
10-Feb 4.1 Waves 4.1.A 5.1.1 Modelling 5.1.1.C
February Half Term February Half Term
24-Feb 4.1.B 6.1.1.A
02-Mar 4.1.C 6.1.1. Electromagnetism 6.1.1.B
4.1 Waves
09-Mar 4.1.D 6.1.1.C
16-Mar 4.1.E 6.2.2.A
23-Mar 6.2.2. Nuclear Physics 6.2.2.B
4.1 Quantum Physics
30-Mar 4.1.F 6.2.2.C
Easter Holidays Easter Holidays
20-Apr Revision & Mock Exam

4.1 Quantum Physics
27-Apr 4.1.G Revision
04-May 3.1.1.A Mock Exam
11-May 3.1.1 Imaging & Signalling Revision
18-May 3.1.1.B Exams Start
May Half Term May Half Term
01-Jun 3.1.1.C
3.1.1 Imaging & Signalling
08-Jun 3.1.1.D
15-Jun 5.1.3 Astrophysics 5.1.3.A
22-Jun End of Year Exam
29-Jul Work Experience Week
06-Jul 5.1.3 Astrophysics
Summer Holidays Summer Holidays
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Table of Contents
Studentship checklist ................................................................................................................................................. - 3 -
Learning Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... - 6 -
1. Circular Geometry: Degrees, Radians & Arc Lengths................................................................................... - 9 -
The distance along the arc of a circle ................................................................................................................. - 10 -
Circular motion: flipped learning check ............................................................................................................ - 10 -
2. Angular Velocity .............................................................................................................................................. - 11 -
Angular velocities, frequency & time period of rotation ....................................................................................... - 12 -
Speed and angular velocity .................................................................................................................................... - 13 -
Circular motion: flipped learning check (cont…) .............................................................................................. - 13 -
Space for your own notes ................................................................................................................................... - 14 -
3. Centripetal acceleration & centripetal forces ................................................................................................ - 15 -
Derivation of the equations for CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION ................................................................... - 16 -
Some questions on centripetal forces and acceleration ...................................................................................... - 17 -
Circular motion: flipped learning check (final part…) ...................................................................................... - 19 -
Space for your own notes ................................................................................................................................... - 21 -
STRETCH & CHALLENGE SECTION: VERTICAL CIRCULAR MOTION ............................................... - 22 -
4. Mastery Questions............................................................................................................................................ - 24 -
Isaac Physics F3: Units of Rotary Motion ......................................................................................................... - 24 -
Isaac Physics F4: Centripetal Acceleration ........................................................................................................ - 26 -
Space for your own notes......................................................................................................................................... - 28 -
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Learning Objectives
5.1.2.
(a) Describe and explain
(iv) angular velocity  in rad s-1.
(v) motion in a horizontal circle and in a circular gravitational orbit.

(b) Make appropriate use of the terms
(i) centripetal force
(c) Make calculations and estimates involving:
energy exchange, work done ∆𝐸 = 𝐹 ∆𝑠 ; no work done when the force is perpendicular to
(ii)
the displacement (resulting in no work being done whilst moving along equipotentials).
2 2
(iii) 𝑎 = 𝑣 ⁄𝑟 ; 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑣 ⁄𝑟 = 𝑚𝑟𝜔2
Definitions / explanations you are expected to learn are given

stippled boxes for you to write them in
Equations you are expected to be able to use are bold-framed.
Online learning checks and assignments are linked to in double

lined boxes
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5.1.2 Circular Motion

Prezi 5.1.2.A These notes coordinate with the Prezi 5.1.2.A on the departmental website
Circular Motion & pages 264-267 (ish) in the course textbook.
goo.gl/HT5wLM
Perhaps more than any other, the ideas covered in this section of the course underlie the other topics still to come. The
theme of objects or particles moving in circles is a recurring one in physics. We will come back to it again and again
when we learn about:
 Gravity, and the motion of objects in orbit.

 Electric fields, when we consider the motion of one charged particle (e.g. an electron) orbiting another (e.g. a
nucleus)
 Magnetic fields, and the forces experienced by charged particles when they move in them
 Particle physics, when we investigate the workings of particle accelerators, colliders and detectors
Furthermore, many of the concepts and new terms covered here are transferrable to the topic of oscillations: both
describe repetitive cycles of motion, so ideas such as angular velocity, frequency and time period relate to both.
As such, it is vital that you secure a fundamental understanding of this topic.
We will expect you first to learn the theory of this topic by independently, as part of a FLIPPED LEARNING exercise.
Please ensure that you cover this work before lesson; after which we will bring everything together and look at different
problems relating to circular motion in context.
A useful video from Doodle Science explaining many of these basic concepts can be found goo.gl/VEmJyG
(see QR code left).
A whole suite of useful videos are also available at www.alevelphysicsonline.com/circular-motion

(QR code right). You will have to log on using the account details:
Username: physics@aquinas.ac.uk
Password: 1234
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1. Circular Geometry: Degrees, Radians & Arc Lengths

Follow the link below and QR code left for a video explaining how both degrees and radians can be used
to describe angles in a circle. It will also show you how to convert between both of these measures of
angle. https://goo.gl/fuQ67s
All of you will be familiar with the idea that we can describe angles in degrees: that is in terms of how many 360th s of
a full circle is represented by our angle.
However, the idea of breaking a circle into 360 pieces is rather arbitrary. Why 360? Why not 27, or 348, or 12 different
pieces, each of which we call one unit of angle?
Perhaps more useful is to break a circle into a number of sectors that relates to the geometry of the circle itself. This is
what we do by introducing the concept of the radian, whereby one radian is:
“One radian is the angle subtended when the ____________________ of the

segment is equal to the _______________ of the circle”.
The circumference c of a circle is equal in length to

o
2×the radius (c = 2r), therefore 2 radians (or
6.2832… radians) make up a complete circle. Therefore:
1 rad = 1o = rad
Some practice questions on converting between degrees and radians
3𝜋
(1) Convert the following into radians (you can give your answer in terms of , e.g. rad)
4
(a) 180o (b) 90o (c) 270o
(d) 30o (e) 150o (f) 720o
(2) Convert the following into degrees
(b) 1 rad (b) 2.94 rad (c) 4.65 rad
3𝜋 9𝜋
(e) 2
rad (e) 4
rad
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The distance along the arc of a circle

Once we have our angle in RADIANS, then we can follow some relatively simple geometry
to allow us to link the distance that an object travels around a curve to the radius of the curve
and the angle subtended.
*equation given on p.3 in the formula booklet If an object moves around an arc, subtending an
angle  with a radius r from the centre of the
curve, state the equation giving the distance s that
s= the object has moved along the curve in the box

left.
online learning & skills check

Circular motion: flipped learning check
Complete the quick multiple choice quiz at goo.gl/jNykeZ (QR code left) to check how confident you
are with questions on circular motion having completed the flipped learning exercise.
Please answer the questions below and input your answers to the form linked to above.
(1) A geostationary satellite has an orbital radius of 35,786 km. What distance does it travel in 2 hours?
A 3 000 km B 9 400 km
C 18 800 km D 37 500 km
(2) The International Space Station orbits the Earth with a radius of orbit of 6800 km. It takes 92 minutes and 30
seconds to orbit the Earth once. What angle does the ISS subtend each hour?
A 3.2 radians B 4.1 radians
C 4.7 radians D 5.3 radians
(3) What distance does the ISS travel in this time?

A 2.7 × 104 m B 2.7 × 107 m
C 4.2 × 104 m D 4.2 × 107 m
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2. Angular Velocity
When an object moves in a circle, one way we can describe its motion is by considering its ANGULAR VELOCITY, .
Answer the questions below:
(1) Define the term ANGULAR VERLOCITY, 
Angular velocity is defined as…
*equation NOT given in the formula booklet
(2) In the space right state the equation giving the
=
angular velocity  in terms of the angle subtended 
and the time taken, t. State units for .
UNITS:…………………
(3) Find the (average) angular velocity when…
(a) Michael Johnson broke the 400 m world record in 43.18 s (assume he took the inside lane)
 = ………………………….
(b) Usain Bolt broke the 200 m world record in 19.19 s (again, assume the inside lane)
 = ………………………….
(c) The moon as it orbits the Earth (if you don’t know, Google how long it takes)
 = ………………………….
(d) The Earth as it orbits the Sun
 = ………………………….
(e) A proton in the LHC, doing 11 000 laps every second.
 = ………………………….
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Angular velocities, frequency & time period of rotation

From the definition of ANGULAR VELOCITY  defined on the previous page, it should now be possible to derive two
relationships linking the angular frequency to:
(1) the TIME PERIOD T and
(2) the FREQUENCY f of rotation
Follow the steps of logic below:
1. The time period T tells us how much time it takes for an object travelling in a circle to
complete …………………………….
2. The angle subtended when an object moves this far
is …………………. radians
3. The TIME PERIOD T can therefore be found by:
T=
4. The frequency f of rotation can be related to the time period T by the equation
f = ………………
5. We can therefore state the FREQUENCY f in terms

of the angular velocity  with the equation:
f=
6. Also (and perhaps more usefully), we can state the

angular velocity 
frequency of rotation f
of an object in terms of its
=
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Speed and angular velocity

From the relationships that we have derived so far, the linear speed v (in m s-1) of an object moving in a circle can be
stated in terms of the angular velocity  and the radius of the circle r. The steps taken to do this are…
1. State the (straightforward) equation giving an object’s speed v in

terms of its displacement s in time t. v=
2. The displacement s travelled along the arc of the circle can be
stated in terms of the angle subtended  and the radius of the s=
circle r:
3. Substitute equation (2) above into equation (1) and *equation NOT given in the formula booklet
separate out the terms to state the speed v at

which the object moves in a circle of radius r at an
angular velocity .
v=
Circular motion: flipped learning check (cont…) online learning & skills check
Continue with the quick multiple choice quiz at goo.gl/jNykeZ (QR code left) to check how confident
you are with questions on circular motion having completed the flipped learning exercise.
(1) A particle completes 6.0 revolutions in 4.0 seconds. The angular velocity in rad s-1 is:
A 1.5 B 9.4 C 24 D 150
(2) A particle moving in a circular path completes 7.5 revolutions in 9.0 s. Its angular velocity in rad s–1 is
A 0.83 B 5.2 C 68 D 420
(3) The angular velocity of the Earth about its axis (in rad s-1) is…
A 7.3 × 10-5 B 4.2 × 10-3 C 4.4 × 10-3 D 5.4 × 105
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(4) A toy aeroplane is spun around the end of a piece of string. It makes 14 full revolutions in 6 seconds. Which of
the following gives the angular velocity of the plane?
14 × 𝜋 14 × 2𝜋 6×𝜋 6 × 2𝜋
A B C D
6 6 14 14
(5) A wheel of radius 15 mm has an angular velocity ω of 10 rad s-1. A point on the rim of the wheel has a linear
velocity v of:
A 0.94 m s-1 B 0.67 mm s-1 C 1.5 mm s-1 D 0.15 m s-1
(6) The Earth has a radius of 6400 km. How fast is someone sat "still" on the equator moving? (ignore the motion of
Earth through space, consider only its rotation over the course of a day).
A 470 m s-1 B 230 mm s-1 C 28 km s-1 D 14 km s-1
(7) Two points, A and B, are on a disk that rotates about an axis. Point A is three times as far from the axis as point
B. If the speed of point B is v, then what is the speed of point A?
A v B 3v C 9v D √3 v
Space for your own notes
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3. Centripetal acceleration & centripetal forces

Any object undergoing circular motion is constantly changing direction.
Consequently, for any object moving in a circle we can also consider it to be constantly changing velocity, even if its
speed (in m s-1) remains constant.
If the object is changing velocity, then it follows that it must be accelerating, and if it is accelerating, then there must
be a RESULTANT FORCE acting on it.
For each of the situations below, draw and label free-body force diagrams to illustrate the forces acting on:
1. A satellite orbiting the earth 2. A car driving around a bend
3. A person stood at the equator 4. The car at the (i) top and (ii) base of a rollercoaster loop-the-loop
In each case a CENTRIPETAL FORCE acts on the object. Explain what is meant by this term.
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Derivation of the equations for CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION

The Prezi (slides 24-31) derives the equations giving the centripetal acceleration by considering small
incremental changes in an object’s velocity as it travels round the circumference of a circle at constant speed
(goo.gl/HT5wLM ; QR code left).
It is also explained in the video from Khan Academy at goo.gl/NVhokT (QR code right).
You will NOT be expected to recall the derivation of this in an exam, however, you WILL need to be able to use the
end equations.
For those of you wishing to gain a fundamental understanding, or those wishing to study physics beyond A level, an
awareness of how these equations come about will be useful.
Make notes on the derivation in the space below:
State the three equations giving the CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION in terms of:
(1) speed v and radius r of the turn (2) angular velocity  and radius r (3) speed v and angular velocity 
a= a= a=
*equation IS given in the formula booklet ; *equation NOT given in the formula booklet *equation NOT given in the formula booklet
perhaps the most commonly used form
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As the RESULTANT FORCE F acting on a body is simply the object’s acceleration multiplied by its mass, we can
take the three equations on the facing page and add in the mass to find equations for the centripetal force.
State the three equations giving the CENTRIPETAL FORCE acting in terms of the object’s mass and its:
(1) speed v and radius r of the turn (2) angular velocity  and radius r (3) speed v and angular velocity 
F= F= F=
*equation IS given in the formula booklet ; *equation IS given in the formula booklet *equation NOT given in the formula booklet
perhaps the most commonly used form
Some questions on centripetal forces and acceleration
(1) The minute hand of a watch is 6.40 mm long. Calculate:

(a) Its frequency f of rotation
f = ………………… Hz
(b) It angular velocity 






 = ……………. rad s-1
(c) The speed v of its free end
v = ……………… m s-1
(2) A car moves at 10 m s-1 around a bend of radius 50 m. What is its centripetal acceleration?
a = ……………… m s-2
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(3) Helen Sharman was the first Briton in space. She orbited Earth once every 91.8 minutes in the Mir Space Station.
Mir had a mass of 21100 kg and an orbital radius of 6750 km. Calculate:
(a) Helen’s angular speed in orbit
 = ……………. rad s-1

(b) The centripetal force acting on Mir (provided by the pull of gravity)
F = ……………… N
(4) What is the centripetal force needed for a car of mass 1000 kg to follow a curve of radius 50.0 m at 18.0 m s-1?
F = ……………… N
(5) In a conical pendulum, an object of mass 2.0 kg moves in a horizontal circular
path of radius 2.5 m, at a steady speed of 5.0 m s-1.
(a) Calculate the resultant force acting towards the centre of the circle.
F = ……………… N
(b) This force is provided by the horizontal component of the tension in the string. The vertical component
must be equal and opposite to the weight of the pendulum. Calculate the weight of the object.
W = ……………… N
(c) State the horizontal and vertical components of the tension, and hence find the tension
Thorizontal = ……………… N ; Tvertical = ……………… N ; T = …………………. N
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Circular motion: flipped learning check (final part…) online learning & skills check
Continue with the quick multiple choice quiz at goo.gl/jNykeZ (QR code left) to check how confident
you are with questions on circular motion having completed the flipped learning exercise.
(1) A centripetal force…

A ... is a type of force, like weight, tension or electrostatic
B ... just tells us about the direction of the force, but not the type of force (e.g. weight, tension, electrostatic)
(2) Centripetal forces...

A ... act to cause the object to accelerate, and therefore change its speed
B ... increase an object’s angular velocity 

C ... do WORK on a moving object, so therefore change its kinetic energy.
D ... act at right angles to an object’s motion, changing its direction but not its speed.
(3) The photograph shows right shows cars driving around a roundabout at
constant speed. The resultant force F on a car causes it to follow a circular
path.
Which of the following statements about F is INCORRECT.

A ... F is equal to the product of the mass and angular velocity of the car
B ... F is equal to the product of the momentum and angular velocity of the car
C ... F is in the same direction as the acceleration of the car
D ... F is perpendicular to the momentum of the car
(4) A particle of mass 0.020 kg is moving with an angular velocity of 3π rad s-1 around a circle of radius 0.50 m. The
force responsible for this motion is...
A ... 0.03 π N towards the centre of the circle B ... 0.03 π N away from the centre of the circle
C ... 0.09 π² N towards the centre of the circle D ... 0.09 π² N away from the centre of the circle
(5) A racing car of mass 1200 kg travels at 0.63 rad s-1 around a bend of radius 50 m. The force on the car necessary
for this motion is...
A 2.4 x 104 N away from the centre of the circle B 2.4 x 104 N towards the centre of the circle
C 3.8 x 104 N away from the centre of the circle D 3.8 x 104 N towards the centre of the circle
- 19 -
(6) A proton moves in a circle of radius 1.5 m in a magnetic field which imparts a force of 9.25 × 10-15 N. How fast is
it going?
A 4.8×10-21 m s-1 B 2.9×106 m s-1 C 5.3×109 m s-1 C 1.8 x 1025 m s-1
(7) A mass rotates along a circular path, as indicated by the dotted line in the image
right.
The diameter of the circular path is 0.80 m and the period of rotation is 0.60 s. The
mass of the pendulum is 0.30 kg and its speed is 4.2 m s-1.
What is the centripetal force acting on the mass?
A 13 N B 6.6 N C 3.2 N D 2.1 N
*A special bonus question, a bit beyond the scope of our syllabus, but nothing that
you can’t cope with if you think it through and draw a suitable free-body diagram…
(8) A pendulum consists of a bob of mass m and a string of length x. The diagram shows
the pendulum swinging through the arc of a circle. At the bottom of its swing the
tension in the string is T and the velocity of the bob is v.
Which of the following is correct for the bob at the bottom of its swing?
𝑚𝑣 2 𝑚𝑣 2
A 𝑇= 𝑥
− 𝑚𝑔 B 𝑇= 𝑥
+ 𝑚𝑔
𝑚𝑣 2 𝑚𝑣 2
C 𝑇 = 𝑚𝑔 − D 𝑇=
𝑥 𝑥
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STRETCH & CHALLENGE SECTION: VERTICAL CIRCULAR MOTION

Considering cases in which objects pass across a loop-the-loop, or are swung in a vertical circle is beyond the scope of
the OCR-B Physics syllabus. However, it involves only a relatively simple extension to the theory developed so far, and
would be useful ground for anyone wishing to go on to study physics or engineering at University to cover.
Some short videos discussing problems such as these can be found at goo.gl/tXFiD7 (QR code
left) and at goo.gl/45CUUu (QR code right).
Think of an object such as a rollercoaster that is about to embark on a loop-the-loop (see diagram).
We can consider this motion to be successful if
the rollercoaster remains in contact with the
track for the entire duration of its journey.
By considering the free-body force diagrams
on the rollercoaster cart at the at each point in
the loop identified, and linking the resultant
force to the centripetal force required to
maintain the circular motion, we can identify
the minimum speed at which the cart must be
travelling:
(1) Draw and label free-body force diagrams for the cart on the roller-coaster at positions A, B & C. For simplicity,
ignore any effects of air resistance or friction.
(A) (B) (C)
𝑚𝑣 2
 At the BOTTOM of the loop, the centripetal force (
𝑟
) is caused by 𝑚𝑣 2
the vector sum of the normal contact force N acting upwards and the
𝑟
=
weight mg of the cart acting down. Therefore:
𝑚𝑣 2
 At the TOP of the loop, the centripetal force ( ) is also caused by the
𝑟
𝑚𝑣 2
vector sum of the normal contact force N – acting downwards this time
– and the weight mg of the cart. Therefore: 𝑟
=
*The weight of the cart is fixed, however, the normal contact force can vary depending on the speed at which the cart
undertakes the loop-the-loop. This is what gives you the experience of being pushed into or lifted away from your
seat when you go on a rollercoaster such as this.
At the SLOWEST possible speed at which the rollercoaster successfully completes the loop-the-loop, the NORMAL
CONTACT FORCE REDUCES TO ZERO.
Consequently, you can use the second equation given above to work out the minimum speed at which a rollercoaster
must be travelling at the top of the loop in order to successfully work its way fully round.
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Try the example question below:

A boy is swinging a bucket of water attached to a piece of string vertically in
a circle of radius 0.8 m.
(a) How fast must the bucket be swinging at the top of its circle in order
for the water to remain within the bucket (e.g. for there to still be a
small contact force between the base of the bucket and the water)
(b) What is the speed of the bucket at the bottom of the circle?
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4. Mastery Questions
These questions have their background in the ethos that anything is hard when you don’t spend much time on it, and
that things become much easier the more your practice. You will know this if you are learning to drive, or when you
pick up any other new skill for the first time. I would say that playing the piano is really really hard. But I’ve probably
not spent more than a few hours when I was very young trying. Someone who has spent hours practising playing the
piano would probably tell you that it is easy as it comes naturally to them – neglecting to mention all the hours of practice
that they have put in.
PHYSICS IS NO DIFFERENT!! THE MORE YOU PRACTICE THE BETTER YOU GET.
Have a go at the mastery questions on the following pages. You can input your answers and check they are right on the
isaacphysics.org website (see separate links for each section). You should be aiming to get correct at least the number
given at the top of each section before you can consider yourself to have mastered each of these core concepts.

Isaac Physics F3: Units of Rotary Motion
1. Go to the page at isaacphysics.org/s/WD5wqE (QR code right) and answer the questions. It should
take you 15-20 minutes. You will need paper and pen to work out the solutions to the questions
out before entering your answer into the browser.
2. Please complete this for the deadline that your teacher sets you:
3. Use the space below for your working then input
your answer to the Isaac physics website linked to
Deadline for this piece of work:……………………
above.
Skills Mastery = 18/20
F3.1 How big is 3 radians, when expressed in degrees?
F3.2 How many radians are there in 90o?
F3.3 to F3.17 Complete the table below by converting the units
Time period Frequency Angular velocity Angular velocity

/s / Hz / rad s-1 / rpm
0.50 F3.3 F3.4 F3.5
F3.6 F3.7 3.0 F3.8
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Time period Frequency Angular velocity Angular velocity

/s / Hz / rad s-1 / rpm
F3.9 F3.10 F3.11 3800
F3.12 50 F3.13 F3.14
2700 F3.15 F3.16 F3.17
F3.18 A car travels 10 km. One of its wheels has a radius of 30 cm. Calculate the angle the wheel turns as the car
travels this distance (answer in radians).
F3.19 An astronaut’s training centrifuge has a radius of 4.0 m. If it goes round once every 2.5 s, calculate the velocity
of the end of the centrifuge arm (4.0 m from the pivot).
F3.20 My washing machine has a spin speed of 1200 rpm, and a drum radius of 20 cm. Calculate how fast clothes go,
when up against the side of the drum.
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Isaac Physics F4: Centripetal Acceleration
1. Go to the page at isaacphysics.org/s/ZFkqAK (QR code right) and answer the questions. It should
take you 25-40 minutes. You will need paper and pen to work out the solutions to the questions out
before entering your answer into the browser.
2. Please complete this for the deadline that your teacher sets you:
3. Use the space below for your working then input
your answer to the Isaac physics website linked to
Deadline for this piece of work:……………………
above.
Skills Mastery = 9/11
F4.1 to F4.5 Complete the table below by finding the missing values
speed radius Angular velocity Centripetal acceleration

/ m s-1 /m / rad s-1 / m s-2
0.32 5.2 F4.1
2.1 0.070 F4.2
F4.3 30.0 9.8
F4.4 0.20 9.8
60 1200 F4.5
F4.6 A car goes round a roundabout at 30 mph (13.4 m s-1) on a circular path with a radius of 8.0 m. Calculate the
centripetal acceleration.
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F4.7 Calculate the force needed to hold a 55 kg teenager in place when in a horizontal fairground ride of radius 3.5
m going round once every 5.0 s.
F4.8 Calculate the force needed to keep the Earth (mass 6.4×1024 kg) in its orbit around the Sun (radius of orbit =
1.5×1011 m). The Earth takes 365.25 days to orbit the Sun once.
F4.9 A space station with an 8.0 m radius is spun to give the astronauts something which feels like gravity. If the
centripetal acceleration is 9.8 m s-2, calculate the speed at which the walls rotate (in m s-1)
F4.10 Calculate the centripetal force experienced by a 500 g pair of wet trousers when in the spin cycle of a washing
machine with a 20 cm drum radius if it rotates at 1200 rpm.
F4.11 What is the name of the force which keeps the Moon going round the Earth?
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Aquinas College Physics Module 5.1.

2: Out into Space

Important resources for this module:

Free access to the course textbook (via

Challenging questions from GCSE level to Undergraduate physics problems.

Multiple-choice practice revision

Watched the videos linked to in each section?

Answered all the mastery questions at the back of this booklet?

Two-Year Course Overview

Christmas Holidays Christmas Holidays

06-Jan 3.1.2.B 5.2.2 Boltzmann Factor 5.2.1.

Easter Holidays Easter Holidays

20-Apr Revision & Mock Exam

(v) motion in a horizontal circle and in a circular gravitational orbit.

Definitions / explanations you are expected to learn are given

Equations you are expected to be able to use are bold-framed.

Online learning checks and assignments are linked to in double

5.1.2 Circular Motion

 Gravity, and the motion of objects in orbit.

A whole suite of useful videos are also available at www.alevelphysicsonline.com/circular-motion

1. Circular Geometry: Degrees, Radians & Arc Lengths

“One radian is the angle subtended when the ____________________ of the

The circumference c of a circle is equal in length to

(a) 180o (b) 90o (c) 270o

(d) 30o (e) 150o (f) 720o

(2) Convert the following into degrees

(b) 1 rad (b) 2.94 rad (c) 4.65 rad

The distance along the arc of a circle

s= the object has moved along the curve in the box

online learning & skills check

(3) What distance does the ISS travel in this time?

(1) Define the term ANGULAR VERLOCITY, 

Angular velocity is defined as…

*equation NOT given in the formula booklet

(2) In the space right state the equation giving the

Angular velocities, frequency & time period of rotation

5. We can therefore state the FREQUENCY f in terms

6. Also (and perhaps more usefully), we can state the

Speed and angular velocity

1. State the (straightforward) equation giving an object’s speed v in

separate out the terms to state the speed v at

Space for your own notes

3. Centripetal acceleration & centripetal forces

Derivation of the equations for CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION

Make notes on the derivation in the space below:

Some questions on centripetal forces and acceleration

(1) The minute hand of a watch is 6.40 mm long. Calculate:

 = ……………. rad s-1

Thorizontal = ……………… N ; Tvertical = ……………… N ; T = …………………. N

(1) A centripetal force…

(2) Centripetal forces...

B ... increase an object’s angular velocity 

Which of the following statements about F is INCORRECT.

Space for your own notes

STRETCH & CHALLENGE SECTION: VERTICAL CIRCULAR MOTION

Try the example question below:

online learning & skills check

F3.2 How many radians are there in 90o?

F3.3 to F3.17 Complete the table below by converting the units

Time period Frequency Angular velocity Angular velocity

0.50 F3.3 F3.4 F3.5

F3.6 F3.7 3.0 F3.8

Time period Frequency Angular velocity Angular velocity