Practice Centripetal Force in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

Quick Recap

The net inward force required to keep an object moving along a circular path, directed toward the centre of the circle, equal to mv^2/r where no new type of force is created.

The force that pulls you toward the center when you go around a curve.

Example 1

medium
A 0.5 \text{ kg} ball on a 1.2 \text{ m} string is swung in a horizontal circle at 4 \text{ m/s}. What is the centripetal force?

Example 2

hard
A car of mass 1000 \text{ kg} rounds a curve of radius 50 \text{ m}. If the maximum static friction force is 8000 \text{ N}, what is the maximum safe speed?

Example 3

medium
A satellite orbits Earth at radius r = 7 \times 10^6 \text{ m} with speed v = 7500 \text{ m/s}. What is the centripetal acceleration?

Example 4

medium
A 0.25 \text{ kg} ball moves in a circle at 6 \text{ m/s} and experiences a centripetal force of 9 \text{ N}. What is the radius of the circle?
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