Check what I know: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

Check what you know about H1 Physics Circular Motion and Gravitation, practise what needs work, then try fresh auto-marked progress checks and return for a later review.

GCE A-Level H1 Physics 2027

Learning goals

Work through the questions and use the feedback to plan revision.

This check is a formative starting point for the topic. Complete the questions, then use the feedback to choose the practice and repair work that follows.

Selected responses on this page do not establish H1 Physics mastery. Use your written problem solving as the stronger evidence of what you can do independently.

Check what I know

Check what I know: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

A text-complete selected-response activity with quantities, units, directions, conditions, choices and feedback stated explicitly.

About 8 minutes

Check what I know

Answer 3 short questions. This starting check helps choose what to work on; it does not prove mastery.

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This check needs JavaScript to record answers. The reviewed questions are listed below for study.

An object moves at constant speed around a circle. Which description of its acceleration and force is correct?

Its acceleration is zero because its speed is constant.
An extra centripetal force must be added to all the real forces.
Its acceleration is inward, and the inward resultant of real forces supplies mv²/r.
Its acceleration is tangential and its resultant force is outward.

Outside a spherical planet, when is it reasonable to use a constant gravitational field strength?

At every distance, because the planet’s mass stays constant.
Whenever the object moves at constant speed, regardless of altitude.
Only when the planet’s gravitational force is zero.
Over a height range small compared with the planet’s radius; otherwise use g = GM/r².

Which orbit keeps a satellite above the same point on Earth’s equator in the ideal circular-orbit model?

A circular equatorial orbit in Earth’s rotational direction with the same angular period as Earth.
A circular polar orbit with the same period as Earth.
A circular equatorial orbit in the opposite direction with the same period as Earth.
A circular equatorial orbit in Earth’s direction with half Earth’s period.

Practise

Practise: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

A text-complete selected-response activity with quantities, units, directions, conditions, choices and feedback stated explicitly.

About 10 minutes

Practise

Questions are selected when you start. Use the feedback to decide what to practise next; this does not prove mastery.

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This check needs JavaScript to record answers. The reviewed questions are listed below for study.

A car rounds a flat curve of radius 45 m at constant speed 12 m s⁻¹ without skidding. Neglect aerodynamic forces. What is its centripetal acceleration and its physical source?

3.2 m s⁻² inward, supplied by static friction
3.2 m s⁻² outward, supplied by a separate centrifugal force
0 m s⁻² because speed is constant
6.4 m s⁻² tangential, supplied by the engine

A wheel turns steadily at 300 revolutions per minute. What are its angular velocity and the speed of a point 0.20 m from its axis?

ω = 5.0 rad s⁻¹; v = 1.0 m s⁻¹
ω = 31 rad s⁻¹; v = 160 m s⁻¹
ω = 1900 rad s⁻¹; v = 380 m s⁻¹
ω = 31 rad s⁻¹; v = 6.3 m s⁻¹

At three planetary radii from a spherical planet's centre, what fraction of the surface gravitational field remains?

Two uniform spheres, each of mass 1000 kg, have their centres 2.0 m apart. Take G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻². What is the gravitational force between them?

3.3 × 10⁻⁵ N
1.7 × 10⁻⁵ N
6.7 × 10⁻⁵ N
8.3 × 10⁻⁶ N

Why is a satellite in a 24-hour polar circular orbit not geostationary?

Its period must be 12 hours for geostationary motion.
Gravity must be zero for geostationary motion.
Its orbital plane is not equatorial, so it cannot remain above one fixed point on Earth.
A polar satellite cannot move at constant speed in a circular orbit.

A satellite moves in a circular orbit of radius 7.0 × 10⁶ m about the Earth's centre. For the Earth, GM = 4.0 × 10¹⁴ N m² kg⁻¹. What is the satellite's orbital speed?

5.7 × 10⁷ m s⁻¹
1.1 × 10⁴ m s⁻¹
7.6 × 10³ m s⁻¹
2.9 m s⁻¹

Practise

Practise after feedback: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

A text-complete selected-response activity with quantities, units, directions, conditions, choices and feedback stated explicitly.

About 10 minutes

Practise

Questions are selected when you start. Use the feedback to decide what to practise next; this does not prove mastery.

Recent attempts

History is stored only in this browser.

No completed attempts are saved yet.

This check needs JavaScript to record answers. The reviewed questions are listed below for study.

A 0.50 kg mass moves at constant speed 4.0 m s⁻¹ in a circle of radius 2.0 m. What inward resultant is required?

4.0 N inward
1.0 N outward
8.0 N tangential
4.0 N outward

A car rounds a flat curve of radius 50 m at constant speed 10 m s⁻¹ without skidding. Neglect aerodynamic forces. What is its centripetal acceleration and what supplies it?

0 m s⁻² because speed is constant
2.0 m s⁻² inward, supplied by static friction
2.0 m s⁻² outward, supplied by an extra centrifugal force
0.20 m s⁻² inward, supplied by static friction

A wheel turns steadily at 300 revolutions per minute. What are its angular velocity and the speed of a point 0.20 m from its axis?

ω = 5.0 rad s⁻¹; v = 1.0 m s⁻¹
ω = 31 rad s⁻¹; v = 160 m s⁻¹
ω = 1900 rad s⁻¹; v = 380 m s⁻¹
ω = 31 rad s⁻¹; v = 6.3 m s⁻¹

A spacecraft moves from radius R to 2.5R from a spherical planet’s centre, remaining outside the planet. How does gravitational field strength change?

0.40 of its value at R
6.25 times its value at R
The same value as at R
0.16 of its value at R

Outside a spherical planet, at four planetary radii from its centre, what fraction of the surface gravitational field remains?

1/16
1/4
1
16

Two uniform spheres, each of mass 1000 kg, have their centres 2.0 m apart. Take G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻². What is the gravitational force between them?

3.3 × 10⁻⁵ N
1.7 × 10⁻⁵ N
6.7 × 10⁻⁵ N
8.3 × 10⁻⁶ N

Besides an orbital period equal to Earth’s rotation period, which conditions are required for a geostationary orbit?

Any circular orbital plane, with either direction.
A circular equatorial orbit in Earth’s rotational direction.
A circular polar orbit with continuous forward thrust.
A circular equatorial orbit opposite Earth’s rotational direction.

Which set of conditions describes a geostationary satellite?

A circular equatorial orbit in Earth’s rotational direction with the same period as Earth.
Any circular orbit with a 12-hour period.
A circular polar orbit with the same period as Earth.
A circular equatorial orbit in the opposite direction with the same period as Earth.

A satellite moves in a circular orbit of radius 7.0 × 10⁶ m about the Earth's centre. For the Earth, GM = 4.0 × 10¹⁴ N m² kg⁻¹. What is the satellite's orbital speed?

5.7 × 10⁷ m s⁻¹
1.1 × 10⁴ m s⁻¹
7.6 × 10³ m s⁻¹
2.9 m s⁻¹

Check my progress

Check my progress: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

A text-complete selected-response activity with quantities, units, directions, conditions, choices and feedback stated explicitly.

About 10 minutes

Check my progress

Answer 6 questions. If accepted, this result can contribute to your course progress.

Recent attempts

History is stored only in this browser.

No completed attempts are saved yet.

Check again

Check again: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

A text-complete selected-response activity with quantities, units, directions, conditions, choices and feedback stated explicitly.

About 10 minutes

Check again

Answer 6 questions. If accepted, this result can contribute to your course progress.

Recent attempts

History is stored only in this browser.

No completed attempts are saved yet.

Review

Review: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

A text-complete selected-response activity with quantities, units, directions, conditions, choices and feedback stated explicitly.

About 10 minutes

Review

Answer 6 questions. A scheduled review can contribute to your course progress only when it is due and the result is accepted.

Recent attempts

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No completed attempts are saved yet.

Course and syllabus information

Course: GCE A-Level H1 Physics
Edition: GCE A-Level H1 Physics 2027

Check what I know: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

Check what I know: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

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Check again: Circular Motion and Gravitation · H1 Physics 8867

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