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11th grade Motion in a circle worksheet

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Motion in a circle

Grade 11 Science Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. A 2 kg cart runs around a circular track of radius 1.5 m at a steady 3 m/s. What force toward the center does it need, Ari?

  2. A 0.2 kg cart runs around a circular track of radius 0.9 m at a steady 6 m/s. What force toward the center does it need, Bo?

  3. A 4 kg cart runs around a circular track of radius 2 m at a steady 5 m/s. What force toward the center does it need, Esme?

  4. A cart goes once around a circular track of radius 2 m in 4 s. What is its speed, Jun?

    • 0.5 m/s
    • About 1.57 m/s
    • About 3.14 m/s
  5. A cart's time for one lap doubles on the same track. What happens to its speed, Luz?

    • It halves
    • It stays the same, since the track is the same
    • It doubles
  6. A cart on a circular track doubles its speed. What happens to the force it needs toward the center, Milo?

    • It halves
    • It doubles
    • It is 4 times as big
  7. Which change needs the biggest force toward the center for the same cart, Pia?

    • Twice the radius and twice the speed
    • Twice the speed on the same track
    • Half the radius at the same speed
  8. Read this first

    Carts on circular tracks (example data)

    CartMass (kg)Speed (m/s)Radius (m)
    A121
    B142
    C222
  9. Using the table, which cart needs the biggest force toward the center, Ren?

    • Cart A, on the tightest track
    • Cart B, at 8 N
    • Cart C, since it is heaviest
  10. Using the table, which two carts need the same force, Tala?

    • A and B, with the same mass
    • B and C, on the same radius
    • A and C, at 4 N each
  11. Using the table, what is cart B's acceleration toward the center, Zee?

    • 16 m/s²
    • 2 m/s²
    • 8 m/s²
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11th grade Motion in a circle worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Motion in a circle. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can find centripetal acceleration, a = v² ÷ r, and force, F = mv² ÷ r, toward the center. I can find speed from the period, v = 2πr ÷ T, and acceleration from the period, a = 4π²r ÷ T².
  • I can name the force toward the center: a rail's push, tension or gravity. I can explain why steady speed in a circle is still acceleration.
  • I can predict straight-line, tangent motion when the inward pull stops. I can reject an "outward force".
  • I can scale: twice the speed needs 4 times the force, and twice the radius needs half. I can use a breaking-force limit to find a top speed.

Standard: none (TX, FL)

Words to know

centripetal: Pointing toward the center of the circle

period (T): Time for one full lap

tangent: A straight line touching the circle at one point, along the motion

tension: The pull of a string or rope

uniform circular motion: Moving in a circle at a steady speed

Common mistakes

Your child did not square the speed. Centripetal acceleration is v² ÷ r, and the force is mv² ÷ r.

Your child did not square the period. From v = 2πr ÷ T, the acceleration is 4π²r ÷ T².

Your child pictured a force pushing outward. The only sideways force is the inward pull; the outward feeling is the object's tendency to go straight.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with motion in a circle?

Your child did not square the speed. Centripetal acceleration is v² ÷ r, and the force is mv² ÷ r.

Are these 11th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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