Centripetal Acceleration Worksheet
This worksheet covers key concepts and calculations related to centripetal acceleration for Grade 11 Physics students.
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Centripetal Acceleration
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Show all work for calculation problems.
1. Which of the following statements correctly describes centripetal acceleration?
It is directed tangent to the circular path.
It is directed radially outward from the center of the circular path.
It is directed radially inward towards the center of the circular path.
It is always zero for an object in uniform circular motion.
2. The formula for centripetal acceleration (ac) is:
ac = v/r
ac = v^2/r
ac = r/v
ac = r*v^2
3. The force responsible for centripetal acceleration is called the force.
4. In uniform circular motion, the of the object remains constant, but its is continuously changing.
5. A car is traveling at 15 m/s around a circular turn with a radius of 50 meters. Calculate the centripetal acceleration of the car.
6. Explain why an object undergoing uniform circular motion is still considered to be accelerating, even though its speed is constant.
7. Centripetal force does work on an object in uniform circular motion.
True
False
8. If the radius of a circular path is doubled while the speed remains constant, the centripetal acceleration is halved.
True
False
9. A satellite orbits the Earth at a constant speed of 7500 m/s in a circular path with a radius of 6.8 x 10^6 meters. Calculate the centripetal acceleration of the satellite. Then, determine the centripetal force acting on the satellite if its mass is 1200 kg.