Lesson 6.3.2

6.3.2 Centripetal force and centripetal acceleration Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.3.2, Centripetal force and centripetal acceleration: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 6: Further Mechanics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. In which direction is the centripetal acceleration of an object in uniform circular motion?

    • Perpendicular to the plane of the circle, upwards
    • Towards the centre of the circle
    • Away from the centre of the circle, along the radius
    • In the direction of the velocity, tangent to the circle

  2. Why is a resultant force needed for an object to move in a circle at constant speed?

    • To balance an outward force that pushes the object away from the centre
    • To keep its mass constant as it moves round the circle
    • To continually change the direction of its velocity, since a force is needed to change velocity
    • To keep its speed increasing steadily round the circle

  3. Which equation gives the centripetal force F on a mass m moving at speed v in a circle of radius r?

    • F = m v^2 r
    • F = m v r^2
    • F = m v / r
    • F = m v^2 / r

  4. Which expression is equivalent to centripetal acceleration for an object moving on a circle of radius r with angular velocity omega?

    • a = r omega^2
    • a = omega / r
    • a = r^2 omega
    • a = r / omega^2

  5. A satellite moves in a circular orbit around the Earth. What provides its centripetal force?

    • The thrust from the satellite's engines acting along the tangent
    • The gravitational force of attraction from the Earth
    • The air resistance acting opposite to the direction of motion
    • The electric field of the Sun acting outwards from the satellite

  6. A 0.50 kg ball moves in a horizontal circle of radius 0.80 m at a speed of 4.0 m s^-1. What is the centripetal force?

    • 10 N
    • 40 N
    • 20 N
    • 5.0 N

  7. A 1200 kg car travels round a bend of radius 50 m at 15 m s^-1 on a level road. What is the frictional force providing the centripetal force?

    • 18000 N
    • 360 N
    • 540 N
    • 5400 N

  8. An object moves in a circle of radius 5.0 m at a constant speed of 10 m s^-1. What is its centripetal acceleration?

    • 50 m s^-2
    • 20 m s^-2
    • 10 m s^-2
    • 2.0 m s^-2

  9. An object moves in a circle of radius 0.40 m with angular velocity 6.0 rad s^-1. What is its centripetal acceleration?

    • 2.4 m s^-2
    • 14 m s^-2
    • 1.5 m s^-2
    • 90 m s^-2

  10. The speed of an object moving in a circle of fixed radius is doubled. By what factor does the centripetal force change?

    • It becomes eight times larger
    • It becomes four times larger
    • It becomes twice as large
    • It becomes half as large

  11. An object moves in a circle at fixed speed. If the radius is halved, by what factor does the centripetal force change?

    • It becomes twice as large
    • It is unchanged
    • It becomes half as large
    • It becomes four times larger

  12. A stone of mass 0.20 kg is swung on a string in a horizontal circle of radius 0.50 m. The tension in the string is 8.0 N. What is the speed of the stone?

    • 20 m s^-1
    • 2.0 m s^-1
    • 0.40 m s^-1
    • 4.5 m s^-1

  13. A 2.0 kg mass on a string moves in a horizontal circle of radius 1.2 m with period 2.0 s. What is the tension in the string?

    • 47 N
    • 4.8 N
    • 24 N
    • 12 N

  14. A 0.10 kg bob on a string of length 0.50 m moves in a horizontal circle with the string at 30 degrees to the vertical. What is the centripetal force on the bob?

    • 0.57 N
    • 0.98 N
    • 0.28 N
    • 1.1 N

  15. In the conical pendulum of the previous case, what is the tension in the string?

    • 0.98 N
    • 0.57 N
    • 1.1 N
    • 2.0 N

  16. For an object in uniform circular motion, the radius is halved and the speed is doubled. By what factor does the centripetal force change?

    • Sixteen times larger
    • Four times larger
    • Twice as large
    • Eight times larger

  17. A ball of radius 1.5 m completes one revolution in 3.0 s. What is its centripetal acceleration?

    • 2.2 m s^-2
    • 0.50 m s^-2
    • 13 m s^-2
    • 6.6 m s^-2

  18. Why must an object moving at constant speed in a circle have a non-zero acceleration?

    • Its speed increases continuously, so a resultant force must act along its direction of motion
    • Gravity always acts on the object and causes it to accelerate towards the ground
    • Its mass decreases continuously, so a resultant force is needed to keep its momentum constant
    • Its velocity changes continuously in direction, and a change in velocity requires an acceleration

  19. Which statement about the so-called centrifugal force is correct?

    • It is a real outward force that balances the centripetal force in uniform circular motion
    • It is the same as the centripetal force but acts in the opposite direction to it
    • In an inertial frame there is no outward real force; the net real force is the centripetal force directed towards the centre
    • It is a real force that acts along the tangent and increases the speed of the object

  20. An object moves in a circle of radius 0.60 m with period 1.2 s. What is its speed?

    • 1.6 m s^-1
    • 6.3 m s^-1
    • 0.50 m s^-1
    • 3.1 m s^-1

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