Nathaniel A.

Ereso

GENERAL PHYSICS 1
CIRCULAR MOTION
Self-Learning Module
Answers
Before we begin our lesson, let me know first your prior knowledge about
circular motion by answering the following questions. Choose the letter of your
correct answer and write it on the space provided before the number.

___C__ 1. Which of the following refers to the constant speed motion along the
circular path?
A. Projectile motion
B. Rotational motion
C. Uniform circular motion
D. Non-uniform circular motion
__A___ 2. What is the other term for the radius of the circular path?
A. radius of arc
B. radius of bend
C. radius of curvature
D. radius of circumference
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___B__ 3. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, which of the
following is TRUE?
A. A particle completes no revolution every period.
B. A particle completes one revolution every period.
C. A particle completes two revolutions every period.
D. A particle completes half of a revolution every period.
___D__ 4. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, which of the
following statements is CORRECT?
A. The component of the acceleration along the path is zero.
B. The component of the acceleration along the path increases.
C. The component of the acceleration along the path decreases.
D. The component of the acceleration along the path remains the
same.
___C__ 5. What is the other term for radial acceleration?
A. circular acceleration C. centripetal acceleration
B. tangential acceleration D. centrifugal acceleration
___C__ 6. Which of the following appropriately describes radial acceleration in the
constant speed motion along the circular path?
A. It is not zero.
B. It is equal to zero.
C. It is always a negative number.
D. It is always equal to a number between zero and positive 1.
___D__ 7. Which of the following mathematically describes radial acceleration?
A.
Δ𝑣
𝑥
B.
Δ𝑣
Δ𝑡
C.
𝑣2
𝑅
D.
2𝜋𝑅
𝑇
__D___ 8. Which of the following refers to a motion with varying speed along a
circular path?
A. Projectile motion
B. Rotational motion
C. Uniform circular motion
D. Non-uniform circular motion
___B__ 9. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, which of the
following is TRUE?
A. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as circular acceleration.
B. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as tangential acceleration.
C. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as centripetal acceleration.
D. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as centrifugal acceleration.
_____ 10. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, which of the
following statements is CORRECT?
A. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object
stops when the direction of the tangential acceleration and
velocity are the same.
B. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object
is speeding up when the direction of the tangential acceleration
and velocity are the same.

C. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object

is slowing down when the direction of the tangential acceleration
and velocity are the same.
D. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object’s
speed varies when the direction of the tangential acceleration
and velocity are the same.
___B__ 11. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, what happens
when the direction of the tangential acceleration and velocity are
opposite?
A. The object stops.
B. The object’s speed varies.
C. The object is speeding up.
D. The object is slowing down.
__D___ 12. Which of the following mathematically describes the magnitude of the
total acceleration in the constant speed motion along the circular
path?
A. 𝑎 = √𝑎𝑟
2 + 𝑎𝑡
2
B. 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑟
2 + 𝑎𝑡
2
C. 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑡
D. 𝑎 = √𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑡
___C__ 13. A 150-g ball at the end of a string is revolving uniformly on a horizontal
circle of radius 0.600 m. The ball makes 2.00 revolutions in a second.
What is its centripetal acceleration?
A. 94.8 𝑚/𝑠2
B. 85.7 𝑚/𝑠2
C. 76.6 𝑚/𝑠2
D. 67.5 𝑚/𝑠2
___C__ 14. The Moon’s nearly circular orbit about the Earth has a radius of about
384,000 km and a period T of 27.3 days. What is the acceleration of
the Moon toward the Earth?
A. 4.53 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
B. 3.62 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
C. 2.72 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
D. 1.71 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
___B__ 15. A test-tube sample is placed on a centrifuge. The sample is 0.10m from
the rotation axis. When the centrifuge is turned on, the test-tube
experiences a constant tangential acceleration of 1.0 × 103 𝑚/𝑠2 so that
it could spin from rest to its maximum rate. What is the magnitude of
the total acceleration of the test-tube when its speed is 10 𝑚/𝑠2?
A. 4.1 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
B. 3.2 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
C. 2.3 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
D. 1.4 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
What’s In
In your previous module, you have learned that the direction of the velocity is
always tangent to the path of the object. Also, the component of the acceleration in
the direction parallel to the path is associated with changes in speed while the
component of the acceleration in the direction perpendicular to the path associated
with changes in direction.

Aside from projectile motion, there is another type of 2D motion that is

frequently encountered. Now, I want you to list down at least three (3) examples of
objects that move along circular paths.
1.Moon
2. NASA satellites
3. Wind mills

What is New
Activity 1: What’s the Motion?
Objective:
In this activity, you will determine the motion direction of an object in the
absence of centripetal force.
Materials:
● Plastic tube (i.e. a pen, after removing the ink cartridge so that it is open from
both sides)
● Two meters of string
● 50g or 100g hooked mass (A mass that can be tied with a rope)
● Small iron nail, a toothpick, or a small plastic ball
Procedure:
1. Tie a hooked mass with a string.
2. Insert the other side of the string into the plastic tube until about half of the
string is inserted.
3. Tie a light nail (or a toothpick or a small plastic ball) with the other side of the
string. (The purpose of this is to prevent pulling the rope from the tube during
the circular motion of the metal mass).
4. Hold the plastic tube from the middle of the string.
10
5. Rotate the metal mass in a horizontal circular motion above your head while
keeping the hanging side with the nail steady in the other hand. (as in the figure).
6. At a certain point for the metal mass and while rotating, let go of the string.
Observe the motion direction of the metal mass.
7. Repeat the experiment several times to confirm the correct direction.
Conclusion:
Write a description for the metal mass motion after releasing it from uniform
circular motion.

The

What’s More
Activity 2: Therefore, I conclude!
Objective:
In this activity, you will infer or deduce quantities associated with circular
motion.
Materials:
Matrix
Instruction:
Complete the following matrix below with relevant information. If it doesn’t
apply to a particular quantity, just leave it as blank.

QUANTITY SYMBOL FORMULA SHORT

DESCRIPTION
Tangential Velocity 𝑤𝑟 Motion of an object
along the edge of this
circle whose given
point on the circle is
always along the
tangent to that point
Centripetal 𝑎 𝑣 Acceleration Is
Acceleration 𝑎 directed towerd the
𝑟
center of the circle
Tangential 𝑎 𝑎 𝑟𝑎 How quickly a
Acceleration tangential velocity
changes
Radius of Curvature 𝑅 Is the radius of a
𝑅
circle that best fits a
normal section or
combinations thereof
15
Instruction:
Here, you are given a story. All you have to do is to imagine yourself that you
are the main character in the story and you are about to unfold the mystery of
physics. Just enjoy reading the story and solve each problem.
One day, while standing beside the street, while waiting for
a tricycle, out of boredom, you pull out your ID sling from your neck,
hold at the end of your ID sling and begin twirling it by your hand.
Your ID and a small keychain approximately weigh 10 grams. You
observe that your ID and the keychain are revolving uniformly on a
horizontal circle of radius 0.65 m and make 3 revolutions in a
second. You begin wondering and curious on the acceleration of the
ID and the keychain. You bring out your calculator and you will try
to solve the centripetal acceleration of those objects. Solve and show
your solution below.
Given:
T=?
𝑇
𝑟 𝑢 𝑦
r=.65m
frequency=3
( )( )
v=? 𝑣 𝑚 𝑠
𝑎 𝑎 𝑚 𝑠

After a while, your classmate performs a bicycle trick in front

of you. The bicycle starts from rest and accelerates at a uniform rate
to a speed of 5 m/s in 10 s, moving on a circular track of radius
250 m. Assuming constant tangential acceleration, you try to find
(a) the tangential acceleration, and (b) the centripetal acceleration
when the speed is 30 m/s. Solve and show your solution below.

A. Given.
r=250m
𝑎 =?
(angular acceleration)
𝑣 𝑚 𝑠
T= 10s

𝑣
𝑤 𝑚 𝑠
𝑟
𝑤 𝑚 𝑠
𝑥 𝑚 𝑠
𝑇 𝑠

𝑚
𝑎 𝑟𝑎 𝑚 𝑥 𝑚 𝑠
𝑠
B. 𝑎 𝑚 𝑠

What I Have Learned

Now that you’ve learned a lot from the very start of our module, let’s
summarize our lesson from the very start by filling in the blanks with the appropriate
word or phrase that correctly fits in each of the sentences.

1. Uniform circular motion is constant speed motion along a circular

path.
2. The radius of the circular path is also known as the
Radius of curvature.
3. Although the speed is constant in constant speed motion along a circular
path, the acceleration is not zero because the direction is continuously
changing – the component perpendicular to the circular path, the
acceleration is not-zero.
4. Non-uniform circular motion is motion with varying speed along a circular
path.
5. Because the speed is varying in motion with varying speed along a circular
path, the acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path – this is
the tangential acceleration

Activity 4: Circle Up!

Objective:
In this activity, you will quantitatively infer or deduce quantities associated
with circular motion.
Materials:
Wall Clock
Analog Wrist Watch
Activity 1. What’s the Motion materials
Instructions:
1. Look closely to one of your wall clocks at home. If you don’t have a wall clock,
you may use your analog wristwatch. Focus your attention on the second
hand of the clock, observe it tightly.
2. Answer this: “What can you say regarding the second hand’s speed?” Note:
You may also describe it mathematically.
The second hands speed constant and it changes its position in the clock when the
other hand finishes one full rotation
3. Perform again our Activity 1. What’s the Motion?
4. Solve for the acceleration of the nail. Show all your necessary solutions below.
Radius: ____________________________ Period:
_______________________________
5. Write a short insight or realization below regarding our topic that you may
apply in our life.

In this topic I realized that circular motion is everywhere in our lives the most basic
example is the clocks around us because of its circular motion we know how many
time have past and how many time is remaining then we call it a day because of
circular motion we do have the day night cycle because our moon circulates around
the earth with its circular motion. That’s all

Assessment
Good job! Let's test what you've learned from the very start of our lesson. Now,
I want you to read carefully and answer the questions below. Write your answer on
the space provided before the number.
___C__ 1. Which of the following refers to the constant speed motion along the
circular path?
A. Projectile motion
B. Rotational motion
C. Uniform circular motion
D. Non-uniform circular motion
___B__ 2. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, which of the
following is TRUE?
A. A particle completes no revolution every period.
B. A particle completes one revolution every period.
C. A particle completes two revolutions every period.
D. A particle completes half of a revolution every period.
___C__ 3. What is the other term for the radius of the circular path?
A. radius of arc
B. radius of bend
C. radius of curvature
D. radius of circumference
_____ 4. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, which of the
following statements is CORRECT?
A. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object
stops when the direction of the tangential acceleration and velocity
are the same.
B. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object is
speeding up when the direction of the tangential acceleration and
velocity are the same.
C. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object is
slowing down when the direction of the tangential acceleration and
velocity are the same.
D. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, the object’s
speed varies when the direction of the tangential acceleration and
velocity are the same.
___C__ 5. What is the other term for radial acceleration?
A. circular acceleration
B. tangential acceleration
C. centripetal acceleration
D. centrifugal acceleration
__D___ 6. Which of the following refers to a motion with varying speed along a
circular path?
A. Projectile motion
B. Rotational motion
C. Uniform circular motion
D. Non-uniform circular motion
___D__ 7. Which of the following mathematically describes radial acceleration?
B.
Δ𝑣
𝑥
C.
Δ𝑣
Δ𝑡
D.
𝑣2
𝑅
E.
2𝜋𝑅
𝑇
____D_ 8. Which of the following appropriately describes radial acceleration in the
constant speed motion along the circular path?
A. It is not zero.
B. It is equal to zero.
C. It is always a negative number.
D. It is always equal to a number between zero and positive 1.
___D__ 9. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, which of the
following statements is CORRECT?
A. The component of the acceleration along the path is
zero.
B. The component of the acceleration along the path increases.
C. The component of the acceleration along the path decreases.
D. The component of the acceleration along the path remains the
same.
___B__ 10. In a motion with varying speed along a circular path, which of the
following is TRUE?
A. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as circular acceleration.
B. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as tangential acceleration.
C. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as centripetal acceleration.
D. The acceleration has a component parallel to the circular path
known as centrifugal acceleration.
___B__ 11. In the constant speed motion along the circular path, what happens
when the direction of the tangential acceleration and velocity are
opposite?
A. The object stops.
B. The object’s speed varies.
C. The object is speeding up.
D. The object is slowing down.
__C___ 12. Which of the following mathematically describes the magnitude of the
total acceleration in the constant speed motion along the circular
path?
A. 𝑎 = √𝑎𝑟
2 + 𝑎𝑡
2
B. 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑟
2 + 𝑎𝑡
2
C. 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑡
D. 𝑎 = √𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑡
20
__A___ 13. A 150-g ball at the end of a string is revolving uniformly on a horizontal
circle of radius 0.600 m. The ball makes 2.00 revolutions in a second.
What is its centripetal acceleration?
A. 94.8 𝑚/𝑠2
B. 85.7 𝑚/𝑠2
C. 76.6 𝑚/𝑠2
D. 67.5 𝑚/𝑠2
___C__ 14. The Moon’s nearly circular orbit about the Earth has a radius of about
384,000 km and a period T of 27.3 days. What is the acceleration of
the Moon toward the Earth?
A. 4.53 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
B. 3.62 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
C. 2.72 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
D. 1.71 × 10−3 𝑚/𝑠2
___D__ 15. A test-tube sample is placed on a centrifuge. The sample is 0.10m from
the rotation axis. When the centrifuge is turned on, the test-tube
experiences a constant tangential acceleration of 1.0 × 103 𝑚/𝑠2 so that
it could spin from rest to its maximum rate. What is the magnitude of
the total acceleration of the test-tube when its speed is 10 𝑚/𝑠2?
A. 4.1 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
B. 3.2 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
C. 2.3 × 103 𝑚/𝑠
D. 1.4 × 103 𝑚/𝑠