Circular Motion

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SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT QUESTIONS

1. When a particle moves in a circle with a uniform speed
(A) its velocity and acceleration are both constant
(B) its velocity is constant but the acceleration changes
(C) its acceleration is constant but the velocity changes
(D) its velocity and acceleration both change
Ans. (D)
Sol. Since the direction of velocity and acceleration of particle in circular motion changes, velocity and acceleration
both changes.

2. A particle of mass m starts undergoing a circular motion of radius R. The speed of particle is increasing as
V = Kt (K is a constant), (t is time in seconds). The magnitude of net acceleration after 1 second is
K2 K2 K2
(A) K (B) (C) K 1  (D) 2K 1 
R R2 R2
Ans. (C)
dv
Sol. at  K
dt
v2 K 2t2 K 2
ac   
R R R
a net  a t2  ac2

3. A particle of mass m is fixed to one end of a light rigid rod of length  and rotated in a vertical circular path
about its other end. The minimum speed of the particle at its highest point must be :
(A) zero (B) g (C) 1.5g (D) 2g
Ans. (A)
Sol. Since it is a rod, it will not slag, and we just need to carry about energy conservation
So that bob reaches the top most point.
Hence speed of the particle of its highest point could be zero.

4. A particle is moving in a circular path with a constant speed v. If  is the angular displacement, then starting
from  = 00, the maximum and minimum change in the linear momentum will occur when value of  is
respectively :
(A) 45º & 90º (B) 90º & 180º (C) 180º & 360º (D) 90º & 270º
Ans. (C)
Sol. Maximum change will occur for 180° as particle is moving in opposite direction, and minimum at 360° as
particle is moving in same direction.

5. A rod of length L is pivoted at one end and is rotated with a uniform angular velocity in a horizontal plane .
Let T1 and T2 be the tensions at the points L/4 and 3L/4 away from the pivoted ends.
(A) T1 > T2 (B) T2 > T1
(C) T1 = T2
(D) The relation between T1 and T2 depends on whether the rod rotates clockwise or anticlockwise
Ans. (A)
Sol. T1 > T2 . Tension decreases as we move away from the pivoted end.
 m2 2 
 T(x)  (L  x 2 )
 2L 

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6. A cube of mass M starts at rest from point 1 at a height 4R, where R is the radius of the circular track. The cube
slides down the frictionless track and around the loop. The force which the track exerts on the cube at point 2 is:
1

4R 2

(A) 3 mg (B) mg
(C) 2 mg (D) cube will not reach the point 2.
Ans. (A)
1
Sol. mg(2R)  mv 2
2
 v  4gR
mv 2
N  mg 
R
 N = 3mg

7. A car moves at a constant speed on a road as shown in figure. The normal force by the road on the car is N A
and NB when it is at the points A and B respectively.

(A) NA = NB (B) NA > NB (C) NA < NB (D) insufficient information

Ans. (C)
mv 2
Sol. N  mg 
R
As R decreases, N decreases
Therefore NB > NA

8. A small block slides with velocity v0 = 0.5 gr on the horizontal frictionless surface
as shown in the figure. The block leaves the surface at point C. The angle  in the
figure is :
4 3
(A) cos 1 (B) cos 1
9 4
1 4
(C) cos 1 (D) cos 1
2 5
Ans. (B)
1 1 gr
Sol. mv 2  m  2mg(r  r cos )
2 2 4
2 gr
 v   2gr(1  cos )
4
Also, as it leaner contact,
mv 2
mg cos  
r
m  gr 
 mg cos     2gr(1  cos )
r 4 
3 1 3
 cos      cos
4 4
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9. A particle suspended from a fixed point, by a light inextensible thread of length L is projected horizontally from
7gL
its lowest position with velocity . The thread will slack after swinging through an angle , such that 
2
equal-
(A) 30º (B) 135º (C) 120º (D) 150º
Ans. (C)
Sol. By conservation of energy between P and Q, we have
1 7 gL 1
m  mv 2  mgL(1  sin )
2 2 2
3 1
 mgL  mv 2  mgL sin  .......(1)
4 2
Since Q is the point where thread slacks,
mv 2
mg sin    mv2 = mgL sin .......(2)
L
Using in (1) we get
1
sin      30
2
Therefore thread slacks after 120°

10. A curved section of a road is banked for a speed v. If there is no friction between road and tyres of the car,
then:
(A) car is more likely to slip at speeds higher than v than speeds lower than v
(B) car is in static equilibrium on the curved section
(C) car will not slip when moving with speed v
(D) none of the above
Ans. (C)
Sol. If the road banked for a speed v, if there is no friction, car will not slip if it is moving with a speed 'v'.

11. A particle of mass m attached to the end of string of length  is released from the initial position A as shown in
the figure. The particle moves in a vertical circular path about O. When it is vertically below O, the string
makes contact with nail N placed directly below O at distance h and rotates around it. If the particle just
complete the vertical circle about N, then

3l 2l l 4l
(A) h  (B) h  (C) h  (D) h 
5 5 5 5
Ans. (D)
1
Sol. mv 2  mg L(1 – cos 60°)
2
 v  gL ......(1)
Since particle just completer a circle of radius L – h, we have
v  5g(L  h) .......(2)
from (1) and (2) we have
gL = 5g(L – h)
4
 h L
5

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12. A particle initially at rest starts moving from point A on the surface of a fixed smooth hemisphere of radius r as
shown. The particle looses its contact with hemisphere at point B. C is centre of the hemisphere. The equation
relating  and  is

(A) 3 sin  = 2 cos  (B) 2 sin  = 3 cos  (C) 3 sin  = 2 cos  (D) 2 sin  = 3 cos 
Ans. (C)
1
Sol. mv 2 = mgr(cos  – sin ) ......(1)
2
mv 2
mg sin   ......(2)
r
Using (1) and (2) we have
r mg sin = 2mgr(cos – sin)
 3 sin = 2 cos .......(3)

13. A smooth wire is bent into a vertical circle of radius a. A bead P can slide smoothly on the wire. The circle is
rotated about vertical diameter AB as axis with a constant speed  as shown in figure. The bead P is at rest
w.r.t. the wire in the position shown. Then 2 is equal to :

2g 2g g 3 2a
(A) (B) (C) (D)
a a 3 a g 3
Ans. (B)
Sol. By the diagram
a
mg cos  = m2   sin 
 2

1 a 3 1
mg  m2   Here cos  =
2  2 2 2

2g
2 
a 3

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14. In a rotor, a hollow vertical cyclindrical structure rotates about its axis and a person rests against the inner wall.
At a particular speed of the rotor, the floor below the person is removed and the person hangs resting against
the wall without any floor. If athe radius of the rotor is 2m and the coefficient of static friction between the wall
and the person is 0.2, find the minimum speed at which the floor may be removed.
Take g = 10 m/s2.

fs
N •
mg

(A) 10 m/s (B) 20 m/s (C) 50 m/s (D) 100 m/s

Ans. (A)
Sol. From figure N = m2R
f = N = m2R
For resting position of person
f = mg or m2R = mg
2R = g
v 2
g
R
v2 = 100
v = 10 m/s

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SECTION - 1 : MULTIPLE CORRECT CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. One end of massless inextensible string of length  is fixed and other end is tied to a small ball of mass m. The
ball is performing a circular motion in vertical plane. At the lowest position, speed of ball is 20g . Neglect
any other forces on the ball except tension and gravitational force. Acceleration due to gravity is g.
(A) At the highest position of ball, tangential acceleration of ball is 0
(B) At the highest position of ball, tangential acceleration of ball is g
(C) During circular motion, minimum value of tension in the string is 15 mg
(D) During circular motion, maximum value of tension in the string is 21 mg
Ans. (ACD)
m( 20g )2
Sol. TMAX – mg 
TMAX = 21mg
2
VMIN  20g  2g(2 )  16g
2
mVMIN
TMIN  mg 
TMIN = 15 mg

2. A circular road of radius r is banked for a speed v = 40 km/hr. A car of mass m attempts to go on the circular
road. The friction coefficient between the tyre and the road is negligible.
(A) The car cannot make a turn without skidding.
(B) If the car turns at a speed less than 40 km/hr, it will slip down
mv 2
(C) If the car turns at the current speed of 40 km/hr, the force by the road on the car is equal to
r
(D) If the car turns at the correct speed of 40 km/hr, the force by the road on the car is greater than mg as well
mv 2
as greater than
r
Ans. (BD)
Sol. NH = mg
mv 2
NV =
r
2
 mv 2 
N  (mg)2   
 r 
 

3. A particle is describing circular motion in a horizontal plane in contact with the

smooth inside surface of a fixed right circular cone with its axis vertical and vertex
down. The height of the plane of motion above the vertex in h and the semivertical
angle of the cone in . The period of revolution of the particle :
(A) increases at h increases (B) decreases as h increases
(C) increases as  in creases (D) decreases as  increases
Ans. (AC)
Sol. N cos = m2r r = h tan 
N sin = mg
2 h tan  g
cos  =  cot 
g h
2
T


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4. A machine, in an amusement park, consists of a cage at the end of one arm, hinged at O. The cage revolves
along a vertical circle of radius r (ABCDEFGH) about its hinge O, at constant linear speed v = gr . The cage
is so attached that the man of weight ‘w’ standing on a weighing machine, inside the cage, is always vertical.

Then which of the following is correct

(A) The weight reading at A is greater than the weight reading at E by 2 w.
(B) The weight reading at G = w
(C) The ratio of the weight reading at E to that at A = 0
(D) The ratio of the weight reading at A to that at C = 2.
Ans. (ABCD)
NG NE NC NA

Sol.    

mg mg mg mg
2
mv
 N A  mg  
r
NA = 2mg
mv 2
mg – NE =
r
NE = 0
NC = NG = mg

5. A ball tied to the end of a string swings in a vertical circle under the influence of gravity
(A) when the string makes an angle 90º with the vertical , the tangential acceleration is zero & radial
acceleration is somewhere between maximum and minimum
(B) when the string makes an angle 90º with the vertical , the tangential acceleration is maximum & radial
acceleration is somewhere between maximum and minimum
(C) at no place in the circular motion, tangential acceleration is equal to radial acceleration
(D) throughout the path whenever radial acceleration has its extreme value, the tangential acceleration is
zero.
Ans. (B,D)
Sol. When the string makes an angle 90° with vertical then tangential acceleration is g (maximum) and radial
acceleration is
v2
ac 
R
maximum at lowest point and minimum at highest point.
At lowest point v is maximum so acceleration
mv 2
ac 
r
is maximum but tangential acceleration is zero.

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6. A heavy particle is tied to the end A of a string of length 1.6 m. Its other end O is fixed. It revolves as a conical
pendulum with the string making 60o with the vertical. Then : (g = 9.8 m/s2)
4
(A) its period of revolution is sec.
7
(B) the tension in the string is doubled the weight of the particle
(C) the velocity of the particle = 2.8 3 m/ s
(D) the centripetal acceleration of the particle is 9.83 m/s2.
Ans. (A,B,C,D)
1
1.6 
L cos  2  2 0.8  4 
Sol. (A) T  2  2
g 9.8 9.8 7
(B) Tension T cos  = mg ....(1)
2
mv
T sin  = ....(2)
R
mv 2
T  mg cos   sin  ....(3)
R
mv 2
Putting the value of and 
R
mg 3 3
T T 
2 2 2
mg 3T
T 
2 4
T  2mg
(C) v  Rg tan   L sin g tan 

3
v  1.6   9.8  3
2
v  2.8 3
v 2 (2.8 3)2
(D) ac  
R 3
1.6 
2
ac  9.8 3 m / s 2

SECTION - 2 : COMPREHENSION BASED QUESTIONS

(SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT QUESTION)

Comprehension 1
A particle moves with deceleration along the circle of radius R so that at any moment of time its tangential and
normal accelerations are equal in moduli. At the initial moment t = 0 the speed of the particle equals v 0, then

7. The speed of the particle as a function of the distance covered s will be

(A) v = v0 e–s/ R (B) v = v0 es/ R (C) v = v0 e–R/s (D) v = v0 eR/s
Ans. (A)

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dv v2
Sol. 
dt R
dv v2
v 
ds R
1 dS
v dv  
R
S
log v    C
R
At t = 0, S = 0, v = v0 , C = 1og v0
S
log v  log v 0  
R
v S
log 
v0 R
v = v0 e–S/R

8. The total acceleration of the particle as function of velocity and distance covered
v2 v R 2R
(A) a = 2 (B) a = 2 (C) a = 2 (D) a =
R R v v
Ans. (A)
dv v 0 eS/R dS v2
Sol. aT    ,
dt R dt R

v2 v2
ac  , a  a T2  a c2  2
R R

Comprehension 2
One end of massless inextensible string of length  is fixed and other end is tied to a small ball of mass m. The
ball is performing a circular motion in vertical plane. At the lowest position, speed of ball is 20g . Neglect
any other forces on the ball except tension and gravitational force. Acceleration due to gravity is g.

9. Motion of ball is in nature of

(A) circular motion with constant speed
(B) circular motion with variable speed
(C) circular motion with constant angular acceleration about centre of the circle.
(D) none of these
Ans. (B)
Sol. Motion of small boll will be with variable speed.
10. At the highest position of ball, tangential acceleration of ball is -
(A) 0 (B) g (C) 5 g (D) 16 g
Ans. (A)
Sol. At highest point there will be only centrifugal force.

11. Speed of particle at highest point will be-

(A) 16g (B) 10g (C) 4g (D) None of these
Ans. (A)
Sol. Use work energy theorem

12. Tension force in string at highest point will be-

(A) 15 mg (B) mg (C) zero (D) 2 mg
Ans. (A)
mv 2
Sol. mg  T   T  15 mg

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SECTION - 1 : NUMERICAL ANSWER BASED QUESTIONS

1. A coin placed on a rotating turn table just slips if it is at a distance of 40 cm from the centre. If the angular
velocity of the turntable is doubled, it will just slip at a distance of
Ans. (10 cm)

Sol.
2
f mw r

f = mw2r
 w2r = constant
2
r2  w1 
 
r1  w 2 
2
w 
 r2  r1  1 
 w2 
1
 40    10 cm
4

2. A disc of radius R has a light pole fixed perpendicular to the disc at the circumference which in turn has a
pendulum of length R attached to its other end as shown in figure. The disc is rotated with a constant angular
1/ 2
 kg 
speed . The string is making an angle 300 with the rod. Then the angular speed  of disc is   . Find k
 3 3R 

Ans. (2)
Sol. T cos = mg
T sin = m2 (R + R sin) 30°
Tcos
3 
2  R 
tan 30  2 
g
m R
2
Tsin
2 1/ 2
1 3 R  2g 
  
3 2g  3 3R  mg

3. A particle is moving in a circular orbit with a constant tangential acceleration. After a certain time t = 1/2 sec
has elapsed after the beginning of motion, the angle between the total acceleration a and the direction along
the radius r becomes equal to 45°. What is the angular acceleration of the particle.
Ans. (4)

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Sol. Let at = c (constant)
dv
c
dt
ct an= R
2
 v  ct    ...(1)
R anet

 an = a t  2 R = c
c2t2 R 45° at=c
 2
Rc  c ...(2)
2
R t
Now,
 = t
c
 t from (1) put value of 
R
R
  t from (2) put value of c
Rt
1
 
t2

4. A particle moves clockwise in a circle of radius 1m with centre at (x, y) = (1m, 0). It starts from rest at the

origin at time t = 0. Its speed increases at the constant rate of   m/ s 2 . (i) How long does it take to travel
 2
halfway around the circle? (ii) What is the speed at that time?
Ans. (i) t = 2s, (ii) 3.14 m/s
dv 
Sol. 
dt 2

 v t Y
2
v t
  
R 2

 t  t X
2 O 1m C
A
R=1m

   rad / s 2
2
OA
1 2 1  2
  0 t  t 0 . t
2 2 2
 t  2sec
Now,
  
v = R v = R(0+t) v  1  0   2 v  3.14 m / sec
 2 

5. Figure shows the total acceleration and velocity of a particle moving clockwise
in a circle of radius 2.5m at a given instant of time. At this instant, Find :
(i) the radial acceleration, (ii) the speed of the particle and (iii) its tangential
acceleration.

1/ 2
3  3 25
Ans. (i) 25 m/ s 2 (ii)  125  m/ s (iii) m/ s 2
2  4  2
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Sol. anet = a n2  a t2
252  an2  a 2t ...(1) an
–2
an 1 ane=25ms
 tan 30 
at 3
at a 2t 30°
an  put in (1) 625   a 2t at
3 3
625  3
at  a t  468.75
4
a t  21.65 ms 2 Ans. to 3rd part
at 21.65
an  
3 1.732
a n  12.5ms 2 Ans. to 1st part
v2
 12.5
R
v  12.5  2.5  5.6 m / s Ans. to 2nd part

6. A stone, tied to the end of a string of length 50 cm, is whirled in a horizontal circle with a constant speed. If the
stone makes 40 revolutions in 20 s, what is the magnitude of the acceleration of the stone?
Ans. (80)
2(40)
Sol.    4  rad/sec.
20
162
a = 2 = (4)2 (0.5)   8 2 towards centre
2
7. A particle is attached by means of two equal strings to points A and B in the same vertical line and describe a
horizontal circle with a uniform angular speed. If the angular speed of the particle is 2 (2g / h) with AB = h,
Find the ratio of the tension of the string.

Ans. (5 : 3)
A
h  L
2

Sol. R R  L sin 
O

 L

B
T1 T1cos


FBD:
T1 sin  +
 T2 sin 

T2 mg mg+T2 cos 

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Now, T1 cos  = mg + T2cos 
 (T1 – T2) cos  = mg ...(1)
2
& (T1 + T2) sin  = m L sin 
T1 + T2 = m2L ...(2)
(2) ÷ (1) ;
T1  T2 2 L T1  T2 8g L h
    4
(T1  T2 )cos  g T1  T2 h g 2L
2T1 5 T2 3
   
2T2 3 T1 5

SECTION - 2 : MATRIX - MATCH QUESTIONS

Match the column
8. In column-I condition on velocity, force and acceleration of a particle is given. Resultant motion is described in
column-II. u = initial velocity, F = resultant force and v = instantaneous velocity.
Column-I Column-II
(A) u  F = 0 and F = constant (P) path will be circular path
(B) u  F = 0 and F = constant (Q) speed will increase
(C) v  F = 0 and all the time and F = constant (R) path will be straight line
and the particle always remains in one plane.
(D) u = 2iˆ  3jˆ and acceleration at all time (S) path will be parabolic
a = 6iˆ  9jˆ
Ans. (A) R (B) Q, S (C) P (D) Q, R
Sol. (A) u  F or u  F and F constant then path will be straight line.
(B) u  F and F = constant then motion is parabolic and speed will increase.
(C) velocity and force are always perpendicular and force is constant in magnitude then motion will be
uniform circular motion.
(D) a is constant and u  a . so motion will be straight line.

9. A particle is moving with speed v = 2t2 on the circumference of circle of radius R. Match the quantities given in
column-I with corresponding results in column-II
Column-I Column-II
(A) Magnitude of tangential acceleration of particle (P) decreases with time.
(B) Magnitude of Centripetal acceleration of particle (Q) increase with time
(C) Magnitude of angular speed of particle with (R) remains constant
respect to centre of circle
(D) Angle between the total acceleration vector (S) proportional to R
and centripetal acceleration vector of particle (T) inversely proportional to R
Ans. (A) Q, (B) Q, T (C) Q, T (D) P, S
Sol. at = 4t increases with time
v 2 4t 4 1
(B) ac   a t 4 
R R R
v 2t 2 1
(C) w  w  t 2
R R R
a 4t R
(D) tan   t  
a c  4t 4 / R  t 3

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JEE-Physics


SECTION-1 : SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT QUESTIONS

1. A body of mass ‘m’ is tied to one end of a spring and whirled round in a horizontal plane with a constant
angular velocity. The elongation in the spring is 1 cm. If the angular velocity is doubled, the elongation in the
spring is 5 cm. The original length of the spring is : [JEE (Main) 2013 - Online]
(1) 16 cm (2) 15 cm (3) 12 cm (4) 10 cm
Ans. (2)
1
Sol. mw12 (L  x1 )  kx1 ..... (i)
2
1
mw 22 (L  x 2 )  kx 2 ..... (ii)
2
(L  x1 ) x
dividing (i)/(ii)  1
4(L  x 2 ) x 2
or L = 15 cm

2. A particle is released on a vertical smooth semicircular track from point X so that OX makes angle  from the
vertical (see figure). The normal reaction of the track on the particle vanishes at point Y where OY makes angle
 with the horizontal. Then : [JEE (Main) 2014 - Online]
X


Y

O
1 3 2
(1) sin = cos (2) sin   cos  (3) sin   cos  (4) sin   cos 
2 4 3
Ans. (4)
Sol. By energy cons.
1
mg(R cos  – Rsin )  mv 2 ..... (i)
2
mv 2
and as N = 0 at y so  mg sin  .... (ii)
R
by (i) and (ii)
1
mg R (cos  – sin ) = mg R sin 
2
2
2cos   3 sin   sin   cos 
3

3. If a body moving in a circular path maintains constant speed of 10 ms –1, then which of the following correctly
describes relation between acceleration and radius ?
[JEE (Main) 2015 - Online]

a a a
a
(1) (2) (3) (4)

r r r r
Ans. (2)
v2
Sol. as at = 0 ac 
R
1
so a c 
R
14 E
 Circular Motion

4. A particle is moving in a circle of radius r under the action of a force F = r2 which is directed towards centre
of the circle. Total mechanical energy (kinetic energy + potential energy) of the particle is (take potential
energy = 0 for r = 0) :- [JEE (Main) 2015 - Online]
4 5 1
(1) r 3 (2) r3 (3) r 3 (4) r 3
3 6 2
Ans. (3)
mv 2
Sol.  r 2
r
1 1
kE  mv 2  r 3
2 2
PE = F dr cos 180°
r 3
Fdr 
3
5 3
kE + pE = r
6

5. A particle of mass M is moving in a circle of fixed radius R in such a way that its centripetal acceleration at time
t is given by n2R t2 where n is a constant. The power delivered to the particle by the force acting on it, is :
[JEE (Main) 2016 - Online]
1
(1) M n R2t2 (2) Mn R2t (3) M n2R2t2 (4) M n2R2t
2
Ans. (4)
v2
Sol. ac   n 2Rt 2
R
v = nRT
dv
 nR
dt
mdv
F  mn R
dt
P = F.v = mnR.nRt = mn2R2t

k
6. A particle is moving in a circular path of radius a under the action of an attractive potential U   . Its total
2r 2
energy is: [JEE (Main) 2018 - Online]
k k 3 k
(1)  2 (2) (3) Zero (4) 
4a 2a 2 2 a2
Ans. (3)
k
Sol. U   2
2r
k k
F   (2r 3 )   3
2 r
mv 2 k k
 3 mv 2  2
r r r
1 2 k k
T.E.  mv  P.E.  2  2  0
2 2a 2a

7. A particle is moving along a circular path with a constant speed of 10 ms –1. What is the magnitude of the
change is velocity of the particle, when it moves through an angle of 60° around the centre of the circle?
[JEE (Main) 2019 - Online]
(1) zero (2) 10 m/s (3) 10 3 m/s (4) 10 2 m/s
Ans. (2)

E 15
JEE-Physics

v2
Sol.
 v1

v2 v1



–v1

v  v12  v 22  2v1v 2 cos(  )


 2v sin since  v1  v 2 
2
= (2 × 10) × sin(30°)
= 10 m/s

8. A smooth wire of length 2r is bent into a circle and kept in a vertical plane. A bead can slide smoothly on the
wire. When the circle is rotating with angular speed  about the vertical diameter AB, as shown in figure, the
bead is at rest with respect to the circular ring at position P as shown. Then the value of 2 is equal to :
[JEE (Main) 2019 - Online]

A
r
O

r/2
P
B


(1) g 3 / r  (2)
3g
2r
(3) 2g/r  
(4) 2g / r 3

Ans. (4)

Sol.
r/2 r
 N

mg
N cos  = mg .....(1)
r
N sin = mw 2 .....(2)
2
w2r
tan   .....(3)
2g
r/2 1
and tan    .... (4)
2 r2 3
r 
4
from eq. (3) and (4)
2g
w2 = r
3

16 E
 Circular Motion

9. A particle of mass m is fixed to one end of a light spring having force constant k and unstretched length . The
other end is fixed. The system is given an angular speed  about the fixed end of the spring such that it rotates
in a circle in gravity free space. Then the stretch in the spring is : [JEE (Main) 2020 - Online]
m 2 m 2 m 2 m 2
(1) (2) (3) (4)
k  m2 k  m2 k  m k  m
Ans. (2)
 kx m
Sol. m( + x)
2

 x
kx = m2 + mx2
m 2
x
k  m2

10. A fly wheel is accelerated uniformly from rest and rotates through 5 rad in the first second. The angle rotated
by the fly wheel in the next second, will be : [JEE (Main) 2020 - Online]
(1) 7.5 rad (2) 15 rad (3) 20 rad (4) 30 rad
Ans. (2)
1
Sol. 5  (1)2
2
1
  (2)2
2
 – 5 = 15

11. For a particle in uniform circular motion, the acceleration a at any point P(R,) on the circular path of radius
R is (when  is measured from the positive x –axis and v is uniform speed) : [JEE (Main) 2020 - Online]
2 2 2 2
v v v v
(1)  sin ˆi  cos ˆj (2)  cos ˆi  sin ˆj
R R R R
v2 v2 v2 ˆ v2 ˆ
(3)  cos ˆi  sin ˆj (4)  i j
R R R R
Ans. (3)
Sol.

a


V2
a |a |
R
a  a cos ˆi  a sin ˆj
V2 V2
 cos ˆi  sin ˆj
R R

E 17
JEE-Physics

12. A coin placed on a rotating table just slips when it is placed at a distance of 1 cm from the center. If the angular
velocity of the table in halved, it will just slip when placed at a distance of_____ from the centre:
[JEE(Main) 2023 – Online]
(1) 2 cm (2) 1 cm (3) 8 cm (4) 4 cm
Ans. (4)
µg
Sol. fs max = µ mg = m2R  R  2


So if  becomes , R will become 4R.
2
So distance from the center will be 4 cm.

13. A vehicle of mass 200 kg is moving along a levelled curved road of radius 70 m with angular velocity of 0.2
rad/s. The centripetal force acting on the vehicle is : [JEE(Main) 2023 – Online]
(1) 560 N (2) 2800 N (3) 14 N (4) 2240 N
Ans. (1)
Sol. Fc = m2r = 200 × (0.2)2 × 70 = 560 N

SECTION-2 : NUMERICAL ANSWER BASED QUESTIONS

14. A curved in a level road has a radius 75m. The maximum speed of a car turning this curved road can be 30
m/s without skidding. If radius of curved road is changed to 48 m and the coefficient of friction between the
tyres and the road remains same, then maximum allowed speed would be__ m/s.
[JEE (Main) 2022 - Online]
Ans. (24)
mv 2
Sol. fs max 
R
mv 2
mg 
R
v  Rg
v2 R2

v1 R1

v2 48

30 75
v 2  24 m / s

18 E
 Circular Motion


SECTION-1 : SINGLE CHOICE CORRECT QUESTIONS

1. Two particles A, B are moving on two concentric circles of radii R 1 and R2 with equal angular speed . At t =
0, their positions and direction of motion are shown in the figure : [JEE (Main) 2019 - Online]


The relative velocity  A  B at t  is given by :
2
(1)  R1  R 2 ˆi (2)  R1  R 2 ˆi (3)  R1  R 2 ˆi (4)  R 2  R1 ˆi
Ans. (4)
Y
Sol.

R1 A

R2 B
 
= t =  
2 2
 
VA  VS  R1 ˆi  R 2  i 

2. A body is projected at t = 0 with a velocity 10 ms –1 at an angle of 60° with the horizontal. The radius of
curvature of its trajectory at t = 1s is R. Neglecting air resistance and taking acceleration due to gravity g = 10
ms–2, the value of R is : [JEE (Main) 2019 - Online]
(1) 2.5 m (2) 10.3 m (3) 2.8 m (4) 5.1 m
Ans. (3)
Sol. vx = 10cos60° = 5 m/s
vy = 10cos30° = 5 3 m/ s
velocity after t = 1 sec.
vx = 5 m/s

vy = 5 3  10  m/ s  10  5 3

v2 v x2  v 2y 25  100  75 –100 3
an  R 
R an 10 cos 
10 – 5 3
tan    2 – 3    15
5

R=

100 2  3   2.8m
10 cos15

E 19
JEE-Physics

3. A spring mass system (mass m, spring constant k and natural length l) rest in equilibrium on a horizontal disc.
The free end of the spring is fixed at the centre of the disc. If the disc together with spring mass system, rotates
about it's axis with an angular velocity , (k >> m2) the relative change in the length of the spring is best
given by the option : [JEE (Main) 2020 - Online]
2m 2
m 2
2  m 2
m2
(1) (2) (3)   (4)
k 3k 3 k  k
Ans. (4)
Sol. w

FBD of m in frame of disc/-

k
m (0+ )
2
m
k = m2(0 + )
m2 0 m 0
  2

k  m k
 m2
 Relative change 
0 k
 Correct answer (4)

4. A modern grand-prix racing car of mass m is travelling on a flat track in a circular arc of radius R with a speed
v. If the coefficient of static friction between the tyres and the track is s, then the magnitude of negative lift FL
acting downwards on the car is : (Assume forces on the four tyres are identical and g = acceleration due to
gravity) [JEE (Main) 2021 - Online]
v

 v2   v2   v2   v2 
(1) m   g (2) m   g (3) m  g   (4) m  g  
 R   R    s R   s R 
 s   s   
Ans. (2)
mv 2
Sol. sN =
R
2
mv
N = mg + FL
s R
mv 2
FL =  mg
s R

5. A ball is spun with angular acceleration  = 6t2 – 2t where t is in second and  is in rads–2. At t = 0, the ball
has angular velocity of 10 rads–1 and angular position of 4 rad. The most appropriate expression for the
angular position of the ball is: [JEE (Main) 2022 - Online]
3 4 t4 t3
(1) t  t 2  10t (2)   10t  4
2 2 3
2t 4 t 3 t3
(3)   10t  12 (4) 2t 4   5t  4
3 6 2
Ans. (2)

20 E
 Circular Motion

dw
Sol.  6t 2  2t
dt
w
3
 dw  2t  t2
10

w  10  2t 3  t 2
d
 10  2t 3  t 2
dt

3
 d  10  2t  t2
4

t4 t3
 d  10t  
2 3
4
t4 t3
  4  10t  
2 3
6. A stone tide to a string of length L is whirled in a vertical circle with the other end of the string at the centre. At
a certain instant of time, the stone is at its lowest position and has a speed u. The magnitude of change in its
velocity, as it reaches a position where the string is horizontal, is x(u 2  gL) . The value of x is
[JEE (Main) 2022 - Online]
(1) 3 (2) 2 (3) 1 (4) 5
Ans. (2)
Sol. v  u 2  2gL

v  u2  v 2
v  u 2  v 2  2gL

v  2u 2  2gL


v  2 u2  gL x = 2 
7. A small block of mass 100 g is tied to a spring of spring constant 7.5 N/m and length 20 cm. The other end of
spring is fixed at a particular point A. If the block moves in a circular path on a smooth horizontal surface with
constant angular velocity 5 rad/s about point A, then tension in the spring is [JEE(Main) 2023 – Online]
(1) 1.5 N (2) 0.75 N (3) 0.25 N (4) 0.50 N
Ans. (2)
0.2 + x
Sol.

kx m2r
Let extension in length of spring be x.
Radius of circle r = 0.2 + x
Kx = m2r
 1 
7.5x    (5 2 )(0.2  x)
 10 
15 5 1
 x  x  
2 2 5
1
 x
10
1
 Tension in spring = kx  7.5  =0.75 N
10

E 21
JEE-Physics

8. A child of mass 5 kg is going round a merry-go-round that makes 1 rotation in 3.14 s. The radius of the merry-
go-round is 2 m. The centrifugal force on the child will be
[JEE(Main) 2023 – Online]
(1) 80 N (2) 50 N (3) 100 N (4) 40 N
Ans. (4)
2
Sol.   2 rad / s
3.14
fcentrifugal  maRe f.  M2R  40N
Correct option (4)

SECTION-2 : NUMERICAL ANSWER BASED QUESTIONS

9. A pendulum bob has a speed of 3 m/s at its lowest position. The pendulum is 50 cm long. The speed of bob,
when the length makes an angle of 60° to the vertical will be (g = 10 m/s 2) ______ m/s.
[JEE (Main) 2021 - Online]
Ans. (2)
//////////
Sol. 60°
l=0.5m v

l–l cos 60° T B

A u

Applying work energy theorem :

wg + wT = K
1 1
–mgl(1–cos60º) = mv 2  mu 2
2 2
2 2
v = u – 2gl(1–cos60°)
1
v2 = 9  2  10  0.5  
 2
v2 = 4
v = 2 m/s

10. A small block slides down from the top of hemisphere of radius R = 3 m as shown in the figure. The height ‘h’
at which the block will lose contact with the surface of the sphere is ____m. (Assume there is no friction
between the block and the hemisphere) [JEE (Main) 2021 - Online]

A (R–h)
R
 h
O
Ans. (2)

22 E
 Circular Motion

Sol.
(R–h)
R R
 mgsin h

mg

mv 2
mg cos= ....(1)
R
h
cos  =
R
Energy conservation
1
mg {R – h} = mv 2 ....(2)
2
 h  2mg{R – h}
from (1) & (2)  mg   
R  R
2R
h=  2m
3

E 23
JEE-Physics


1. A bob of mass M is suspended by a massless string of length L. The horizontal

velocity V at position A is just sufficient to make it reach the point B. The angle 
at which the speed of the bob is half of that at A, satisfies Figure :

  
(A)   (B) 
4 4 2
 3 3
(C)  (D)    0
2 4 4
Ans. (D)
Sol. By energy conservation
1 1
mu 2  mv 2  mg (1  cos )
2 2
V2 = U2 – 2g (L – L cos)
5gL
= 5gL – 2gL (1 – cos)
4
5 = 20 – 8 + 8 cos
7
cos = 
8
3

4

2. Two identical discs of same radius R are rotating about their axes in opposite directions with the same constant
angular speed . The discs are in the same horizontal plane. At time t = 0, the points P and Q are facing each
other as shown in the figure. The relative speed between the two points P and Q is v r. In one time period (T) of
rotaion of the discs vr, as a function of time is best represented by [IIT-JEE 2012]

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

Ans. (A)
24 E
 Circular Motion

Sol. At t =0 Relative speed of P and Q is zero
T
at t Vr is 2R
4
T
at t Vr is 0
2
3T
at t Vr = 2r
4
at t=T Vr = 0

3. A particle of mass 0.2 kg is moving in one dimension under a force that delivers a constant power 0.5 W to
the particle. If the initial speed (in ms–1) of the particle is zero, the speed (in ms–1) after 5 s is :
[JEE(Adv.) - 2013]
Ans. (5)
1
Sol. W = mv 2
2
1
0.5 × 5 =  0.2 v 2
2
5
= v2
0.2
v=5

 
 x ˆ y ˆ 
4. The work done on a particle of mass m by a force, K  i j (K being a constant of
3/ 2 
   
3/ 2
 x2  y2 x2  y2 
 
appropriate dimensions), when the particle is taken from the point (a, 0) to the point (0, a) along a circular
path of radius a about the origin in the x-y plane is : [JEE(Adv.) - 2013]

2K K K
(A) (B) (C) (D) 0
a a 2a
Ans. (D)
Sol.

 F  ds
W = 0 Ans. (D)

E 25
JEE-Physics

Paragraph for Questions 5 and 6
A small block of mass 1 kg is released from rest at the top of a rough track. The track is a circular are of radius
40 m. The block slides along the track without toppling and a frictional force acts on it in the direction opposite
to the instantaneous velocity. The work done in overcoming the friction up to the point Q, as shown in the
figure below, is 150 J. [JEE(Adv.) - 2013]
(Take the acceleration due to gravity, g = 10ms–2)
y

R
P
30º

R
Q

x
O

5. The magnitude of the normal reaction that acts on the block at the point Q is
(A) 7.5 N (B) 8.6 N (C) 11.5 N (D) 22.5 N
Ans. (A)

Sol.

v2
N – mg cos 60 = m
R
10 2
N – (1)(10)(1/2) = (1)
40
N = 7.5

6. The speed of the block when it reaches the point Q is

(A) 5 ms–1 (B) 10 ms–1 (C) 10 3 ms 1 (D) 20 ms–1
Ans. (B)

Sol.

Wg + Wf = Kf – Ki
1
mg R sin 30 – 150 = mv 2  0
2
1
(1) (10) (40) (1/2) – 150 =   1 v 2
 2
v = 10 m/s

26 E
 Circular Motion

7. A wire, which passes through the hole in a small bead, is bent in the form of quarter of a circle. The wire is
fixed vertically on ground as shown in the figure. The bead is released from near the top of the wire and it
slides along the wire without friction. As the bead moves from A to B, the force it applies on the wire is–
[JEE(Adv.) - 2014]

(A) always radially outwards

(B) always radially inwards
(C) radially outwards initially and radially inwards later
(D) radially inwards initially and radially outwards later
Ans. (D)
Sol. Initially speed of bead is small hence outward centrifugal force on bead is less than radial inward component
of mg. Hence force by bead on wire is radially inward.
latter speed of bead is large hence outward centrifugal force on bead is greater than radial inward component
of mg. Hence force by bead on wire is radially outward.

8. A student skates up a ramp that makes an angle 30° with the horizontal. He/she starts (as shown in the figure)
at the bottom of the ramp with speed v0 and wants to turn around over a semicircular path xyz of radius R
during which he/she reaches a maximum height h (at point y) from the ground as shown in the figure. Assume
that the energy loss is negligible and the force required for this turn at the highest point is provided by his/her
weight only. Then (g is the acceleration due to gravity)
[JEE (Adv.) 2020 - Online]

z
R y

30°
1
(A) v 02  2gh  gR
2
3
(B) v 02  2gh  gR
2
(C) the centripetal force required at points x and z is zero
(D) the centripetal force required is maximum at points x and z

Ans. (AD)

E 27
JEE-Physics

Sol. By the energy conservation (ME) between bottom point and point Y
1 1
mv 02  mgh  mv12
2 2
 v12  v 02  2gh … (i)
Now at point Y the centripetal force provided by the component of mg
mv12
 mg sin 30 
R
gR
 v12 
2
from (i)
gR
 v 02  2gh
2

At point x and z of circular path, the points are at same height but less then h. So the velocity more than a
point y.
mv 2
So required centripetal  is more.
r

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