1215 CMUG Common Misconceptions

An object moving in a circle at a constant speed is accelerating because _____.

• a centrifugal force is acting on it

• net forces are acting outward

• the direction of its velocity is changing

• the length of its radius is changing

A car travels in a circle with constant speed. The net force on the car __________.

• is directed forward, in the direction of travel.

• is directed toward the center of the curve.

• is zero because the car is not accelerating.

• none of these are correct

A steel ball is attached to a string and is swung in a circular path as illustrated in the attached figure. At the point P, the string suddenly breaks. Which path would the ball most closely follow after the string breaks?

• A

• B

• C

• D

What does centripetal force depend on?

• mass

• velocity

• radius of the circle

• all of these are correct

What would happen to the gravitational force felt between two objects if the radius between them were doubled?

• Fg would double

• Fg would cut in half

• Fg would divide by four

• Fg would stay the same

What provides the centripetal force for a ball on a string being twirled in a circle?

• Friction force

• Inertia

• Tension force

• Air resistance

What would happen to the gravitational force felt between two planets if the mass of one planet were doubled?

• Fg would cut in half

• Fg would double

• Fg would stay the same

• Fg would be divided by four

A ball is tied to a string and swung in a circle. If the speed of the ball is doubled _________.

• Fc would double

• Fc would cut in half

• Fc would quadruple

• Fc would stay the same

Newton found that the gravitational force between two masses is inversely proportional to the square of ____.

• the distance between them

• the sum of the masses

• the product of the masses

• the strength of the gravitational field

As an astronaut travels from the surface of the earth to a position that is four times as far away from the center of the earth, the astronaut’s

• mass decreases

• mass remains the same

• weight increases

• weight remains the same