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Centripetal force: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 5.2.2 Centripetal force, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q8

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 8: A washing machine with a circular drum of diameter 0.60 m is rotating at an angular velocity of 15 radians per second. What is the magnitude of the force exerte

  2. Q3

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 3: A rubber bung is attached to a string. The bung is whirled around in a horizontal circle of radius r. The rotational period of the bung is T. The tension in the

  3. Q11

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 11: A car drives over a bridge at speed v. The path of the car is part of a vertical circle of radius r. The mass of the driver is m. At the top of the bridge the d

  4. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    4 marks6.3.2 Motion of charged particles5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 6(b)(ii): At X, the motion of the proton is instantaneously equivalent to motion in a circle at a constant speed. Calculate the radius of this circular motion. radius = m

  5. Q17(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 mark5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(a)(i): Draw an arrow labelled T on the diagram to represent the tension in the rod. [1]

  6. Q17(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(a)(ii): Show that the radius of the circular path followed by the sandbag is about 10 m. [2]

  7. Q17(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(a)(iii): Calculate the tension T in the rod. T = N [3]

  8. Q17(a)(iv)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(a)(iv): Show that the angular velocity of the ride is about 0.8 radians per second. [2]

  9. Q1(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 1(b)(i): Calculate the centripetal acceleration a of probe B at the equator due to the rotation of Venus about its axis. a = m s–2 [3]

  10. Q1(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 1(b)(iii): Explain which probe will experience the greater normal contact force from the surface of Venus. [3]

  11. Q22(a)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 22(a)(iii): The maximum speed of the protons from this accelerator is 2.0 × 107 m s–1. Calculate the maximum centripetal force F acting on a proton at this speed. mass of p

  12. Q22(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    2 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 22(b): A new particle-accelerator is now built for moving the protons in a circle of a radius 20 m. The ring of electromagnets for this new accelerator provides the sa

  13. Q6(a)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    1 mark5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(a): The resultant upward force (R – W) on the tourist changes during the 30 minutes of the rotation of the London Eye as shown in Fig. 6.3. force / N 0.050 (R – W)

  14. Q6(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(b)(i): Explain why the horizontal force F between the floor and the tourist is necessary. [2]

  15. Q6(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    4 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(b)(ii): Draw on Fig. 6.3 the variation of the horizontal force F during the 30 minutes of the anticlockwise rotation of the London Eye. Take forces to the right to be p

  16. Q6(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 3

    3 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 3, question 6(c): Calculate the distance d of the centre of mass of the tourist from the centre of rotation of the London Eye. d = m [3]

  17. Q20(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    3 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 20(a): Show that the frequency f at which the object slips off is given by the equation f 2 = gk ⎛ ⎞ r . ⎝ ⎠ [3]

  18. Q20(b)

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    4 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 20(b): A student plots a graph of lg (f / Hz) against lg (r / m). 0.2 lg (f / Hz) – 0.8 0 – 1.4 – 1.2 – 1.0 – 0.6 – 0.4 – 0.2 0 lg (r / m) – 0.2 – 0.4 – 0.6 For this g

  19. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): Calculate the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the suitcase. centripetal force = N [2]

  20. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    4 marks5.2.2 Centripetal force
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 4(b)(ii): When the suitcase is at line YY', the magnitude of force F is larger and the magnitude of force R is smaller than at XX'. Explain why this is so. [4]
All 24 questions on Centripetal force, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): A washing machine with a circular drum of diameter 0.60 m is rotating at an angular velocity of 15 radians per second. What is the magnitude of the force exerte
  2. June 2024, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): A rubber bung is attached to a string. The bung is whirled around in a horizontal circle of radius r. The rotational period of the bung is T. The tension in the
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): A car drives over a bridge at speed v. The path of the car is part of a vertical circle of radius r. The mass of the driver is m. At the top of the bridge the d
  4. June 2024, Paper 3, Q6(b)(ii) (4 marks): At X, the motion of the proton is instantaneously equivalent to motion in a circle at a constant speed. Calculate the radius of this circular motion. radius = m
  5. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(a)(i) (1 mark): Draw an arrow labelled T on the diagram to represent the tension in the rod. [1]
  6. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(a)(ii) (2 marks): Show that the radius of the circular path followed by the sandbag is about 10 m. [2]
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(a)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the tension T in the rod. T = N [3]
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(a)(iv) (2 marks): Show that the angular velocity of the ride is about 0.8 radians per second. [2]
  9. June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the centripetal acceleration a of probe B at the equator due to the rotation of Venus about its axis. a = m s–2 [3]
  10. June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain which probe will experience the greater normal contact force from the surface of Venus. [3]
  11. November 2021, Paper 1, Q22(a)(iii) (3 marks): The maximum speed of the protons from this accelerator is 2.0 × 107 m s–1. Calculate the maximum centripetal force F acting on a proton at this speed. mass of p
  12. November 2021, Paper 1, Q22(b) (2 marks): A new particle-accelerator is now built for moving the protons in a circle of a radius 20 m. The ring of electromagnets for this new accelerator provides the sa
  13. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(a) (1 mark): The resultant upward force (R – W) on the tourist changes during the 30 minutes of the rotation of the London Eye as shown in Fig. 6.3. force / N 0.050 (R – W)
  14. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the horizontal force F between the floor and the tourist is necessary. [2]
  15. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(b)(ii) (4 marks): Draw on Fig. 6.3 the variation of the horizontal force F during the 30 minutes of the anticlockwise rotation of the London Eye. Take forces to the right to be p
  16. November 2021, Paper 3, Q6(c) (3 marks): Calculate the distance d of the centre of mass of the tourist from the centre of rotation of the London Eye. d = m [3]
  17. November 2020, Paper 1, Q20(a) (3 marks): Show that the frequency f at which the object slips off is given by the equation f 2 = gk ⎛ ⎞ r . ⎝ ⎠ [3]
  18. November 2020, Paper 1, Q20(b) (4 marks): A student plots a graph of lg (f / Hz) against lg (r / m). 0.2 lg (f / Hz) – 0.8 0 – 1.4 – 1.2 – 1.0 – 0.6 – 0.4 – 0.2 0 lg (r / m) – 0.2 – 0.4 – 0.6 For this g
  19. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the magnitude of the centripetal force acting on the suitcase. centripetal force = N [2]
  20. June 2019, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): When the suitcase is at line YY', the magnitude of force F is larger and the magnitude of force R is smaller than at XX'. Explain why this is so. [4]
  21. June 2018, Paper 1, Q21(c) (3 marks): The washing machine is switched off and the speed of the drum slowly decreases. The clothes at the top of the drum at point B start to drop off at a certain spe
  22. June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(a) (1 mark): On Fig. 6.2 draw and label one other force acting on the ball. [1]
  23. June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Resolve the tension T horizontally and vertically and show that the angle θ is 22°. [2]
  24. June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(d) (2 marks): Returning to the situation shown in Fig. 6.2, state and explain what happens when the rate of rotation of the ball is increased. [2]

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