The Most Comprehensive Question Bank for ICSE Class 10 Students
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Question 1
What defines uniform circular motion?
a) Movement in a straight line with constant speed
b) Movement in a circular path with changing speed
c) Movement in a circular path with constant speed
d) Movement in a circular path with variable radius
Solution:
c) Movement in a circular path with constant speed
Explanation:
Uniform circular motion is characterized by movement along a circular path where the speed of the object remains constant.
Question 2
Which force is necessary for an object to maintain uniform circular motion?
a) Gravitational force
b) Centripetal force
c) Centrifugal force
d) Frictional force
Solution:
b) Centripetal force
Explanation:
Centripetal force is required to keep an object moving in uniform circular motion. It acts towards the center of the circle.
Question 3
Why is an object moving in uniform circular motion considered to be accelerating?
a) Because its speed is increasing
b) Because its direction is constantly changing
c) Because it is moving in a circle
d) Because its speed is decreasing
Solution:
b) Because its direction is constantly changing
Explanation:
Acceleration occurs due to a change in velocity, which includes both speed and direction. In uniform circular motion, the direction changes constantly, hence the object is accelerating.
Question 4
What happens to the velocity of an object in uniform circular motion?
a) It remains constant
b) Only its magnitude changes
c) Only its direction changes
d) Both its magnitude and direction change
Solution:
c) Only its direction changes
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the speed (magnitude of velocity) remains constant, but the direction of velocity changes continuously.
Question 5
What is the difference between centripetal and centrifugal forces?
a) Centripetal force acts outward while centrifugal force acts inward
b) Centripetal force is real, while centrifugal force is a fictitious force
c) Centripetal force depends on mass, while centrifugal does not
d) There is no difference; they are the same
Solution:
b) Centripetal force is real, while centrifugal force is a fictitious force
Explanation:
Centripetal force is the real force that acts towards the center of the circular path, whereas centrifugal force is a perceived force that appears to act outwardly in a rotating frame of reference.
Question 6
In which scenario would you experience centripetal force?
a) Driving straight on a highway
b) Sitting in a stationary car
c) Taking a sharp turn while driving
d) Slowing down the car
Solution:
c) Taking a sharp turn while driving
Explanation:
When taking a sharp turn, the car changes direction, and the force that acts towards the center of the turn, keeping the car on its curved path, is the centripetal force.
Question 7
What is the role of centripetal force in an object’s circular motion?
a) It slows down the object
b) It pulls the object towards the center of the circle
c) It pushes the object away from the center
d) It stops the object
Solution:
b) It pulls the object towards the center of the circle
Explanation:
Centripetal force acts perpendicular to the motion of the object and towards the center of the circular path, keeping the object in circular motion.
Question 8
What is true about the speed and velocity of an object in uniform circular motion?
a) Both speed and velocity remain constant
b) Speed remains constant, but velocity changes
c) Speed changes, but velocity remains constant
d) Both speed and velocity change
Solution:
b) Speed remains constant, but velocity changes
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the speed (magnitude of velocity) of the object remains constant, but the direction of velocity changes, so the velocity itself changes.
Question 9
What is the direction of acceleration in uniform circular motion?
a) Tangential to the circular path
b) Away from the center of the circle
c) Toward the center of the circle
d) In the direction of motion
Solution:
c) Toward the center of the circle
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the acceleration (centripetal acceleration) is always directed toward the center of the circular path.
Question 10
Which of the following is a real force acting on an object in circular motion?
a) Centrifugal force
b) Centripetal force
c) Gravitational force
d) Frictional force
Solution:
b) Centripetal force
Explanation:
Centripetal force is the real force that acts toward the center of the circle, enabling an object to follow a circular path.
Question 11
Why does a string tied to a stone and whirled in a circular path become taut?
a) Due to centrifugal force
b) Due to gravitational force
c) Due to centripetal force
d) Due to frictional force
Solution:
c) Due to centripetal force
Explanation:
The tautness of the string is due to the centripetal force, which is the tension in the string acting toward the center of the circular path.
Question 12
What happens to the centripetal force if the speed of an object moving in a circular path is doubled?
a) It remains the same
b) It doubles
c) It quadruples
d) It halves
Solution:
c) It quadruples
Explanation:
Centripetal force is proportional to the square of the speed of the object. Therefore, if the speed is doubled, the centripetal force quadruples.
Question 13
In a vertical circular motion, such as a roller coaster at the top of a loop, what force acts as the centripetal force?
a) The normal force from the track
b) Gravitational force
c) Frictional force
d) Centrifugal force
Solution:
b) Gravitational force
Explanation:
At the top of a loop in a vertical circular motion, like on a roller coaster, the gravitational force acts downward, towards the center of the circle, and serves as the centripetal force.
Question 14
What effect does increasing the radius of a circular path have on the centripetal force for an object moving at a constant speed?
a) Increases the centripetal force
b) Decreases the centripetal force
c) Has no effect on the centripetal force
d) Initially increases, then decreases the centripetal force
Solution:
b) Decreases the centripetal force
Explanation:
Centripetal force is inversely proportional to the radius of the circular path for an object moving at a constant speed. Hence, increasing the radius decreases the centripetal force.
Question 15
Which of the following best describes centrifugal force in a rotating frame of reference?
a) A real force acting outward
b) A fictitious force that appears to act outward
c) A type of gravitational force
d) A form of centripetal force
Solution:
b) A fictitious force that appears to act outward
Explanation:
Centrifugal force is a fictitious force perceived in a rotating frame of reference. It appears to act outward from the center of rotation.
Question 16
In the context of circular motion, what role does friction play when a car turns on a flat road?
a) It provides the necessary centripetal force
b) It acts as a centrifugal force
c) It decreases the car’s speed
d) It has no role in turning
Solution:
a) It provides the necessary centripetal force
Explanation:
Friction between the car’s tires and the road provides the necessary centripetal force that allows the car to turn on a flat road.
Question 17
What happens to an object in uniform circular motion if the centripetal force is suddenly removed?
a) It stops moving immediately
b) It continues to move in a circular path
c) It moves tangentially to the circular path
d) It moves towards the center of the circle
Solution:
c) It moves tangentially to the circular path
Explanation:
If the centripetal force is suddenly removed, the object will continue to move in a straight line tangential to the point on the circular path where the force was removed, due to inertia.
Question 18
Which of the following statements best describes the velocity of an object in uniform circular motion?
a) The velocity is constant
b) The speed is constant, but the direction changes
c) Both speed and direction of the velocity change
d) The velocity increases proportionally with the radius
Solution:
b) The speed is constant, but the direction changes
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the magnitude (or speed) of the velocity remains constant, but its direction constantly changes as the object moves along the circular path.
Question 19
Why do passengers in a turning car feel pushed outwards?
a) Due to centrifugal force
b) Due to centripetal force
c) Due to gravitational force
d) Due to the inertia of motion
Solution:
a) Due to centrifugal force
Explanation:
Passengers in a turning car feel pushed outwards due to the fictitious centrifugal force. This is a result of their inertia, which tends to keep them moving in a straight line as the car turns.
Question 20
What provides the centripetal force for a satellite orbiting the Earth?
a) Atmospheric resistance
b) Gravitational pull of the Earth
c) Solar radiation pressure
d) Thrust from the satellite’s engines
Solution:
b) Gravitational pull of the Earth
Explanation:
For a satellite orbiting the Earth, the necessary centripetal force is provided by the gravitational pull of the Earth.
Question 21
What is the direction of the centripetal acceleration in uniform circular motion?
a) It is directed away from the center of the circle
b) It is directed along the tangent to the circle
c) It is directed towards the center of the circle
d) It is upward in direction
Solution:
c) It is directed towards the center of the circle
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the centripetal acceleration is always directed towards the center of the circle, perpendicular to the velocity of the object.
Question 22
How does the speed of an object in uniform circular motion compare to its velocity?
a) Speed is greater than velocity
b) Speed is less than velocity
c) Speed is equal to the magnitude of velocity
d) Speed and velocity are unrelated
Solution:
c) Speed is equal to the magnitude of velocity
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the speed is the magnitude of the velocity. Speed is a scalar quantity, whereas velocity is a vector quantity that includes both magnitude and direction.
Question 23
Which factor affects the magnitude of centripetal force required for an object’s circular motion?
a) The color of the object
b) The temperature of the environment
c) The mass of the object
d) The brightness of the object
Solution:
c) The mass of the object
Explanation:
The magnitude of the centripetal force required for circular motion depends on the mass of the object, as well as its speed and the radius of the circular path.
Question 24
What effect would decreasing the radius of a circular path have on an object moving at a constant speed?
a) Increases the centripetal force
b) Decreases the centripetal force
c) Has no effect on the centripetal force
d) Changes the speed of the object
Solution:
a) Increases the centripetal force
Explanation:
Decreasing the radius of a circular path while keeping the speed constant increases the centripetal force required to maintain the object’s circular motion.
Question 25
What is the effect of increasing the mass of an object moving in a uniform circular motion at a constant speed?
a) Increases the centripetal force required
b) Decreases the centripetal force required
c) No effect on the centripetal force
d) Changes the speed of the object
Solution:
a) Increases the centripetal force required
Explanation:
Increasing the mass of an object moving in uniform circular motion at a constant speed will increase the centripetal force required to maintain the motion, as centripetal force is directly proportional to mass.
Question 26
In uniform circular motion, what type of acceleration is experienced by the object?
a) Linear acceleration
b) Centripetal acceleration
c) Tangential acceleration
d) Uniform acceleration
Solution:
b) Centripetal acceleration
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the object experiences centripetal acceleration, which is always directed towards the center of the circular path.
Question 27
How does speed affect the centripetal force in uniform circular motion?
a) Increasing speed decreases the centripetal force
b) Increasing speed increases the centripetal force
c) Speed has no effect on centripetal force
d) Speed inversely affects the centripetal force
Solution:
b) Increasing speed increases the centripetal force
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, the centripetal force is directly proportional to the square of the speed. Therefore, increasing the speed will increase the centripetal force required.
Question 28
What happens to the direction of velocity in uniform circular motion?
a) It remains constant throughout the motion
b) It continuously changes as the object moves
c) It alternates between tangential and radial directions
d) It is always radial
Solution:
b) It continuously changes as the object moves
Explanation:
In uniform circular motion, although the speed remains constant, the direction of velocity continuously changes as the object moves along the circular path.
Question 29
Which force acts as the centripetal force when a car turns on a curved road?
a) Gravitational force
b) Frictional force between the tires and the road
c) Centrifugal force
d) Aerodynamic force
Solution:
b) Frictional force between the tires and the road
Explanation:
When a car turns on a curved road, the frictional force between the car’s tires and the road acts as the centripetal force, pulling the car towards the center of the curve.
Question 30
What is the role of centripetal force in keeping a satellite in orbit around the Earth?
a) It propels the satellite forward
b) It keeps the satellite in a stable orbit by pulling it towards the Earth
c) It pushes the satellite away from the Earth
d) It has no role; satellites remain in orbit due to their speed
Solution:
b) It keeps the satellite in a stable orbit by pulling it towards the Earth
Explanation:
The gravitational attraction between the satellite and the Earth acts as the centripetal force, keeping the satellite in a stable orbit by constantly pulling it towards the Earth.
Question 31
What does a rider experience when taking a sharp turn on a motorcycle?
a) A decrease in speed
b) An increase in centripetal force
c) A feeling of being pushed towards the center of the turn
d) A feeling of being pushed away from the center of the turn
Solution:
d) A feeling of being pushed away from the center of the turn
Explanation:
When taking a sharp turn on a motorcycle, the rider experiences a fictitious force, known as the centrifugal force, that seems to push them away from the center of the turn.
Question 32
In a vertical circular motion, such as a roller coaster at the bottom of a loop, what force acts as the centripetal force?
a) The normal force from the track
b) Gravitational force
c) Frictional force
d) Centrifugal force
Solution:
a) The normal force from the track
Explanation:
At the bottom of a loop in a vertical circular motion, like on a roller coaster, the normal force exerted by the track upwards acts as the centripetal force, directing the roller coaster towards the center of the loop.