Rotational and Circular Motion MCQs for MDCAT Practice

Physics section, Rotational and Circular Motion chapter. Up to eight free sample questions, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. The full chapter opens in the app.

1. Question 1
   The weight of a body of 15 kg mass placed in a spaceship orbiting the earth at a speed of 3000 m/sec at a height of 500 m will be:
   • A176.5 N
   • B240 N
   • C122.5 N
   • DZero (correct answer)
   Correct answer: D

   Weight in orbit is zero due to continuous freefall, not speed or mass. This MCQ tests understanding of apparent weight vs. actual weight in space.
2. Question 2
   Angle swept by minute hand in one minute is:
   • A6° (correct answer)
   • B36°
   • C18°
   • D20°
   Correct answer: A

   This question tests understanding of angular displacement for a clock's minute hand, a common application of rotational motion.
3. Question 3
   A stone of mass 0.5 kg tied with a string of length 1 m is moving in a circular path with a speed of 4 m/s. The tension acting on the string in newton is:
   • AA) 2
   • BC) 0.2
   • CD) 0.8
   • DB) 8 (correct answer)
   Correct answer: D

   Calculate the centripetal force (tension) in a string when a stone is whirled in a circle, using mass, radius, and velocity.
4. Question 4
   Identify the increasing order of the angular velocities of the following: I. Earth rotating about its own axis II. Hour's hand of a clock III. Second's hand of a clock
   • AI, II, III (correct answer)
   • BIII, I, II
   • CII, III, I
   • DIII, II, I
   Correct answer: A

   Compare angular velocities of Earth's rotation, clock hour hand, and second hand to order them correctly.
5. Question 5
   A point P is on a disk rotating with constant angular velocity. If the distance from the center is tripled, what happens to the ratio of linear velocity and angular velocity (v/ω)?
   • AIt remains the same
   • BIt triples (correct answer)
   • CIt is reduced to one-third
   • DIt increases by factor 9
   Correct answer: B

   The ratio of linear to angular velocity ($v/\omega$) equals the radial distance $r$; hence, tripling the distance from the center directly triples this ratio.
6. Question 6
   When a stone is whirled in a horizontal circle by means of a string, the centripetal force is supplied by:
   • AVelocity of the stone
   • BMass of the stone
   • CTension in the string (correct answer)
   • DAir friction
   Correct answer: C

   The tension in the string provides the inward pull necessary to maintain circular motion when whirling a stone.
7. Question 7
   In a body angular acceleration is produced by:
   • ANet force
   • BPower
   • CPressure
   • DNet torque (correct answer)
   Correct answer: D

   Angular acceleration is produced by net torque, just as linear acceleration requires net force. Torque is the rotational equivalent of force.
8. Question 8
   In case angular displacement one' radian is equal to:
   • A60 degrees
   • B57.3 degrees (correct answer)
   • C360 degrees
   • D90 degrees
   Correct answer: B

   Converts angular displacement from radians to degrees, a fundamental conversion in rotational motion relevant to circular motion problems.

Read the full Rotational and Circular Motion chapter notes: Rotational and Circular Motion notes. Or browse every chapter.