A Level Physics 9702, topic 12.2
Centripetal acceleration: past paper questions
14 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Centripetal acceleration (12.2) from 14 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 14
- Papers
- 14
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 160
- Average per question
- 11.4 marks
- Largest question
- 15 marks
By type: Structured 14
What the syllabus asks
- understand that a force of constant magnitude that is always perpendicular to the direction of motion causes centripetal acceleration
- understand that centripetal acceleration causes circular motion with a constant angular speed
- recall and use a = rω2 and a = v 2 /r
- recall and use F = mrω2 and F = mv2 /r
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply2
- Analyse12
- Not banded0
Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.
Command words
- calculateApply9 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- explainAnalyse9 questions
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- show thatApply8 questions
- useApply8 questions
- drawApply7 questions
- stateRecall6 questions
express in clear terms
- defineRecall5 questions
give precise meaning
- determineApply5 questions
establish an answer using the information available
- describeApply2 questions
state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- suggestAnalyse2 questions
apply knowledge and understanding to situations where there are a range of valid responses in order to make proposals
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20263
- 20254
- 20243
- 20234
By session
- May/June8
- Oct/Nov6
By paper
- Paper 414
Questions on this topic
Showing 8 of 14, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 6May/June 2026, paper 41Structured12 marksHas a diagram
Define magnetic flux density.
- Try this questionQuestion 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram
The Earth may be considered as a uniform sphere of radius . Cambridge is at a point on the Earth’s surface that has a latitude of north of the Equator, as shown in Fig. 1.1.
- Try this questionQuestion 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured12 marksHas a diagram
State Newton’s law of gravitation.
- Try this questionQuestion 1May/June 2026, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram
With reference to velocity and acceleration, describe uniform circular motion.
- Try this questionQuestion 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 43Structured15 marksHas a diagram
In terms of velocity and acceleration, describe uniform circular motion of an object.
- Try this questionQuestion 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram
Define the radian.
- Try this questionQuestion 2May/June 2025, paper 41Structured11 marksHas a diagram
A helium atom may be modelled as a nucleus surrounded by two electrons in diametrically opposite circular orbits, each of radius , as shown in Fig. 2.1. State Coulomb’s law.
- Try this questionQuestion 2May/June 2023, paper 41Structured12 marksHas a diagram
A steel sphere of mass is suspended in equilibrium from a vertical spring. The centre of the sphere is from the top of the spring, as shown in Fig. 2.1.