CIRCULAR MOTION

Uniform circular motion

centripetal acceleration

CENTRIPETAL FORCE.

tangent

Workdone in circular motion

Workdone = F d cosθ

θ is 90o
Workdone = 0

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page

Equations in circular motion

Linear speed (v) (unit ms-1) Angular speed (ω) (unit rad s-1)

Linear speed = distance travelled angle turned (θ radians)

Angular speed = time taken (t seconds)
time taken

For one complete revolution, For one complete revolution,

2π
v = 2πr ω=
T T

Comparing equations above,

where v = speed (ms-1)

v = rω ω = angular speed (rad s-1)
r = radius of circle (m)

centripetal acceleration centripetal force

m = mass of body (kg)

a = v2 F = mv
2
v = speed (ms-1)
r r
ω = angular speed (rad s-1)
r = radius of circular path (m)
a = rω2 (since v = rω) F = mrω2

Question : 1. Calculate the angular speed of

a) A person on the earth's surface b) A geostationary satellite

c) The earth around the sun

d) i) second hand , ii) minute hand and iii) hour hand of an analogue clock.

2. The blades on a ceiling fan spin at 60 rotations per minute . The fan has a radius of 0.5 meter.
Calculate the angular speed and linear speed of a point at the outer edge of a blade.

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page 2

Centripetal Acceleration - Derivation

An object is moving from A to B along a circular path shown. S is the linear displacement. The
tangent drawn at the point A and B gives the direction of velocity at A and B.

B vA
VB d
s
S

R
A Figure (1)
r
R

The change in velocity, ΔV = Final velocity – Initial Velocity

VA
ΔV

Figure (2)
VBΔV

The triangles in Figure (1) and Figure (2) are similar triangles, so

ΔV S
=
V r
SV
ΔV =
r

ΔV SV S
a = = but =V
t rt t

a = v2 / r

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page 3

Examples of circular motion

Planetary Motion
sun
The centripetal force is provided by the gravitational force between the planet and the sun.

Question : State the period of the Earth about the Sun.

Use this value to calculate the angular speed of the earth about the Sun in rad s-1.

The mass of the Earth is 5.98 × 1024 kg and its average distance from the Sun is 1.50 × 1011 m.
Calculate the centripetal force acting on the Earth.

What provides this centripetal force?

An object on the earth's surface

Any object on the earth's surface is in circular motion, due to the rotation of earth.

Centripetal Force = mg − R

mv2 = mg − R
r

Question : (i) A girl standing at the equator is in circular motion about the Earth’s axis. Calculate
the angular speed of the girl.

(ii) The radius of the Earth is 6400 km. The girl has a mass of 60 kg. Calculate the
resultant force on the girl necessary for this circular motion.

(iii) If the girl were to stand on weighing scales calibrated in newtons, what reading
would they give?

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page 4

Mass on a turntable / A car on a level road
friction . o d oo
on no o d n n o nd o o o .
<
R = normral reaction
F = friction
mg = Weight of the car

mv2 = Friction
r

Question

Mo on n ertical circle – London Eye London n d n n nd.

n o n on on n d o d d d n o d n o on .
R At A At B

R = mg
mv2 = mg − R
A r
mv2
mg = Push by seat
r
R
At C
push by seat
B
mv2 = R− mg
R r
mg
C

mg

Questiion : London o on d n d o n no o London.

n o o o on n on o . o on n do
. o o .
d o .

no o o o d d n .
n d nd d on o n o n on n

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page 5

The conical pendulum –

mg = Tcosθ

mv2 = Tsinθ
r

To find v,
T T
T

divide equation 2 by equation 1

T

T
v2 = tanθ (r = l sinθ)
rg
mg

mg
T

Question :

Banked track – n n d o d nd n nn .
n o o d d o on o on n o o on

mg = Rcosθ mg = Lcosθ

mv2 = Rsinθ mv2 = Lsinθ

r r

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page 6

Leaving the circular path

Critical speed

free fall
car on a bridge.
mv2 = mg − R
r

R mg
R

At Critical speed, mv2 = mg (R=0)

r

Critical speed, v =

Question :

Question :

Physics Dept. / C H S E circular motion Page 7