KINETICS OF CURVILINEAR TRANSLATION

Centrifugal Force (Reversed Normal Effective Force)

- Whenever a body rotates about an axis at a speed of a, there exist a force called centrifugal
inertia force directed away from the axis of rotation.

W
r
an
T CF

Normal acceleration, an = ω2 r = υ2/ r

υ = rω
CF = m an = m ω2 r
W W υ2
CF = ω r =
2

g gr

Centripetal Force (Reversed Tangential Effective Force)

T = m at
W W
T = at = rα
g g

Conical Pendulum
ω

θ
L θ T
W
T h
CF CF
r

W
W
T =
CF ω2 r υ2 cos θ
tan θ = = =
W g gr Time to complete one revolution,
g h
cos θ = for ω > g / L t = 2π
ω2 L g
As the value of θ decreases, the value of h approaches the limiting value L so that the maximum
time for a revolution is:

L
tmax = 2 π
g

Rod of uniform mass of height L rotated about one end:

ω
2g 2g
θ cos θ = for ω >
L
ω2 L L

EXAMPLES
1. A pebble leaves a sling with a velocity of 18 m/s. If the mass of the pebble is 60 g and the radius
of the circle is 1.20 m, what is the pull exerted on the string of the sling?

CF
r = 1.20 m The pull on the string equals the centrifugal
force exerted on the pebble.

m υ2 0.06 kg (18 m/s)2

CF = = = 16.20 kg-m/s2 = 16.20 N
r 1.20 m

2. A ball at the end of a cord 1.21 m long is swinging in a complete vertical circle with just enough
velocity to keep it in the circle at the top. If the ball is released from the cord when it is at the top
of its path, where will it strikes the ground 2.45 m below the center of the circle?

Wυ2 / g r
W υ2
= W
gr υ

r = 1.21 m
υ2 = g r = 9.81 (1.21) W
υ = 3.4453 m/s
x = υt ; y = ½ g t2 2.45 m
3.66 = ½ (9.81) t2
t = 0.864 sec
x = 3.4453 (0.864) x
x = 2.98 m
3. A 50 N weight is swung in a vertical circle at the end of a 1.8 m cord. The maximum strength of
the cord is 200 N. Determine:
a. The minimum velocity at which the cord will break.
b. Minimum strength of the cord for the weight to be swung in a complete vertical circle.
c. Height above the lowest position the weight will rise on the circular path if the maximum
strength of the cord is 200 N.
Minimum velocity
r = 1.8 m
W υ A2
T = W+
T
gr
50 υA2 A
200 = 50 + W
9.81 (1.8)
WυA2 / g r
υA2 = 52.974
υA = 7.278 m/s
WυB2 / g r
Minimum strength of cord
W
W υ B2 B
W =
gr T=0
3.6 m
50 υB2
T
50 =
9.81 (1.8) A
W
υB2 = 17.658
WυA2 / g r
υ A 2 = υ B2 + 2 g h
υA2 = 17.658 + 2 (9.81)(3.6)
υA2 = 88.29
W υ A2
T = W+
gr
50 (88.29)
T = 50 +
9.81 (1.8)
T = 300 N
Height above the lowest position the weight will rise if the maximum strength of the
cord is 200 N
WυD2 / g r
W υ D2
W cos θ = D
gr T = 200
θ
υD2 = g r cos θ h = 1.8 + 1.8 cos θ W
υD2 = 9.81 (1.8) cos θ
υD2 = 17.658 cos θ
υD2 = υA2 – 2 g h
 17.658 cos θ = (7.278)2 – 2 (9.81)(1.8 + 1.8 cos θ)
17.658 cos θ = 52.969 – 35.316 – 35.316 cos θ
52.974 cos θ = 17.653
θ = 70.53º
h = 1.8 + 1.8 cos 70.53º = 2.40 m
4. A 0.60 kg block slides on the circular path of radius 3 m in the vertical plane. The speed of the
block is 5 m/s as it passes point A and 4 m/s as it passes point B.
a. Determine the normal force exerted on the block by the surface at point A.
b. Determine the normal force exerted on the block by the surface at point B
c. Determine the acceleration of the block at B.

30º
r=3m

B
A

Normal force exerted on the block by the surface at A.

W υ A2
NA = W + ; W = m g = 0.60 (9.81) = 5.886 N
gr
W
5.886 (5)2
= 5.886 + A
9.81 (3) NA
NA = 10.886 N
WυA2 / g r
Normal force exerted on the block by the surface at B.
W υ B2 W
NB = W cos 30º +
30º
gr
5.886 (4)2 B
= 5.886 cos 30º + NB
9.81 (3)
NB = 8.297 N
WυB2 / g r
Acceleration of the block at B
υB2 = υA2 – 2 at S ; S = r θ = 3 [30º (π ⁄180)] = 1.57 m
(4)2 = (5)2 – 2 at (1.57)
at = 2.866 m/s2
υ B2 (4)2
an = = = 5.333 m/s2
r 3
a = at2 + an2 = (2.866)2 + (5.333)2
a = 6.054 m/s2
5. A 1500 kg car enters a section of a curved road in the horizontal plane and slows down at a
uniform rate from a speed of 100 kph at A to a speed of 50 kph as it passes C. Distance AC is
equal to 200 m. The radius of curvature at the road at A is 400 m and at C is 80 m. Point B is the
inflection point where the curvature changes direction.
a. Determine the horizontal force exerted by the road on the tires at A.
b. Determine the horizontal force exerted by the road on the tires at B.
c. Determine the horizontal force exerted by the road on the tires at C.

rA = 400 m
C
B

rC = 80 m
A

Horizontal force exerted by the road on the tires at A.

FA = Ft2 + Fn2
Ft = m at
100 (1000)
υ C2 = υ A 2 ± 2 a t S ; υA = = 27.78 m/s
3600
50 (1000)
υC = = 13.89 m/s
3600
(13.89)2 = (27.78)2 – 2 at (200)
at = 1.447 m/s2
Ft = 1500 (1.447) = 2170.50 N an
Fn = m an rA = 400 m
υ A2 (27.78)2
an = = A at
rA 400
an = 1.929 m/s2 a A

Fn = 1500 (1.929) = 2893.50 N

FA = (2170.50)2 + (2893.50)2 Ft
Fn
FA
FA = 3617.10 N
Horizontal force exerted by the road on the tires at B.
FB = Ft2 + Fn2 ; at = 1.447 m/s2
an = 0
Ft = m at = 1500 (1.447)
B
Ft = 2170.50 N
Fn = m an = 1500 (0)
Fn = 0 at
2 2
FB = (2170.50) + (0)
FB = 217.50 N
 Horizontal force exerted by the road on the tires at C.

FC = Ft2 + Fn2 ; at = 1.447 m/s2

υ C2 (13.89)2
an = = = 2.412 m/s2
rC 80
Ft = m at = 1500 (1.447)
Ft = 2170.50 N
Fn
Fn = m an = 1500 (2.412) C
Fn = 3618 N C FC
rC = 80 m
2 2 an
FC = (2170.50) + (3618)
at
FC = 4219.12 N Ft

6. A weight concentrated at the end of a cord forms a conical pendulum for which the period is 1
sec. Determine the velocity, υ of the weight if the cord rotates inclined at 30° with the vertical.

θ
T
h
CF r

W
h h
υ = g r tan θ
2
; r = h tan θ ; t = 2π ; 1 = 2π
g 9.81
h = 0.2485 m
r = 0.2485 (tan 30º) = 0.1435 m
υ = 9.81 (0.1435)(tan 30º)
2

υ = 0.9015 m/s

7. As shown in the figure a bob of weight W = 100 lbs is moving with a constant velocity of υ = 8.03
ft/s in a horizontal plane at the end of a cord of length L = 18 inches.
a. Determine the inclination of the cord with the vertical required to complete one revolution.
b. Determine the tension in the supporting cord required to complete one revolution.
c. Determine the period of time to complete one revolution.

θ
18 in = 1.5 ft θ
h T θ
T
W

Wυ2 / g r Wυ2 / g r
r Wυ2 / g r

W
W = 100 lb
 Inclination of the cord with the vertical required to complete one revolution.
W υ2 /g r υ2
tan θ = = ; r = 1.5 sin θ
W gr
(8.03)2
tan θ =
32.2 (1.5 sin θ)
sin θ 1.335
=
cos θ sin θ
sin2 θ = 1.335 cos θ ; sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1
sin2 θ = 1 – cos2 θ
1 – cos2 θ = 1.335 cos θ
cos2 θ + 1.335 cos θ – 1 = 0
cos θ = 0.5348
θ = 57.67º
Tension in the supporting cord required to complete one revolution.
W 100
T = = = 187 lbs
cos θ cos 57.67º
Period of time to complete one revolution

h 1.5 cos 57.67º

t = 2π = 2π
g 32.2
t = 0.992 sec

8. A rod 4 ft long rotates in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis through its center. At each end
of the rod is fastened a cord 3 ft long. Each cord supports a weight W. Compute the speed of
rotation ω in rpm to incline each cord at 30º with the vertical.

ω ω

2 ft 2 ft
30º
W W T
T 2 ft W
3 ft 30º

Wυ2 / g r
x Wυ2 / g r
r
W
 W υ2 /g r υ2
tan 30 = = ; x = 3 sin 30º = 1.5
W gr r = 2 + 1.5 = 3.5 ft
υ2
tan 30 =
32.2 (3.5)
υ = 8.066 ft/s
υ 8.066
ω = = = 2.30 rad/s (1 rev / 2π)(60 s / min)
r 3.5
ω = 22 rpm

9. A 10 N weight is attached to a 0.75 m cord. It forms a conical pendulum when rotated about a
vertical axis. If the weight makes an angle of 30º with the vertical during rotation, determine the
tension in the cord and the centrifugal force.

30º 30º
T T
h W = 10 N
CF r
Wυ2 / g r

W = 10 N

W 10
T = = = 11.547 N
cos θ cos 30º
Wυ 2

CF = ; υ2 = g r tan θ ; r = 0.75 sin 30º

gr = 0.375 m
υ2 = 9.81 (0.375) tan 30º = 2.124
W υ2 10 (2.124)
CF = = = 5.7737 N
gr 9.81 (0.375)
OR
CF = W tan 30º = 5.774 N
CE Board May 2001
Compute the normal acceleration of a rotating flywheel having a diameter of 4 m if it has an angular
speed of 8 rpm.
2π
an = ω2 r ; ω = 8 = 0.838 rad/s
60
an = (0.838)2 (4) = 1.40 m/s2
CE Board May 2003
A car weighing 1000 kg runs at 60 kph around an unbanked circular curve with a radius of 100 m.
What force of friction on the tires should be to prevent the car from sliding?

r = 100 m

Wυ2 / g r
υ
f
Wυ2 / g r

W υ2 60
f = ; υ = = 16.67 m/s
gr 3.6
1000 (9.81)(16.67)2
f = = 2778.89 N
9.81 (100)
CE Board May 2017
What is the maximum speed at which an automobile can round a curve of 24 m radius of a level
road if the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road is 0.30?
W
r = 24 m

Wυ2 / g r
υ
f
Wυ2 / g r
N
Wυ 2

= f ; f = μN ; N = W
gr f = μW
W υ2
= μW
gr
 υ2
= μ
gr
υ2
= 0.30
9.81 (24)
υ = 8.40 m/s
CE Board May 2017
Determine the time of oscillation of a pendulum having a length of 12 meters in minutes.

L 12
t = 2π = 2π
g 9.81
t = 6.95 sec
t = 0.1158 min
CE Board May 2018
A 150 g ball at the end of a string is revolving uniformly in a horizontal circle of radius 0.60 m. The
ball makes two revolutions in a second. What is the centripetal acceleration?
υ = rω ; ω = 2 rev/s (2 π/rev) = 4 π rad/s
= 0.60 (4 π)
υ = 7.54 m/s
υ2 ( 7.54)2
a = = = 94.75 m/s2
r 0.60
OR
a = ω2 r = (4 π)2 (0.60) = 94.75 m/s2
CE Board Nov 2018
A ball at the end of a string is revolved at a uniform rate in a vertical circle of radius 72 cm. If its
speed is 4.0 m/s and its mass is 0.30 kg, calculate the tension in the string when the ball is at the top
of its path.

m υ2 mυ2 / r
T+W =
r
r = 72 cm W
0.30 (4)2
T
T + 0.30 (9.81) =
0.72
T = 3.72 N