Storyline

Chapter 6:
Circular Motion and Other Applications
of Newton’s Laws

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 10e

Raymond A. Serway
John W. Jewett, Jr.
Extending the Particle in Uniform
Circular Motion Model

2
v
ac =
r

2
v
∑=
F ma
= c m
r
Extending the Particle in Uniform
Circular Motion Model
 Quick Quiz 6.1 Part I
You are riding on a Ferris wheel that is rotating with
constant speed. The car in which you are riding always
maintains its correct upward orientation; it does not
invert.
What is the direction of the normal force on you from the
seat when you are at the top of the wheel?
(a) upward
(b) downward
(c) impossible to determine
 Quick Quiz 6.1 Part I
You are riding on a Ferris wheel that is rotating with
constant speed. The car in which you are riding always
maintains its correct upward orientation; it does not
invert.
What is the direction of the normal force on you from the
seat when you are at the top of the wheel?
(a) upward
(b) downward
(c) impossible to determine
 Quick Quiz 6.1 Part II
You are riding on a Ferris wheel that is rotating with
constant speed. The car in which you are riding always
maintains its correct upward orientation; it does not
invert.
What is the direction of the net force on you when you are
at the top of the wheel?
(a) upward
(b) downward
(c) impossible to determine
 Quick Quiz 6.1 Part II
You are riding on a Ferris wheel that is rotating with
constant speed. The car in which you are riding always
maintains its correct upward orientation; it does not
invert.
What is the direction of the net force on you when you are
at the top of the wheel?
(a) upward
(b) downward
(c) impossible to determine
Analysis Model: Particle in Uniform
Circular Motion (Extension)

2
v
∑=
F ma
= c m
r
 Example 6.1:
The Conical Pendulum
A small ball of mass m is
suspended from a string of length
L. The ball revolves with constant
speed v in a horizontal circle of
radius r as shown in the figure.
(Because the string sweeps out
the surface of a cone, the system
is known as a conical pendulum.)
Find an expression for v in terms
of the length of the string and the
angle it makes with the vertical in
the figure.
 Example 6.1:
The Conical Pendulum

∑F y = T cos θ − mg = 0 → T cos θ =mg

mv 2
∑= F x T sin
= θ ma
= c
r
2
v
tan θ =
rg
v = rg tan θ

v= Lg sin θ tan θ
 Example 6.2:
How Fast Can It Spin?
A puck of mass 0.500 kg is attached to the end of a
cord 1.50 m long. The puck moves in a horizontal
circle as shown in the figure. If the cord can withstand
a maximum tension of 50.0 N,
what is the maximum speed at
which the puck can move
before the cord breaks? Assume
the string remains horizontal
during the motion.
 Example 6.2:
How Fast Can It Spin?

2
v
T =m
r

Tr
v=
m

Tmax r ( 50.0 N )(1.50 m )

vmax
= = = 12.2 m/s
m 0.500 kg
 Example 6.2:
How Fast Can It Spin?
Suppose the puck moves in a circle of larger radius at
the same speed v. Is the cord more likely or less likely
to break?

less likely
 Example 6.3:
What Is the Maximum Speed of the Car?
A 1 500-kg car moving on a flat, horizontal road
negotiates a curve as shown in the overhead view in the
figure. If the radius of the curve is 35.0 m and the
coefficient of static friction
between the tires and dry
pavement is 0.523, find the
maximum speed the car can
have and still make the turn
successfully.
 Example 6.3:
What Is the Maximum Speed of the Car?
2
vmax
= µ=
f s ,max sn m
r
∑F y = 0 ⇒ n − mg = 0 ⇒ n = mg

µ s nr µ s mgr
vmax
= = = µ s gr
m m

vmax ( 0.523) ( 9.80 m/s ) ( 35.0 m ) 13.4 m/s

= 2
 Example 6.3:
What Is the Maximum Speed of the Car?
Suppose a car travels this curve on a wet day and
begins to skid on the curve when its speed reaches
only 8.00 m/s. What can we say about the coefficient
of static friction in this case?

vmax 2
vmax
= µ s gr ⇒ µ=
s
gr

(8.00 m/s )
2

µs = 0.187
( 9.80 m/s 2
) ( 35.0 m )
 Example 6.4:
The Banked Roadway
You are a civil engineer who has been given the
assignment to design a curved roadway in such a way
that a car will not have to rely on friction to round the
curve without skidding. In other words, a car moving at
the designated speed can negotiate the
curve even when the road is covered with
ice. Such a road is usually banked, which
means that the roadway is tilted toward the
inside of the curve. Suppose the designated
speed for the road is to be 13.4 m/s (30.0
mi/h) and the radius of the curve is 35.0 m.
You need to determine the angle at which
the roadway on the curve should be banked.
 Example 6.4:
The Banked Roadway
mv 2
∑ Fr n=
= sin θ
r
∑ Fy =n cos θ − mg =0 ⇒ n cos θ =mg
2
v
tan θ =
rg
 ( 13.4 m/s )
2

θ = tan −1  
 ( 35.0 m )( 9.80 m/s 2
) 
= 27.6°
 Example 6.4:
The Banked Roadway
Imagine that this same roadway were built on Mars in
the future to connect different colony centers. Could it
be traveled at the same speed?

No, v would be reduced.

2
v
tan θ = ⇒ v= rg tan θ
rg
 Example 6.5:
Riding the Ferris Wheel
A child of mass m rides on a Ferris wheel as shown in
the figure. The child moves in a vertical circle of
radius 10.0 m at a constant
speed of 3.00 m/s.
(A) Determine the force exerted
by the seat on the child at the
bottom of the ride. Express
your answer in terms of the
weight of the child, mg.
 Example 6.5:
Riding the Ferris Wheel
v2
∑F = n bot − mg = m
r
v 2
 v  2
nbot =mg + m =mg 1 + 
r  rg 
 ( 3.00 m/s )
2

nbot mg 1 +
= 
 (10.0 m ) ( 9.80 m/s 2 ) 
 
= 1.09mg
 Example 6.5:
Riding the Ferris Wheel
(B) Determine the force exerted by the seat on the child
at the top of the ride.
v2
∑ F = mg − ntop = m r
v2  v2 
ntop =mg − m =mg 1 − 
r  rg 
 ( 3.00 m/s )
2

ntop mg 1 −
= 
 (10.0 m ) ( 9.80 m/s 2 ) 
 
= 0.908mg
 Example 6.5:
Riding the Ferris Wheel
Suppose a defect in the Ferris wheel mechanism causes
the speed of the child to increase to 10.0 m/s. What does
the child experience at the top of the ride in this case?

 (10.0 m/s )
2

ntop mg 1 −
= =−0.020mg
 (10.0 m ) ( 9.80 m/s ) 
2
 

The child loses contact with his seat.

 Nonuniform Circular Motion

  
a ar + ar
=
  
∑
= F ∑ Fr + ∑ Ft
 Quick Quiz 6.2 Part I
A bead slides at constant speed along a curved wire
lying on a horizontal surface as shown in the figure.

Draw the vectors representing the force exerted by the

wire on the bead at points A, B, and C.
Quick Quiz 6.2 Part I
 Quick Quiz 6.2 Part II
A bead slides at constant speed along a curved wire
lying on a horizontal surface as shown in the figure.

Suppose the bead speeds up with constant tangential

acceleration as it moves toward the right. Draw the
vectors representing the force on the bead at points A,
B, and C.
Quick Quiz 6.2 Part II
 Example 6.6:
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
A small sphere of mass m is attached to the end of a
cord of length R and set into motion in a vertical circle
about a fixed point O as illustrated in the figure.
Determine the tangential
acceleration of the sphere and the
tension in the cord at any instant
when the speed of the sphere is v
and the cord makes an angle θ
with the vertical.
 Example 6.6:
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
 Example 6.6:
Keep Your Eye on the Ball

∑ Ft mg
= = sin θ mat
at = g sin θ
2
mv
∑ Fr =
T − mg cos θ =
R
 v2 
=T mg  + cos θ 
 Rg 
 Example 6.6:
Keep Your Eye on the Ball

 vtop 2 
=Ttop mg  − 1
 Rg 
 
 vbot 2 
=Tbot mg  + 1
 Rg 
 Example 6.6:
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
(A) What speed would the sphere have if it passes
over the top of the circle if the tension in the cord
goes to zero instantaneously at this point?

 vtop 2 
=0 mg  ⇒ vtop
− = gR
 Rg 
 
 Example 6.6:
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
(B) What if the sphere is set in motion such that the
speed at the top is less than this value? What happens?

The ball enters free fall for

part of its motion near the
top, and the string becomes
slack during that time.
 Motion in Accelerated Frames

Fictitious force: apparent force that seems to act on any mass

described in an accelerating (nonineritial) frame of reference
Real forces: always interactions between two objects…
Can’t identify second object for fictitious force
Motion in Accelerated Frames
Fictitious Forces
 Quick Quiz 6.3
Consider the passenger in the car
making a left turn in the figure.
Which of the following is correct
about forces in the horizontal
direction if she is making contact
with the right-hand door?
(a) The passenger is in equilibrium between real forces acting to
the right and real forces acting to the left.
(b) The passenger is subject only to real forces acting to the right.
(c) The passenger is subject only to real forces acting to the left.
(d) None of those statements is true.
 Quick Quiz 6.3
Consider the passenger in the car
making a left turn in the figure.
Which of the following is correct
about forces in the horizontal
direction if she is making contact
with the right-hand door?
(a) The passenger is in equilibrium between real forces acting to
the right and real forces acting to the left.
(b) The passenger is subject only to real forces acting to the right.
(c) The passenger is subject only to real forces acting to the left.
(d) None of those statements is true.
 Example 6.7:
Fictitious Forces in Linear Motion
Consider the experiment described in the opening storyline: you
are riding on the Mad Tea Party ride and holding your
smartphone hanging from a string. Now suppose your friend
stands on solid ground beside the ride watching you. You hold
the upper end of the string above a point near the outer rim of the
spinning tea cup. Both the inertial observer (your friend) and the
noninertial observer (you) agree that the string makes an angle θ
with respect to the vertical. You claim that a force, which we
know to be fictitious, causes the observed deviation of the string
from the vertical. How is the magnitude of this force related to
the smartphone’s centripetal acceleration measured by the inertial
observer?
 Example 6.7:
Fictitious Forces in Linear Motion

Inertial observer:
 =

∑ Fx T=sin θ mac
∑ F=
y T cos θ − mg
= 0

Noninertial observer:
 F ′ = T sin θ − F
∑ x fictitious = 0

 ∑ F=
y
′ T cos θ − mg = 0

Ffictitious = mac
 Example 6.7:
Fictitious Forces in Linear Motion
Suppose you wish to measure the centripetal acceleration
of the smartphone from your observations. How could
you do so?

T sin θ = mac
T cos θ − mg =
0
ac = g tan θ
Motion in the Presence
of Resistive Forces
 Motion in the Presence
of Resistive Forces

Simplified models:
1. Assume resistive force ∝ velocity of moving object
2. Assume resistive force ∝ square of speed of moving object
 Model 1: Resistive Force
Proportional to Object Velocity

 
R = −b v

∑F
y = ma ⇒ mg − bv = ma

dv b
= g− v
dt m
 Model 1: Resistive Force
Proportional to Object Velocity
b
0= g − vT
m
mg
or vT =
b
mg
=v
b
(1− e − bt /m
)
= vT (1 − e − t /τ )
 1
v (τ ) = vT (1 − e −τ /τ
) = vT 1 − e  = 0.632vT
 Example 6.8:
Sphere Falling in Oil
A small sphere of mass 2.00 g is released from rest in a
large vessel filled with oil, where it experiences a
resistive force proportional
to its speed. The sphere
reaches a terminal speed of
5.00 cm/s. Determine the
time constant τ and the time
at which the sphere reaches
90.0% of its terminal speed.
 Example 6.8:
Sphere Falling in Oil
mg m  vT  vT
b= τ= = m  = 
vT b  mg  g
5.00 cm/s
τ
= = 2
5.10 × 10 −3
s
980 cm/s

T ( )
− t /τ − t /τ
0.900v=
T v 1 − e ⇒ 1 − e = 0.900
t
e − t /τ
= 0.100 ⇒ − = ln ( 0.100 ) = −2.30
τ
t = 2.30τ = 2.30 ( 5.10 × 10−3 s ) = 11.7 × 10−3 s
= 11.7 ms
Model 2: Resistive Force Proportional to
Object Speed Squared
1
R = D ρ Av 2
2
1
∑=F mg −
2
D ρ Av 2

 Dρ A  2
a= g −  v
 2m 

 Dρ A  2 2mg
0= g −   vT vT =
 2m  Dρ A
Terminal Speeds
 Quick Quiz 6.4
A basketball and a 2-inch-diameter steel ball, having the
same mass, are dropped through air from rest such that
their bottoms are initially at the same height above the
ground, on the order of 1 m or more. Which one strikes
the ground first?
(a) The steel ball strikes the ground first.
(b) The basketball strikes the ground first.
(c) Both strike the ground at the same time.
 Quick Quiz 6.4
A basketball and a 2-inch-diameter steel ball, having the
same mass, are dropped through air from rest such that
their bottoms are initially at the same height above the
ground, on the order of 1 m or more. Which one strikes
the ground first?
(a) The steel ball strikes the ground first.
(b) The basketball strikes the ground first.
(c) Both strike the ground at the same time.
 Conceptual Example 6.9:
The Skysurfer
Consider a skysurfer who
jumps from a plane with his
feet attached firmly to his
surfboard, does some tricks,
and then opens his parachute.
Describe the forces acting on
him during these maneuvers.
 Example 6.10:
Resistive Force Exerted on a Baseball
A pitcher hurls a 0.145-kg baseball past a batter at
40.2 m/s (= 90 mi/h). Find the resistive force acting
on the ball at this speed.
 Example 6.11:
Resistive Force Exerted on a Baseball

2mg 2mg
vT
= D
⇒=
Dρ A vT 2 ρ A
2
1 1  2mg   v 
R = D ρ Av 2
 2 =  ρ Av
2
mg  
2 2  vT ρ A   vT 
2
 40.2 m/s 
R 0.145 kg ) ( 9.80 m/s ) 
(= 2
 1.2 N
 43 m/s 
 Assessing to Learn
An object is at rest on the equator. Estimate its speed
relative to the center of the Earth in m/s.

1. less than 0.001 6. between 10 and 100

2. between 0.001 and 0.01 7. between 100 and 1,000
3. between 0.01 and 0.1 8. between 1,000 and 10,000
4. between 0.1 and 1 9. more than 10,000
5. between 1 and 10 10. Impossible to determine
 Assessing to Learn
An object is at rest on the equator. Estimate its
acceleration relative to the center of the Earth in m/s².

1. less than 0.001 6. between 10 and 100

2. between 0.001 and 0.01 7. between 100 and 1,000
3. between 0.01 and 0.1 8. between 1,000 and 10,000
4. between 0.1 and 1 9. more than 10,000
5. between 1 and 10 10. Impossible to determine
 Assessing to Learn
Estimate the speed of the Moon relative to the center
of the Earth in m/s.

1. less than 0.003 6. between 30 and 300

2. between 0.003 and 0.03 7. between 300 and 3,000
3. between 0.03 and 0.3 8. between 3,000 and 30,000
4. between 0.3 and 3 9. more than 30,000
5. between 3 and 30 10. Impossible to determine
 Assessing to Learn
Estimate the acceleration of the Moon relative to the
center of the Earth in m/s².

1. less than 0.003 6. between 30 and 300

2. between 0.003 and 0.03 7. between 300 and 3,000
3. between 0.03 and 0.3 8. between 3,000 and 30,000
4. between 0.3 and 3 9. more than 30,000
5. between 3 and 30 10. Impossible to determine
 Assessing to Learn
A small ball is released from rest at position A and
rolls down a vertical circular track under the
influence of gravity. When the ball reaches position
B, which of the indicated directions most nearly
corresponds to the direction of the normal force on
the ball?

9. Impossible to
determine.
 Assessing to Learn
A small ball is released from rest at position A and
rolls down a vertical circular track under the
influence of gravity. When the ball reaches position
B, which of the indicated directions most nearly
corresponds to the direction of the ballʼs
acceleration?

9. Impossible to
determine.
 Assessing to Learn
A small ball is released from rest at position A and
rolls down a vertical circular track under the
influence of gravity as depicted below. When the ball
reaches position B, which of the indicated directions
most nearly corresponds to the direction of the net
force on the ball?

9. Impossible to
determine.
 Assessing to Learn
A mass of 5 kg is released from rest on a smooth incline
making an angle of 37° to the horizontal. The tangential
component of acceleration is closest to:
1. 10 m/s²
2. 8 m/s²
3. 6 m/s²
4. 4 m/s²
5. 2 m/s²
6. 0 m/s²
7. Exactly halfway between 2 of the above answers
8. The negative of one of the answers above
9. It is impossible to determine the tangential component of the
block's acceleration
10. I do not know what is meant by "tangential" in this situation
 Assessing to Learn
A mass of 5 kg is released from rest on a smooth incline
making an angle of 37° to the horizontal. The radial component
of acceleration is closest to:
1. 10 m/s²
2. 8 m/s²
3. 6 m/s²
4. 4 m/s²
5. 2 m/s²
6. 0 m/s²
7. Exactly halfway between 2 of the above answers
8. The negative of one of the answers above
9. It is impossible to determine the tangential component of the
block's acceleration
10. I do not know what is meant by "tangential" in this situation
 Assessing to Learn
A ball is rolled up an incline so that it goes part-way
up and then rolls back down. Which of the graphs
below could represent its tangential component of
acceleration vs. time, from the instant it is released
until it returns to its starting point?
1. 2. 3. 4.

5. Graphs 1 and 2 6. Graphs 3 and 4

7. None of the graphs
8. It’s not clear what is meant by “tangential” in this
situation.