CIRCULAR MOTION

Learning Objectives

► Solve problems using the concepts of period,

frequency, angular displacement, angular
velocity and linear velocity.
► Identify forces (such as tension, electrical,
gravitational or magnetic forces) which may act
as centripetal forces in circular motion.
 Angular Period &
velocity Frequency
Centripetal
Tangential Force
Centripetal
velocity acceleration

Angular Dynamics of
displacement motion

Kinematics of Uniform
motion Circular motion
Motion in a Motion in a
horizontal circle vertical circle
example example
 Angular Displacement
Consider an object moving in a circle with a uniform speed
round the centre O.
► The angle  swept through by
the radius is known as the
angular displacement. It is
defined by the equation
=s/r
s: arc length
r : radius of circular motion

►  is measured in radians in this

definition. Sometimes, it is
measured in revolutions
instead. One revolution is 2
radians.
v
 Angular Velocity
► Angular velocity,  of this object is defined as the
rate of change of its angular displacement.

► Angular velocity

► For a constant angular velocity,

► It is measured in rad s-1(SI unit)

 Tangential Velocity
► Another quantity often used is the tangential
velocity, v. It is the instantaneous linear velocity
at a particular point. It is directed tangentially to
the circular path.

v
 Relationship between
Angular Velocity & Tangential Velocity
 s
► Since  = and  =
t r
s
( )
 r
= =
t t
v
=
r
v = r
 Period and Frequency
► The period, T of a circular motion is
defined as the time taken to complete one
revolution. In one revolution, the angular
displacement covered is 2 .
So
2
=
T
Since v = r ,
2r
v=
T
 Period and Frequency
► The frequency, f of a circular motion is defined
as the no of revolutions completed per unit time.
It is related to the period by
1
f =
T
► Thus,

 = 2f
Frequency is measured in Hz.
 Practice
► Two ants are positioned on a second hand
of a mechanical clock . Ant A is located at
the furthest end 20 cm from the centre,
while Ant B is midway from the centre.
►(a) Discuss which ant is moving at a higher
angular velocity as the second hand rotates
around the clock.
►(b) Determine the angular velocity and
tangential speed of Ant A.

(b) 0.10 rad s-1; 0.021 m s-1

Self-correcting Wheel Mechanism
Think!
Which of the following wheel
mechanisms will not derail as it
moves down the ramp?

Clue:
How does a Styrofoam cup move as
it rolls across a surface?
 Does an object moving in uniform
circular motion experience acceleration?

► Itdoes, since the

velocity changes
during motion.
► Can we deduce its
acceleration from
vector diagram?
 Centripetal Force and
Acceleration
If a body moves in a circular path, its velocity is
not constant since the direction changes
continuously.
There must be an acceleration to bring about a
change in velocity.
Hence, according to Newton's 2nd Law, a net
force must be acting on the body.
Note: According to Newton’s 1st Law, If there is
no net force, the body would move in a straight
line, tangential to the circular path.
Subtracting v1 from v2
 Centripetal Force and
Acceleration
For uniform circular motion, the body moves at
constant speed.
So the net force, at any stage, cannot have a
component in the direction of motion, for
otherwise the speed of the body will increase or
decrease.
The force is thus perpendicular to the direction
of motion and directed towards the centre of the
circular path.
This force is known as the centripetal force.
Centripetal Force and Acceleration

The centripetal force is a resultant force

bringing about circular motion of a body.
It is not a new type of force, so it should not
be shown as a separate force on a free-
body diagram.
The centripetal force results in centripetal
acceleration, which acts in the direction of
the centripetal force.
(i.e. towards the centre of the circular path).
 Centripetal Force and Acceleration
► Centripetal acceleration a
2
v
a= or r 2

► Centripetal
force FC
(Remember F = ma)
2
mv
FC = or FC = mr 2
r
Discuss!
► Is centripetal acceleration constant for a
body moving in a circular path?
► What is the work done by the centripetal
force?
The following guidelines may be helpful when
solving problems involving circular motion

►Identify the body moving in circular motion.

►Identify all forces acting on the body.
►Determine the resultant/net force towards
the centre of the circular path.
►Equate this resultant force to mr2 or mv2/r.
 Motion in a Horizontal Circle
Example
A pendulum bob, moving with speed v, is made
to describe a circular path of radius r, in a fixed
horizontal plane.
What are the forces acting on the bob?


T

r
r
mg
Since the bob moves in a horizontal plane, there
is no net force in the vertical direction.
For vertical equilibrium,
Tcos  = mg ……….(1)
The net force is the horizontal component of the
tension, T sin  which is directed towards the
centre of the circular path.
Hence
2
mv
FC =
r
2
Tsin  = mv ………(2)
r
2
(2) v
: tan =
(1) rg
Example
An aircraft, moving with speed v, describes a
circular path of radius R, in a horizontal plane. It is
banked at an angle  with respect to the vertical.
v2
Show that tan  =
Rg
L

mg
Since the aircraft moves in the horizontal
plane,
For vertical equilibrium,
Lcos  = mg ……….(1)
& the net force on the aircraft,
Lsin  = mv …………….(2)
2

Hence, R
2
(2) v
: tan =
(1) Rg
Example
A pendulum bob of mass 0.150 kg is suspended
from a fixed point by an inelastic thread. The bob
is given a small push so that it moves along a
horizontal circular path of radius 1.82 m at a
steady speed.
If it takes 18.0 s to make 10 complete revolutions,
calculate
(a) the centripetal acceleration of the bob,
(b) the tension in the thread.
 
T

1.82 m

Solution mg
(a)Period T = 1.80 s
centripetal acceleration a = r2 = r(2/T)2
a = 1.82  (2/1.80)2

a= 22.2 m s-2
(b)
To find angle of inclination to the vertical ,
 =tan-1(v2/rg) = tan-1(22.2/9.81)
= 66.1
To find tension in the thread T,
T cos  = mg
T = (0.1509.81)/cos 66.1
T = 3.63 N
Experiment
Example
An air puck of mass 0.25 kg is tied to a string and
allowed to revolve in a circle of radius 1.0 m on a
frictionless horizontal table. The other end of the
string passes through a hole in the centre of the
table, and a mass of 1.0 kg is tied to it . The
suspended mass remains in equilibrium while the
puck on the tabletop revolves.
(a) What is the tension in the string?
(b) What is the horizontal force acting on the
puck?
(c) What is the speed of the puck?
Solution
(a)Since the 1.0-kg mass is in equilibrium,
the tension in the string is
T = mg = (1.0)(9.81) = 9.8 N
(b)The tension in the string must produce
the centripetal acceleration of the puck.
Hence, F = T = 9.8 N
(c)From F = mv2/r, v = 6.3 m s-1
 Example

A roundabout in which a person sitting in a

chair rotates in a circle of radius 2.3 m once
every 9.0 s. The support for the chair is
kept vertical by a chain attached to the
chair at an angle 40 to the vertical. The
total mass of the chair and person is 70 kg.
Find the tension in the chain, P and the
support, S.
 chain support

S
P 40

Let the chair and the person be

considered together as a single
body.
W
Fig 7(b)
Solution
In the horizontal direction towards the
centre,
P sin40 = m r2
P sin40 = 70  2.3  (2/T)2
P sin40 = 70  2.3  (2/9.0)2
P = 120 N
For vertical equilibrium,
P cos 40 + S = W
S = 70g – (122  cos 40)
S = 590 N
Example
A racing car of total mass 600 kg travels
in a horizontal circle of radius 80 m at
30 m s-1 round a corner. In the diagram
below, indicate all the forces (including the
frictional force) acting on the car.
Calculate the required frictional force for
the car to execute the circular motion.
 Normal contact
force

Frictional
force
Weight
Solution
The net force on the car is the frictional force that
the track exerts on the wheels,
2
Frictional force = mv
R
Frictional force = (600)(30)2/80
= 6750 N
 Motion in a vertical circle
Example
A car is moving in a vertical circular motion. At
the lowest position, its speed is v1. The forces
acting on the car are the normal reaction on the
car N1, and the weight of the car W.

rR
OO
N1

v1
W
 N1

v12/r

W
Net force towards the centre of the
circular motion is
N1 - W = mv12/r
N1 = mv12/r + W
 N2 W
O

At the highest position, its speed is v2.

The forces acting on the car are the normal reaction
on the car N2, and the weight of the car W.
The net force towards the centre of the circular motion is
N2 + W = mv2 2
R
2
mv2
N2 = R -W
At the highest position, there is a tendency
that it may lose contact with the surface. It
occurs when N2 = 0.
mv22/r = W = mg
v2 = Rg

Speeds lower than Rg will cause the car to lose

contact with the loop surface.
 Example
At an air show, an aircraft travelling at a uniform
speed of 170 m s-1 performs the looping-the-loop
manoeuvre.
(a) On the given diagram, indicate the forces
acting on the pilot at the various positions.
(b) If the mass of the pilot is 85 kg and the
radius of the circular path is 500 m,
determine the force exerted by the seat on
the pilot when the aircraft is at
(i) its highest point,
(ii)its lowest point?
(a)

W
R4 R1
R2
O

W R3

W : weight of the pilot W

R1, R2, R3, R4: forces exerted by seat on the pilot at the
various positions
(b) )(i) At its highest point,
2
mv
R1 + W =
R
R1 = 85(170)2
− 85(9.81) = 4080 N
500
(ii) At its lowest point,
2
mv
R3 - W =
R
2
85(170)
R3 = + 85(9.81) = 5750 N
500
Example
A bob of mass 4.0 kg is whirled round a
vertical circle of radius 2.0 m at a speed of
5.0 m s-1. Calculate the tensions in the
string when the bob is at the lowest and
highest point of the circular path. At which
position is the string most likely to break?

5.0 ms-1
► Letus first examine and look at the
tension at the various position of its
vertical circular path.
Solution 2 2
mv ( 4.0)(5.0)
Centripetal force F = = = 50N
r 2 .0

T1

mg
At the lowest point,
T1-mg =F
T1 =F + mg =50 + (4.0)(9.81) =89 N
 T2 mg

At the highest point,

T2 + mg =F
T2 =F - mg =50 - (4.0)(9.81) =11 N

The string is most likely to break at the

lowest position.
 Example
A car travels over a humpback bridge of arc
radius 45 m. Calculate the maximum speed
of the car if its road wheels are to stay in
contact with the bridge.
v

Radius of
humpback

O
 N
v

mg
Radius of
humpback

The above figure shows the forces acting on the

car when its wheels are in contact with the bridge.
The net force towards the centre of the curvature
2
mv
mg – N =
R
In the case when the wheels are about to
leave the ground, N = 0
2
mg = mv
R
v2 = Rg

v= ( 45)(9.81) = 21 m s-1
 Homework
► Pg 257
▪ Q1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14
▪ Error in diagram for Q14 (A should be at the
bottom of the loop; C is 40 m away from A after
exit from loop.)
► Submit in hard copy on 9 Jul (Fri)