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Circular Motion

The document discusses circular motion and related concepts like angular displacement, angular speed, angular velocity, centripetal force, and centripetal acceleration. Key formulas defined include relating radians to degrees, calculating angular speed from revolutions per minute, and equations for centripetal force and centripetal acceleration in terms of mass, velocity, and radius.

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Ali Shahzad
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33 views2 pages

Circular Motion

The document discusses circular motion and related concepts like angular displacement, angular speed, angular velocity, centripetal force, and centripetal acceleration. Key formulas defined include relating radians to degrees, calculating angular speed from revolutions per minute, and equations for centripetal force and centripetal acceleration in terms of mass, velocity, and radius.

Uploaded by

Ali Shahzad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Circular Motion

1) One radian is defined as the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc
equal in length to the radius of the circle.

2) The angle, in radians, can be calculated using the formula

The angle in radians in a complete circle would be,

Therefore, 2π radians = 3600 or 1 rad = 57.30

3) The angular displacement is the angle through which an object has


rotated. It can be measured in radians or degrees. Since arc length
depends on the radius thus for a large radius the distance travelled by an
object is large, even though its angular displacement is the same

) The angular speed is defined as the angle swept out by the radius per unit time.
) The angular velocity is the angular speed in a given direction i.e. clockwise or anti – clockwise. Its SI unit is
radians per second (rad s-1). Mathematically,

) Angular speed is often measured in the unit revolutions per minute (rpm). It can be converted to its SI
unit of radians per second by using the relation,

Where N is the angular speed in rpm.

) For one complete revolution, θ = 2π and t = time period T. Therefore, angular speed can also be calculated by
using the relation,

Learn O/A level Physics with Sir Muhammad Waqas +92 335 2525789
1
) Dividing the equation s = rθ by time on both sides gives the relation v = rω.
) For constant r and ω, there will be no change in the magnitude of linear velocity.
However, the direction of linear velocity changes continuously as illustrated in the
diagram.

) An object travelling in a circle may have a constant speed, but it is not travelling
in a straight line. The direction of velocity is changing which means there is
acceleration.
) This acceleration is always directed towards the center of the circle and is called
centripetal acceleration. By newton’s second law of motion, acceleration is
caused by a resultant force. Thus, the resultant force causing centripetal
acceleration is called centripetal Force, and it also acts towards the centre of the
circular path
) Since, centripetal force is also directed towards the center of the circle. Hence it is always perpendicular to
the linear velocity at any instant (instantaneous velocity). This force causes the body to move in a circular
path.

) The cause for centripetal force varies depending on the situation. For e.g
a. Tension provides the centripetal force for a mass tied to a string and made to rotate in a
circular path
b. Gravitational force provides the centripetal force for a planet to revolve around the sun
c. Friction provides the centripetal force for a car turning around a roundabout
d. A component of the lift force provides the centripetal force for an aero plane making a turn

14) Mathematically, centripetal force can be calculated using the formula

15) Therefore, the centripetal force needs to be high if:


a) The object has more mass
b) The object has a higher speed
c) The object treads a circular path of a smaller radius for eg making a sharp turn

16) Since F = ma, therefore centripetal acceleration is numerically equally to

Learn O/A level Physics with Sir Muhammad Waqas +92 335 2525789

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