1 CIRCULAR MOTION

C HAPTER 1
Circular Motion

1.1 angular quantities

movement or rotation of an object along a circular path is called circular motion

to describe a circular motion, we can use angular quantities, which turn out to be more useful

than linear displacement , linear velocity , etc.

1.1.1 angular displacement

angular displacement is angle swiped out by object moving along circular

â unit: [θ] = rad (natural unit of measurement for angles)

s
conversion rule: 2π rad = 360◦

â if two radii form an angle of θ , then length of arc: s = r θ θ

r
two radii subtending an arc of same length as radius form

an angle of one radian

1.1.2 angular velocity

angular velocity describes how fast an object moves along a circular path

∆θ
angular velocity is defined as angular displacement swiped out per unit time: ω =
∆t

â unit of: [ω] = rad s−1 , also in radian measures

â angular velocity is a vector quantity

this vector points in a direction normal to the plane of circular motion

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but in A-level course, we treat angular velocity as if it is a scalar

angular velocity and angular speed may be considered to be the same idea

â relation with linear velocity

∆θ v
in interval ∆t , distance moved along arc ∆s = v∆t = r ∆θ ⇒ ω= = ⇒ v = ωr
∆t r
this relation between linear speed and angular speed holds at any instant

1.1.3 uniform circular motion

when studying linear motion, we started from motion with constant velocity v

consider the simplest possible circular motion −→ circular motion with constant ω

analogy with linear motion with constant v

v
uniform linear motion: s = v t

displacement s ↔ θ , velocity v ↔ ω
v
for uniform circular motion, one has: θ = ωt

â time taken for one complete revolution is called period T

2π
in one T , angle swiped is 2π, so ω =
T
â uniform circular motion is still accelerated motion v

speed is unchanged, but velocity is changing

direction of velocity always tangential to its path, so direction of velocity keeps changing

in general, any object moving along circular path is accelerating

Example 1.1 An object undergoes a uniform motion around a circular track of radius 2.5 m in

40 s, what is its angular speed and linear speed?

2π 2π
- ω= = ≈ 0.157 rad s−1 v = ωr = 0.157 × 2.5 ≈ 0.39 m s−1 ä
T 40
Question 1.1 What is the angular velocity of the minute hand of a clock?

Question 1.2 A spacecraft moves around the earth in a circular orbit. The spacecraft has a

speed of 7200 m s−1 at a height of 1300 km above the surface of the earth. Given that the radius

of the earth is 6400 km. (a) What is the angular speed of this spacecraft? (b) What is its period?

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1.1.4 centripetal acceleration

centripetal acceleration is the acceleration due to the change in direction of velocity

vector, it points toward the centre of circular path

consider motion along a circular path from A to B with constant speed v

under small (infinitesimal) duration of time ∆t [1]

v
A B
v

v
∆v
∆θ ∆θ v

∆θ
change in velocity: ∆v = 2v sin ≈ v∆θ (as ∆θ → 0, sin ∆θ ≈ ∆θ )
2
∆v ∆θ ∆θ
acceleration: a = ≈v = vω (as ω = )
∆t ∆t ∆t
v2
recall relation v = ωr , we find centripetal acceleration: ac = = ω2 r
r
â direction of centripetal acceleration: always towards centre of circular path

â centripetal acceleration is only responsible for the change in direction of velocity

change in magnitude of velocity will give rise to tangential acceleration

this is related to angular acceleration[2] , which is beyond the syllabus

Question 1.3 A racing car makes a 180◦ turn in 2.0 s. Assume the path is a semi-circle with a

radius of 30 m and the car maintains a constant speed during the turn. (a) What is the angular

velocity of the car? (b) What is the centripetal acceleration?

[1] A more rigorous derivation can be given by using differentiation techniques

[2] Angular acceleration is analogous to linear acceleration α, defined as rate of change of angular ve-

dω d2 θ ds dv
locity: α = = 2 (∗). Similar to v = ωr = , the relation a = αr = also holds.
dt dt dt dt

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1.2 centripetal force

circular motion must involve change in velocity, so object is not in equilibrium

there must be a net force on an object performing circular motion

centripetal force (Fc ) is the resultant force acting on an object moving along a circular

path, and it is always directed towards centre of the circle

â centripetal force causes centripetal acceleration

v2
using Newton’s 2nd law: Fc = m = mω2 r
r
â Fc is not a new force by nature, it can have a variety of origins

F c is a resultant of forces you learned before (weight, tension, contact force, friction, etc.)

â Fc acts at right angle to direction of velocity

or equivalently, if Fnet ⊥ v and Fnet is of constant magnitude

then this net force provides centripetal force for circular motion

â effect of Fc : change direction of motion, or maintain circular orbits

to change magnitude of velocity, there requires a tangential component for the net force

again the idea of tangential force is beyond the syllabus

Example 1.2 A rock is able to orbit around the earth near the earth’s surface. Let’s ignore air

resistance for this question, so the rock is acted by weight only. Given that radius of the earth

R = 6400 km. (a) What is the orbital speed of the rock? (b) What is the orbital period?
mv 2
- weight of object provides centripetal force: mg =
R
p p
orbital speed: v = gR = 9.81 × 6.4 × 106 ≈ 7.9 × 103 m s−1
2πR 2π × 6.4 × 106
period: T = = ≈ 5.1 × 103 s ≈ 85 min ä
v 7.9 × 103
Example 1.3 A turntable can rotate freely about a vertical axis through its centre. A small

object is placed on the turntable at distance d = 40 cm from the centre. The turntable is then

set to rotate, and the angular speed of rotation is slowly increased. The coefficient of friction

between the object and the turntable is µ = 0.30. If the object does not slide off the turntable,

find the maximum number of revolutions per minute.

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- if object stays on turntable, friction provides the centripetal force required: f = mω2 d

increasing ω requires greater friction to provide centripetal force

but maximum limiting friction possible is: f lim = µN = µmg , therefore

r
µg 0.30 × 9.81
2
f ≤ f lim ⇒ mω d ≤ µmg ⇒ ω ≤ 2
⇒ ωmax = ≈ 2.71 rad s−1
d 0.40
2π 2π
period of revolution: Tmin = = ≈ 2.32 s
ωmax 2.71
t 60
number of revolutions in one minute: n max = = ≈ 25.9 ä
Tmin 2.32
Example 1.4 Particle P of mass m = 0.40 kg is attached to one end of a light inextensible string

of length r = 0.80 m. The particle is whirled at a constant angular speed ω in a vertical plane.

(a) Given that the string never becomes slack, find the minimum value of ω. (b) Given instead

that the string will break if the tension is greater than 20 N, find the maximum value of ω.

TA
mg ω
P

TB

B
mg

- at top of circle (point A ): Fc = T A + mg = mω2 r ⇒ T A = mω2 r − mg

at bottom of circle (point B ): Fc = TB − mg = mω2 r ⇒ TB = mω2 r + mg

tension is minimum at A , but string being taut requires T ≥ 0 at any point, so T A ≥ 0

g
mω2 r − mg ≥ 0 ⇒ ω2 ≥
r r r
g 9.81
ωmin = = ≈ 3.5 rad s−1
r 0.80
tension is maximum at B , but string does not break requires T ≤ Tmax , so TB ≤ Tmax
Tmax g
mω2 r + mg ≤ Tmax ⇒ ω2 ≤ −
s m r
r
Tmax g 20 9.81
ωmax = − = − ≈ 6.1 rad s−1 ä
m r 0.40 0.80

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Example 1.5 A pendulum bob of mass 120 g moves at constant speed and traces out a circle

or radius r = 10 cm in a horizontal plane. The string makes an angle θ = 25◦ to the vertical. (a)

What is the tension in the string? (b) At what speed is the bob moving?

- vertical component of tension T y equals weight

T y = mg ⇒ T cos θ = mg
θ
mg 0.12 × 9.81
T= = ≈ 1.3 N
cos θ cos 25◦
net force equals horizontal component of tension T x
T
so component T x provides centripetal force
mv 2 ball
Fc = Tx ⇒ T sin θ = F net
r
by eliminating T and m , one can find
r tan θ 0.10 × tan 25◦ mg
v2 = = ⇒ v ≈ 0.069 m s−1 ä
g 9.81
Example 1.6 A small ball of mass m is attached to an inextensible string of length l . The ball

is held with the string taut and horizontal and is then released from rest.

When the ball reaches lowest point, find its speed and the
r m
tension in the string in terms of m and l .
T
- energy conservation: G.P.E. loss = K.E. gain
1 p
mg r = mv 2 ⇒ v= 2g r
2
v2
at lowest point: Fc = T − mg = m
r mg
v2 2g r
T = mg + m = mg + m = 3mg ä
r r
Question 1.4 Suggest what provides centripetal force in the following cases. (a) An athlete

running on a curved track. (b) An aeroplane banking at a constant altitude. (c) A satellite

moving around the earth.

Question 1.5 A turntable that can rotate freely in a horizontal plane is covered by dry mud.

When the angular speed of rotation is gradually increased, state and explain whether the mud

near edge of the plate or near the mud will first leave the plate?

Question 1.6 A bucket of water is swung at a constant speed and the motion describes a circle

of radius r = 1.0m in the vertical plane. If the water does not pour down from the bucket even

when it is at the highest position, how fast do you need to swing the bucket?

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Question 1.7 This question is about the design

of a roller-coaster. We consider a slider that starts P T

from rest from a point P and slides along a fric-

tionless circular track as sketched below. P is at

the same height as the top of the track T . (a) Show

that the slider cannot get to T . (b) As a designer for a roller-coaster, you have to make sure the

slider can reach point T and continue to slide along the track, what is the minimum height for

the point of release?