Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Lesson 5.1
Uniform Circular Motion and Tangential Velocity
Contents
Introduction 1

Learning Objectives 2

Warm Up 2

Learn about It! 3

Uniform Circular Motion 4
Uniform Circular Motion Calculations 4
Tangential Velocity 6
Calculating Tangential Speed 7

Key Points 12

Key Formula 12

Check Your Understanding 13

Challenge Yourself 14

Bibliography 15

Key to Try It! 16

Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Lesson 5.1
Uniform Circular Motion and Tangential
Velocity

Introduction
The first law of motion tells us that any object that moves with a constant velocity will
continue its motion unless it is acted upon by an outside force. In the case of objects in a
circular motion, the object in motion will simply head forward in a straight line without an
external force which is directed towards the center. This force is called centripetal force,
and is responsible for the motion of objects traversing a circular path such as the turntable
in the photo above. In this lesson, you will be able to identify whether a circular motion is
uniform or not, as well as to calculate the tangential and rotational speeds undertaken by
an object in uniform circular motion.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Learning Objectives DepEd Competencies

In this lesson, you should be able to do the ● Differentiate uniform and

following: non-uniform circular motion
(STEM_GP12KIN-lc24).
● Explain uniform circular motion.
● Infer quantities associated with
● Distinguish uniform from nonuniform circular motion such as tangential
velocity
circular motion.
(STEM_GP12KIN-lc25).
● Solve problems related to the
tangential speed of objects in uniform
circular motion.

Warm Up
Ladybug Revolution 5 minutes
The simulation that follows will allow you to create a picture of how different variables
interact in rotational motion by observing a ladybug on a spinning platform.

Materials
● smartphone, laptop, or computer

Procedure
1. Open the simulation. For 30 seconds, explore the controls and options available. A
screenshot of the simulator is presented in Fig. 5.1.1

Ladybug Revolution
PhET, “Ladybug Revolution,”
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/rotation, last
accessed on March 25, 2020.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Fig. 5.1.1. The ladybug PhET simulator

2. Reset the simulation to its initial conditions. Set then the value of the angular velocity
to 90° per second. Tick “Play” and observe the changes.
3. Next, reset the simulation and transfer the ladybug to the outer edge of the platform.
Set angular velocity back to 90° per second.

Guide Questions
1. Which color signifies velocity? What about acceleration?
2. What happened to the velocity vector when you moved the ladybug to the outer
edge of the platform? What about the acceleration vector?
3. From your observations in the Ladybug Simulation, formulate a definition of
rotational speed in your own words.

Learn about It!

Recall that when an object moves in a curved path, it is accompanied by a change in the
direction of the velocity, thus producing an acceleration. When the path becomes
completely circular and the speed along it is constant, a distinct kind of motion called
uniform circular motion occurs.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

What is uniform circular motion?

Uniform Circular Motion

Fig. 5.1.2a distinguishes uniform circular motion from the nonuniform circular motions
present in Figs. 5.1.2b and 5.1.2c.

Figure 5.1.2. Distinctions between uniform and non-uniform circular motions

Observe that in Figure 5.1.2a, the vector for acceleration is perpendicular to the circular
path and is directed inward to its center. The car moving with uniform circular motion has
constant speed and an acceleration that is directed in the direction of the circular path’s
center. This explains why a change in the velocity’s direction is possible without a change in
speed.

Uniform Circular Motion Calculations

Remember that the direction of the acceleration at any given point is along the circular
path’s radius and toward the circle’s center, as shown in Figure 5.1.3. It is for this reason
that uniform circular motion is also sometimes referred to as centripetal acceleration.
This is signified by the subscript rad in the variable .

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Figure 5.1.3. Acceleration and velocity in uniform circular motion

The magnitude of acceleration of any given object that undergoes uniform circular motion is
mathematically expressed as follows:

Equation 5.1.1

where arad is the magnitude of acceleration of an object in uniform circular motion, v2 is the
speed of the object, and R is the radius of the circular path taken by the object.

Another way to determine the magnitude of an object’s acceleration in uniform circular

motion is to take into consideration the motion’s time T, or time for one revolution. This
refers to the duration of time with which an object has taken to accomplish an entire trip
around the circular path, and is related to an object’s acceleration, as follows:

Equation 5.1.2

where arad is the magnitude of acceleration of an object in uniform circular motion, R is the
radius of the circular path, and T is the period of motion.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Remember
The vector for acceleration and the vector for velocity are two
different vectors. refers to the rate of change of and as shown
in Fig. 5.1.2, and cannot be in a similar direction when an
object moves with uniform circular motion.

What are the differences between uniform and

nonuniform circular motions?

Tangential Velocity
The motion of an object travelling in a circular path is signified by its rotational or angular
speed, or the number of revolutions per unit of time, commonly expressed in terms of RPM
(rotations/ revolutions per minute) or radians per second (rad/s). This is contrasted with
linear speed (or simply, speed), which refers to the distance an object has covered in a unit
of time and is measured in meters per second (m/s). In the case of uniform circular motion,
an object moving on the outside edge of a circular path will have travelled a greater distance
than an object moving closer to the center as both of them complete their rotation, as
shown in Fig. 5.1.4. The object at the edge has higher linear speed because at the same
amount of time, it traveled a longer distance since the circular path that it is traveling
around has higher circumference compared to the object near the center. This linear speed
of an object in motion along a circular path is referred to as tangential speed (or
tangential velocity when a direction is assigned to it).

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Remember
You commonly encounter revolutions per minute as a term to
express rotational speed. Variations in its expression include RPM,
rpm, min-1, rev/min or r/min. The SI unit for rotational speed,
however, is expressed in terms of “radians” per second or rad/s.
One radian per second is equivalent to 0.105 RPM and a “revolution
per second” is equal to 2πrad/s.

Fig. 5.1.4. Two ladybugs in a rotating turntable

Calculating Tangential Speed

An object’s tangential speed depends on its radial distance r from the axis, and is measured
by:

Equation 5.1.3

where vt is the object’s tangential speed, r is the radial distance of the object from the axis,
and is the object’s rotational speed.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Remember
Rotational speed, signified by the Greek letter , refers to the
number of revolutions completed by an object around its circular
path. Tangential speed, on the other hand, refers to the speed of
an object along its circular path. The term “tangential” implies that
the motion’s direction “touches” the circular path’s circumference.

Let’s Practice!

Example 1
An electric drill whirls at 60 rad/s. If the drill has a radius of 0.002 m, what is the tangential
speed of a point on the surface of the electric drill’s bit?

Solution
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem.
You are asked to solve the tangential speed of a point on the surface of the drill
bit.

Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.

The rotational speed (60 rad/s) and the radius (0.002 m) are given.

Step 3: Write the working equation.

Step 4: Substitute the given values.

Step 5: Find the answer.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Thus, the tangential speed of any point on the surface of the electric drill’s bit is 0.12
m/s.

1 Try It!
Determine the tangential speed of a wheel with radius 0.5 m as it spins with a
rotational speed of 58.75 rad/s.

Example 2
A propeller with a diameter of 2.5 m spins at 1.91 rev/s. Determine the rotational speed of
the propeller in radians per second and the tangential speed of a point on its surface.

Solution
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem.
You are asked to calculate the rotational speed of the propeller and the tangential
speed of a point on its surface.

Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.

The diameter of the propeller (2.5 m) and the rotational speed in revolutions per
second (1.91 rev/s) are given.

Step 3: Write the working equations.

3.1. Find the radius of the propeller.

3.2. Convert 1.91 rev/s to rad/s.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

3.3. Identify the working equation to solve the tangential speed of a point on
the surface of the propeller.

Step 4: Substitute the given values.

Step 5: Find the answer.

Thus, the tangential speed on the outer edge of the propeller is 15 m/s.

2 Try It!
A weathervane with a diameter of 2.5 m spins at 2.25 rev/s. Determine the rotational
speed of the vane in radians per second and the tangential speed of a point on its
surface.

Example 3
A beetle is found 0.075 m from the center of a spinning car wheel. At this position, the
tangential speed of the wheel is 7.50 m/s. If the wheel has a radius of 0.225 m, calculate the
tangential speed on the car wheel’s outer edge.

Solution
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem.
You are asked to calculate the tangential speed on the wheel’s outer edge.

Step 2: Identify the given in the problem.

The radial distance of the beetle (0.075 m), the radius of the wheel (0.225 m), and
the tangential speed of the wheel at 0.075 m (7.50 m/s) are given.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Step 3: Write the working equations.

3.1. First, calculate the rotational speed of the beetle at the radial distance
0.075 m. may be derived from the equation and is thus given by:

3.2. Using the value of , use the following equation to solve the rotational
speed at the outer edge of the car wheel.

Step 4: Substitute the given value(s).

Step 5: Find the answer.

Thus, the tangential speed on the outer edge of the car wheel is 22.5 m/s.

3 Try It!
A rotating turntable with a radius of 0.195 m has a tangential speed of 1.25 m/s at a
point 0.013 m from its center. Calculate the turntable’s tangential speed on its outer
edge.

How do we determine the tangential speed of an

object moving with circular uniform motion?

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Key Points
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● Uniform circular motion occurs when an object traverses a circular path with
constant speed.
● For objects moving with a uniform circular motion, the direction of the acceleration
at any given point is along the circular path’s radius and toward the circle’s
center. Hence, uniform circular motion is also called centripetal acceleration.
● The magnitude of acceleration, arad, is equivalent to the square of the speed v
divided by the radius R of the circular path. The direction is perpendicular to the
velocity and directed toward the circle’s center.
● Rotational speed, signified by the Greek letter , refers to the number of
revolutions completed by an object around its circular path. Tangential speed, on
the other hand, refers to the speed of an object along its circular path. The term
“tangential” implies that the motion’s direction “touches” the circular path’s
circumference.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Key Formula
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Concept Formula Description

Tangential Use this equation to

Speed where calculate the tangential
● vt is the object’s tangential speed of an object moving
speed; in uniform circular motion.
● r is the radial distance of the
object from the axis, and
● ω is the object’s rotational
speed.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Check Your Understanding

A. Identify whether each of the following statements is true or

false.

______________ 1. Uniform circular motion entails that the object in motion

has constant speed.

______________ 2. Uniform circular motion is also called centrifugal

acceleration.

______________ 3. The magnitude of acceleration in uniform circular

motion is equivalent to the square of the speed
multiplied to the radius of the circular path.

______________ 4. The vector for acceleration and the vector for velocity
in uniform circular motion are two interchangeable
notions.

______________ 5. In uniform circular motion, the vector for acceleration is

parallel to the circular path.

______________ 6. Rotational speed and linear speed are directly proportional

for objects moving in a uniform circular motion.

______________ 7. Tangential velocity refers to the linear speed and direction

of an object in motion along a circular path.

______________ 8. One radian per second is equivalent to 0.105 RPM.

______________ 9. Rotational speed refers to the number of revolutions

completed by an object along its circular path.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

______________ 10. In uniform circular motion, the acceleration vector is

directed away from the center of the circular path.

B. Convert the following values of rotational speed to

radians per second.

1. 2.5 rev/s
2. 12.15 rev/s
3. 1.2 RPM
4. 5.0 RPM
5. 1 rev/h

C. Answer the following questions.

Consider a phonograph with a diameter of 12 in and a rotational speed of 33 RPM.

1. What is its radius?

2. What is its rotational speed in rad/s?
3. What is the tangential speed on the phonograph’s outer edge?
4. What is the tangential speed at the center of the phonograph?
5. What is the tangential speed halfway out to the edge of the phonograph?

Challenge Yourself
Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What will happen to the rotational speed of an object in uniform circular motion if
the tangential speed is quadrupled? Explain your answer or show it mathematically.
2. Suppose you are riding a moving carousel. Would you characterize your motion as (a)
revolving, or (b) rotating around the carousel’s axis? Justify your answer.
3. If you are driving a car around a curve, what will be the direction of its tangential
speed?

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

For items 4 to 5, refer to the following situation:

The earth has a radius of approximately 6, 371, 000 m and spins around its own axis every
23.9 hours.

4. What will be its rotational speed in rad/s?

5. What will be the tangential speed of a person standing on the foot of the Pontianak
Monument in Kalimantan, Indonesia, which is located right on the Earth’s equator?

Bibliography
Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore:
Brooks/Cole, 2006.

Giancoli, Douglas C. Physics Principles with Applications (7th ed). USA: Pearson Education,
2014.

Macalalad, E. P. and Vergara, R. L. 2011. Exploring the Realms of Science: Physics. Valenzuela
City: JO-ES Publishing House, Inc.

Serway, Raymond A. and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern
Physics (9th ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.

Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University
Physics with Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.

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Unit 5: Uniform Circular Motion

Key to Try It!

1.

2.

3.

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