ch4 CircularMotion
ch4 CircularMotion
4
Example 1. Conical Pendulum**
Find an expression for v and the
period τ.
Answer:
Equilibrium in vertical (z-axis)
direction:
T cos θ − mg = 0
Answer:
Ans**:
(b) The frictional force acts down the slope
and takes its limiting value, i.e. F = µR R
The equations of motion are
mv 2
In x-dir: R sin θ + µ R cos θ = , and v 2/r
r F
In y-dir: R cos θ − µ R sin θ − mg = 0 θ
mg
rR mg
=
Hence v2 (sin θ + µ cos θ ) and R =
m cos θ − µ sin θ Here we have used
so the trigonometric
rg (sin θ + µ cos θ )
v2 = relation
cos θ − µ sin θ
tan θ ± tan λ
rg (tan θ + µ ) rg (tan θ + tan λ ) tan (θ ± λ ) =
= = = rg tan (θ + λ ). 1 tan θ tan λ
1 − µ tan θ 1 − tan θ tan λ
8
Q(c) If the car is about to slip inwards, what is its velocity?
mv 2
R sin θ − µR cos θ = , and θ
mg
r
R cos θ + µR sin θ − mg = 0
gives
rg (sin θ − µ cos θ ) rg (tan θ − tan λ )
v =
2
= = rg tan (θ − λ ).
cos θ + µ sin θ 1 + tan θ tan λ
We can see if 𝜃𝜃 = λ → v=0, which means the gravitational force
along the incline surface equals the frictional force. On the other
hand if 𝜃𝜃 < λ → 𝑣𝑣 2 < 0, which is unphysical, it means that it is
impossible to make the car to slip inward. 9
Remarks on example 2
In comparing the example of a block moving along the
wedge in which we choose the coordinate whose x-
axis is along the incline plane, the motion of the block
is clearly only along this new x-axis and there is no
motion in the y-axis in this coordinate. Therefore we
conclude that the sum of y-dir forces must be ZERO,
i.e.
R − mg cos θ =
0
On the other hand in previous example the car is
moving in three dimension and is actually moving into
the x-y plane. We cannot define the coordinate similar
to that in the block moving down the plane to describe
the motion of the car. One thing for sure we know that
the vertical distance “y” from the car to the horizontal
R
surface is fixed. Therefore the net forces in the y-dir
must be ZERO, so we conclude
v 2/r
=
R cos θ − mg 0 instead of R −=
mg cos θ 0 F
y mg
We should note that the normal force is not just θ
N
set to rotate about the central Along diameter
mg
vertical axis. A person enters R
The man rotates with the rotor and the centripetal force which
2
acts on him is provided by the wall as normal force, N = mv R .
As the man does not fall down, the frictional force in the upward
direction balance with his weight, e.g. mg = µN. Hence,
mv 2 ω
mg = µ s ( ) The rotor’s wall
R
fs
gR
and so v= N
µs Along diameter
mg
R
Note: It does not depend on the mass of the man otherwise some
people can stay in the wall but others fall. This is predicted by
Physics Law. 13
Tangential and radial acceleration (cf.Chap 2)
When a particle moves in the curve
trajectory, its acceleration vector, in
general, consists of two components,
i.e. radial acc.
𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟 and tangential acc. 𝑎𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 . The
expression of 𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑟 is given in slide 50,
which results from the change of
velocity direction but the direction of 𝑎𝑎⃗𝑟𝑟
is perpendicular to the direction of the
velocity vector. We can find the
expression of 𝑎𝑎⃗𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 and its direction from
the definition of acceleration.
𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣⃗ 𝑑𝑑(𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣�) 𝑑𝑑(𝑣𝑣) 𝑑𝑑(𝑣𝑣�)
𝑎𝑎⃗ = = = 𝑣𝑣� + 𝑣𝑣
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
= 𝑎𝑎⃗𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 + 𝑎𝑎⃗𝑟𝑟
Therefore the tangential acceleration is
the rate of change of the magnitude of
the velocity and its direction is the
same as that of the velocity vector.
14
Nonuniform Circular Motion (moving at varying speed
in a circular path)
In addition to radial component of acceleration, there is a tangential
component of acceleration of magnitude at =|dv/dt|; The total
acceleration is then a = a r + at
There must be a net force exerted on particle that is inclined to v:
F = Fr + Ft
and Fr , Ft are responsible for centripetal
and tangential accelerations, respectively.
15
Example 4. Keep your eye on the ball
A small ball 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.
Determine the tangential acceleration of the
ball and the tension in the cord at any instant
when the speed of the ball is v and the cord
makes an angle θ with the vertical.
Answer:
The tangential force on the ball is ∑ Ft = mg sin θ = mat
at = g sin θ
v2
The radial force on the ball is ∑ Fr = T − mg cosθ = m R
v2
T = mg + cos θ
Rg 16
At top and bottom, therefore
v2 v2
Ttop = mg − 1, Tbottom = mg + 1
Rg Rg
vmin 2 vmin = gR
=
Ttop mg = − 1 0
Rg This the minimum velocity for the ball to
have a complete circular motion. For
v<vmin the ball cannot reach the top.
17
Angular displacement, velocity and
acceleration
θ = , ω = lim ∆θ = dθ , dω d 2θ
s
α= = 2 r
s=rθ
r ∆t →0 ∆t dt dt dt θ
O
18
Kinematic Equation of Circular Motion at
constant angular acceleration:
19
Motion in Accelerated
Frames
A fictitious force results from an accelerated frame of reference.
The fictitious force is due to observations made in an
accelerated frame, e.g. centrifugal force for a driver in a car
moving in circular orbit or people inside the rotor in slide 11
A fictitious force appears to act on an object in the same
way as a real force, but you cannot identify a second object
for the fictitious force.
• Remember that real forces are always interactions
between two objects (even the field force is produced by
at least one object)
Simple fictitious forces appear to act in the direction
opposite that of the acceleration of the non-inertial frame.
20
“Centrifugal” Force
From the frame of the passenger (b), a
force appears to push her toward the door.
The outward force is often called a
centrifugal force, which is balanced by the
frictional force for the driver inside the car
It is a fictitious force due to the
centripetal acceleration associated
with the car’s change in direction.
From the frame of the Earth (c ), the car
seat applies a leftward force (friction) on
the passenger to make her move with the
car.
If the frictional force is not large
enough, the passenger continues on
her initial path according to Newton’s
First Law.
21
“Coriolis Force”