Physics 101

Lecture 6
Circular Motion

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali ÖVGÜN

EMU Physics Department

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 Uniform Circular Motion:
Definition

Uniform circular motion

Constant speed, or, Motion along a circle:

constant magnitude of velocity Changing direction of velocity

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 Uniform Circular Motion:
Observations
❑ Object moving along a
curved path with constant
speed
◼ Magnitude of velocity: same
Direction of velocity: changing
◼

◼ Velocity v : changing
◼ Acceleration is NOT zero!
◼ Net force acting on an
object is NOT zero  
◼ “Centripetal force” Fnet = ma
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 Uniform Circular Motion
❑ Velocity:  
ac ⊥ v
◼ Magnitude: constant v
◼ The direction of the velocity is
tangent to the circle
v2
ac =
r

❑ Acceleration: v2
ac =
◼ Magnitude: r
◼ directed toward the center of
the circle of motion
❑ Period:
◼ time interval required for one
complete revolution of the 2r
particle T=
v
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 Centripetal Force
❑ Acceleration: v2    
ac = ac ⊥ v Fnet ⊥ v
◼ Magnitude: r
◼ Direction: toward the center of
the circle of motion
v2
ac =
r

❑ Force: Fnet Fnet

◼ Start from Newton’s 2nd Law
 
Fnet = ma Fnet
◼ Magnitude:
mv 2
Fnet = mac =
r
 
◼ Direction: toward the center of ac || Fnet
the circle of motion
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 What provides Centripetal
Force ?
❑ Centripetal force is not a new kind of force
❑ Centripetal force refers to any force that keeps
an object following a circular path mv 2
Fc = mac =
r
❑ Centripetal force is a combination of
◼ Gravitational force mg: downward to the ground
◼ Normal force N: perpendicular to the surface
◼ Tension force T: along the cord and away from
object
◼ Static friction force: fsmax = µsN

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What provides Centripetal
Force ?
Fnet = N − mg = ma
v2
N = mg + m
r

N
Fnet = T = ma
a v
2
mv
T=
r
mg
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 Problem Solving Strategy
❑ Draw a free body diagram, showing and labeling all
the forces acting on the object(s)
❑ Choose a coordinate system that has one axis
perpendicular to the circular path and the other axis
tangent to the circular path
❑ Find the net force toward the center of the circular
path (this is the force that causes the centripetal
acceleration, FC)
❑ Use Newton’s second law
◼ The directions will be radial, normal, and tangential
◼ The acceleration in the radial direction will be the centripetal
acceleration
❑ Solve for the unknown(s)
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Vertical Circular Motion
❑ In vertical circular motion the
gravitational force must also
be considered. An example of
vertical circular motion is the
vertical “loop-the-loop”
motorcycle stunt. Normally,
the motorcycle speed will vary
around the loop.
❑ The normal force, FN, and the
weight of the cycle and rider,
mg, are shown at four October 30, 2024
locations around the loop.
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❑ There is a minimum speed the rider must have at
point 3 in order to stay on the loop.
❑ This speed may be found by setting in the
centripetal force equation or point 3, i.e. in

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Problem :

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 Ex2: The Conical Pendulum
❑ A small ball of mass m = 5 kg is suspended from
a string of length L = 5 m. The ball revolves
with constant speed v in a horizontal circle of
radius r = 2 m. Find an expression for v and a.

T θ

mg
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 The Conical Pendulum
❑ Find v and a
m = 5 kg L =5m r =2m mv 2
T sin  =
F y = T cos  − mg = 0 r
T cos  = mg
T cos  = mg
v2
tan  =
2
mv
 Fx = T sin  = r gr
r v = rg tan 
sin  = = 0.4
L v = Lg sin  tan  = 2.9 m/s
r
tan  = = 0.44 v2
L −r
2 2
a= = g tan  = 4.3 m/s 2
r

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 Ex:3 Level Curves
❑ A 1500 kg car moving on a flat,
horizontal road negotiates a
curve as shown. If the radius of
the curve is 35.0 m and the
coefficient of static friction
between the tires and dry
pavement is 0.523, find the
maximum speed the car can
have and still make the turn
successfully.
v = rg
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 Level Curves
❑ The force of static friction directed toward the
center of the curve keeps the car moving in a
circular path.
2
vmax
f s ,max =  s N = m
r
 Fy = N − mg = 0
N = mg
 s Nr  s mgr
vmax = = =  s gr
m m
= (0.523)(9.8m / s 2 )(35.0m) = 13.4m / s
v = rg
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 Ex:4 Banked Curves
❑ A car moving at the designated
speed can negotiate the curve.
Such a ramp is usually banked,
which means that the roadway
is tilted toward the inside of
the curve. Suppose the
designated speed for the ramp
is to be 13.4 m/s and the
radius of the curve is 35.0 m.
At what angle should the curve
be banked?

October 30, 2024

 Banked Curves
v = 13.4 m/s r = 35.0 m
mv 2
 Fr = n sin  = mac = r
 Fy = n cos  − mg = 0
n cos  = mg
v2
tan  =
rg
13.4 m/s
 = tan −1 ( ) = 27. 6 

(35.0 m)(9.8 m/s 2 )

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Problem 1:

ANS: For A : T=0.058 N ,

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For C: T=0.258 N
Problem 2:

R=25.5m
Problem 2:

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Problem 3:

v=4 m/s

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Problem 4:

R=39.24 m

Problem 5:

v=4.1 m/s
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Problem 6:
A string under a tension of 50.0 N is used to whirl a rock in a horizontal circle of radius 2.50 m at
a speed of 20.4 m/s on a frictionless surface as shown in Figure. As the string is pulled in, the
speed of the rock increases. When the string on the table is 1.00 m long and the speed of the
rock is 51.0 m/s, the string breaks. What is the breaking strength, in newtons, of the string?

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Problem 7:
A puck of mass m1 is tied to a string and allowed to revolve in a circle of radius R
on a frictionless, horizontal table. The other end of the string passes through a
small hole in the center of the table, and an object of mass m2 is tied to it Fig.
The suspended object remains in equilibrium while the puck on the tabletop
revolves. Find symbolic expressions for (a) the tension in the string, (b) the radial
force acting on the puck, and (c) the speed of the puck.

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Problem 8:

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Problem 9:

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Problem 10:

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Free-Fall Acceleration and the
Gravitational Force
❑ Consider an object of mass m near the Earth’s
surface m1m2 mM E
F =G 2
=G 2
r RE
❑ Acceleration ag due to gravity
mM E
F =G 2
= ma g
RE
❑ Since M E = 5.9742 1023 kg RE = 6378.1 km
we find at the Earth’s surface a = G M E = 9.8 m/s 2
g 2
RE
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 Free-Fall Acceleration and the
Gravitational Force
❑ Consider an object of mass m at a height h above
the Earth’s surface
m1m2 mM E
F =G 2 =G
r ( RE + h ) 2

❑ Acceleration ag due to gravity

mM E
F =G 2
= ma g
RE
❑ ag will vary with altitude ME
ag = G
( RE + h) 2
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Problem 8:

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