Topic A: Space, Time and Motion

A.2c – Circular Motion

Guiding Questions:

How can forces acting on a system be represented both

visually and algebraically?

How can Newton’s laws be modelled mathematically?

How can knowledge of forces and momentum be used

to predict the behaviour of interacting bodies?
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Understandings:
• bodies moving along a circular trajectory at a
constant speed experience an acceleration that is
directed radially towards the centre of the circle -
known as a centripetal acceleration
• circular motion is caused by a centripetal force
acting perpendicular to the velocity
• a centripetal force causes the body to change
direction even if its magnitude of velocity may
remain constant
• the motion along a circular trajectory can be
described in terms of the angular velocity ω which is
related to the linear speed v
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Guidance:
• Situations should involve both uniform and non-
uniform circular motion in both horizontal and vertical
planes.
• Analysis of forces on bodies in non-uniform circular
motion in a vertical plane at points other than the top
or bottom is not required.
• Quantitative treatment of problems involving banked
surfaces is not required.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Data booklet reference:
•
•
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Linking Questions:
• How are concepts of equilibrium and conservation
applied to understand matter and motion from the
smallest atom to the whole universe?

• Why is no work done on a body moving along a

circular trajectory?
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Centripetal force and acceleration
A particle is said to be in uniform circular motion if it
travels in a circle (or arc) with constant speed v.

Observe that the velocity vector is always tangent to the

circle. v red
Note that the magnitude of the velocity vector is r blue
y
NOT changing. v
Note that the direction of the velocity
r
vector IS changing.
Thus, there is an acceleration, even x
though the speed is not changing!
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Centripetal force and acceleration
To find the direction of the acceleration () we observe
two nearby snapshots of the particle:
The direction of the acceleration is gotten from
v = v2 – v1 = v2 + (-v1):
The direction of the acceleration is toward the v red
center of the circle - you must be able to sketch this. r blue
v2 y v2

-v1 v1
v1 -v1
v v

x
FYI
Centripetal means center-seeking.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Centripetal force and acceleration
How does centripetal acceleration ac depend on r and
v?
To explore this we define the centripetal force Fc:
Fc = mac centripetal force
Picture yourself as the passenger in a
car that is rounding a left turn:
The sharper the turn, the harder you
and your door push against each other.
(Small r = big Fc.)
The faster the turn, the harder you
and your door push against each other.
Fc
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
𝐹 𝑐 = 𝑚 𝑎𝑐
centripetal force
𝑣2
𝑎 𝑐=
𝑟
centripetal acceleration
EXAMPLE: A 730-kg Smart Car negotiates a 30. m
radius turn at 25. m s-1. What is its centripetal
acceleration and force? What force is causing this
acceleration?
SOLUTION:
ms-2.
N.
· The centripetal force is caused by the friction force
between the tires and the pavement.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Period and frequency
The period is the time for one complete revolution.
The frequency (measured in Hz or ) is defined as how
many cycles (oscillations, repetitions, revolutions) occur
each second. Since period is seconds per revolution,
frequency must be .

1
𝑓 = or relation between T and f
𝑇

EXAMPLE: Find the period and the frequency of a day.

SOLUTION:
The period is s.
The frequency is Hz.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Period and centripetal acceleration
Sometimes the period of a revolution is given, rather than a
velocity.
One revolution is one circumference C = 2r.
Therefore .
Thus so that

2
𝑣2 𝑎 𝑐=
4  𝑟 centripetal
𝑎 𝑐= 𝑇 2
acceleration
𝑟
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
2
4  𝑟 centripetal
𝑣2 𝑎 𝑐=
𝑎 𝑐= 𝑇 2 acceleration
𝑟
EXAMPLE: Albert the 2.50-kg physics cat is being
swung around by a string harness having a radius of
3.00 meters. He takes 5.00 seconds to complete one
fun revolution. What are ac and Fc?
Albert
SOLUTION:
ms-2. the
N. Physic
The tension is causing the centripetal s Cat
force, so the tension is N.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular displacement and arc length
Consider the rotating arm which 
s
has 6 paint cans along its radius. s
Each can has a spout that is s
s
opened for exactly a quarter
s
of a revolution.
We call  the angular
displacement.
All 6 color trails represent the
same angular displacements of 90˚.
Each color traces out a different displacement s.
We call s the arc length.
All 6 color trails represent different arc lengths.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular displacement and arc length
At this point it is useful to define a new way to measure
angles – called radians.
 rad = 180° = ½ rev radian-degree-revolution
2 rad = 360° = 1 rev conversions
Looking at the above conversions we see that there
are 2 rad in 360˚.
EXAMPLE:
Convert 30 into radians (rad) and convert 1.75 rad to
degrees.
SOLUTION:
. 1.75 𝑟𝑎𝑑 (180 °
 𝑟𝑎𝑑 )
=100 °
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular displacement and arc length
 rad = 180° = ½ rev radian-degree-revolution
2 rad = 360° = 1 rev conversions
The relationship between angular displacement  and
arc length s is
𝑠=𝑟   in radians relation between s and 
where r is the radius.
EXAMPLE: Suppose the red line is located
at a radius of 1.50 m and the green line is
located at 1.25 m. Find their lengths.
SOLUTION: rad.
m.
m.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular speed and speed
𝑠=𝑟   in radians relation between s and 
The arc length s is simply the displacement we learned
about in Topic 2, and is the s that is in s = ut + (½) at 2.
Because speed is , we see that
(definition of speed)
(substitution)
(associative property)
(define ) Thus…

We call  the angular speed.-1

𝑣 =𝑟  (rad s ) relation between v and 
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular speed and speed
𝑣 =𝑟  (rad s -1
) relation between v and 
EXAMPLE: Find the angular speed of the second
hand on a clock. Then find the speed of the tip of
the hand if it is 18.0 cm long.
SOLUTION: A second hand turns 2 rad each 60 s.
Thus it has an angular speed given by
rad s-1.
The speed of the tip is given by
ms-1.
FYI Speed depends on length or position but angular
speed does not.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular speed and speed
𝑣 =𝑟  (rad s -1
) relation between v and 
EXAMPLE: A car rounds a
90° turn in 6.0 seconds.
What is its angular speed
during the turn?
SOLUTION:
Since  needs radians we
begin by converting :
rad.
Now we use
rad s-1.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Banking
The car is able to round the
curve because of the friction
between tire and pavement.
The friction always points to
the center of the circle.
So, how does a plane follow
a circular trajectory?
There is no sideways friction force that the plane can
use because there is no solid friction between the air
and the plane.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Banking
Using control surfaces on the tail and the
main wings, planes can execute three
types of maneuver:
ROLL – Ailerons act in opposing directions
YAW – Tail rudder turns left or right
PITCH – Ailerons and horizontal stabilizer
act together

FYI
It is the ROLL maneuver that
gives a plane a centripetal force
as we will see on the next slide.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Banking
As the plane banks (rolls), the lift vector
begins to have a horizontal component.
The centripetal force causes the plane
to begin traveling in a horizontal circle.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Banking
Even though cars use friction,
roads are banked so that the
need for friction is reduced.
Instead of a component of the LIFT
force providing a centripetal force,
a component of the NORMAL force
does so.

R FYI A banked curve can

be designed so that a car
can make the turn even if it
FC is perfectly frictionless!
W
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular speed and centripetal acceleration
Sometimes the angular speed of an object in circular
motion is given, rather than its velocity.
From we get .
From we get

.
Putting it all together we have

2
𝑣2 𝑚𝑣
𝑎 𝑐= 𝐹 𝑐=
𝑟
ac and Fc
𝑟
(all
4 𝑟
2 4 𝜋 2 𝑚𝑟
𝑎 𝑐= 𝐹 𝑐= 2 three
𝑇
𝑇 2 forms)
2 2
𝑎 𝑐=𝑟  𝐹 𝑐= 𝑚  𝑟
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular velocity
relation between , T and f
As speed with a direction is called velocity, angular
speed with a direction is called angular velocity.
To assign a direction to a rotation we v
use a right hand rule as follows: r
1. Rest the heel of your right hand on the
rotating object.
2. Make sure your fingers are curled
in the direction of rotation. FYI Angular velocity 
3. Your extended thumb points always points
in the direction of the angular perpendicular to the
velocity. plane of motion!
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Angular velocity
relation between , T and f
PRACTICE: Find the angular velocity
(in rad s-1) of the wheel on the shaft.
It is rotating at 30.0 rpm (revolutions
per minute).
SOLUTION:
The magnitude of  is given by
rad s-1
The direction of  is given by the right hand rule:
“Place heel of right hand so fingers are curled in
direction of rotation. Thumb gives the direction.”
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Identifying the forces providing centripetal forces
PRACTICE:
Identify at least five forces that are centripetal in nature:
SOLUTION:
The tension force (Albert the physics cat and Arnold).
The friction force (the race car making the turn).
The gravitational force (the baseball and the earth).
The electric force (an electron orbiting a nucleus).
The magnetic force (a moving charge in a B-field).
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
PRACTICE: Dobson is watching a 16-pound bowling
ball being swung around at 50 m/s by Arnold. If the
string is cut at the instant the ball is next to the ice
cream, what will the ball do?
(a) It will follow path A and strike Dobson's ice cream.
(b) It will fly outward along curve path B.
(c) It will fly tangent to the original circular path along C.

C
B
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
EXAMPLE: Suppose a 0.500-kg baseball is placed in a
circular orbit around the earth at slightly higher that the
tallest point, Mount Everest (8850 m). Given that the
earth has a radius of RE = 6400000 m, find the speed of
the ball.
SOLUTION: The ball is traveling in a circle
of radius m.
Fc is caused by the weight of the ball so
that N.
Since we have
m s-1!
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
EXAMPLE: Suppose a 0.500-kg baseball is placed in a
circular orbit around the earth at slightly higher that the
tallest point, Mount Everest (8850 m). How long will it
take the ball to return to Everest?
SOLUTION: We want to find the period T.
We know that v = 8000 m s-1.
We also know that r = 6408850 m.
Since we have

h.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
EXAMPLE: Explain how an object can remain in orbit
yet always be falling.
SOLUTION:
Throw the ball at progressively larger speeds.
In all instances the force of gravity will draw
the ball toward the center of the earth.
When the ball is finally thrown at a
great enough speed, the curvature of
the ball’s path will match the curvature
of the earth’s surface.
The ball is effectively falling around
the earth!
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
PRACTICE: Find the angular speed of the minute
hand of a clock, and the rotation of the earth in
one day.
SOLUTION:
The minute hand takes 1 hour to go around one time.
rad s-1.
The earth takes 24 h for each revolution so that

rad s-1.
This small angular speed is why we can’t really feel the
earth as it spins.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
90˚ 
EXAMPLE: Find the apparent weight of
someone standing on an equatorial scale
r
if his weight is 882 N at the north pole.
R
SOLUTION: Recall that  = 0.0000727 0˚ 
rad s-1 anywhere on the earth.
The blue arcs represent the lines of
latitude.
The white line R represents the earth’s radius.
The yellow line r represents the radius of the circle a
point at a latitude of  follows.
Note that r = R cos , and that at the equator,  = 0˚
and at the pole,  = 90˚.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems

EXAMPLE: Find the apparent weight of
someone standing on an equatorial scale
r
if his weight is 882 N at the north pole.
R
SOLUTION: Recall that  = 0.0000727 
rad s-1 anywhere on the earth.
Thus, at the equator, r = R, and at the
pole, r = 0. Furthermore, R = 6400000 m.
Then, at the equator,
ms-2.
Then, at the pole,
ms-2.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems
EXAMPLE: Find the apparent weight of
someone standing on an equatorial scale
if his weight is 882 N at the north pole.
SOLUTION: Make a free-body W 𝑭𝑵
diagram at the equator…
ac
Scales read the normal force :

Then,N.
The man has apparently “lost” about 3 N!
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems

Use (k = CONST).

implies that as increases, so does the centripetal force needed to move

it in a circle. Thus, x increases.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems


Nm-1.
ms-1
N.
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
Use v = r ( = CONST).
A.2c – Circular Motion Use a = r2 ( = CONST).
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems

At P At Q
r=R r = 2R
v = R v = 2R = 2v
a = R 2 a = 2R 2 = 2a
Topic A: Space, Time and Motion
A.2c – Circular Motion
Solving centripetal acceleration and force problems

Objects moving in uniform circular motion feel a

centripetal (center-seeking) force.