Circular Motion

Objectives

•
 Uniform circular motion
• An object is said to be in uniform circular
motion if it is rotating at a steady rate about a
constant radius.
• Such an object will have a velocity which is
tangential to the path of travel of the object
and an acceleration which is directed inwards
along the radius.
The radian

• The standard unit of

angular measure.

1 rad 180
 57.2958
 Angular displacement
• The angular displacement of a body is the
angle (in radians) that the body moves
through each second.

2
 t
T
 Angular velocity
• The angular velocity of an object
moving in uniformed circular motion
is the rate of change of its angular
displacement with respect to time.

d 2
 
dt T
 Instantaneous Velocity
• Instantaneous Velocity is tangential at
every point around a circle.
• The magnitude of velocity (SPEED)
remains constant in uniformed circular
motion. The velocity is, however, NOT
constant since the direction is changing.
• For one rotation of an object:

x 2r
v  r
t T
 Centripetal acceleration

• Acceleration of
Tangential Velocity

the body is
directed towards
Centripetal
Acceleration the center of the
circle.
4 2 R v 2
ac  2 
T R
 Centripetal force

• The force which 2

v
creates F ma; ac 
uniformed R
circular motion v2
is not a unique F m
force but the
R
consequence of v2
other forces. Fc F m
R
 Example #1
• A Ferris wheel with a diameter of 18.0 meters
rotates 4 times in 1 minute.
– a) Calculate the velocity of the Ferris wheel.
– b) Calculate the centripetal acceleration of the
Ferris wheel at a point along the outside.
– c) Calculate the centripetal force a 40 kg child
experiences.
 Solution #1

2r 2(3.14)9 1
vc   3.77ms
T 15
2 1 2
v (3.77ms ) 2
ac   1.58ms
r 9m

Fc 
mv 2


(40kg ) 3.77ms 
1 2
63.17 N
r 9m
2
or Fc mac  (40)(1.58ms ) 63.17 N
 Example #2
Acceleration of a revolving ball.
• A 150g ball at the end of a string is revolving
uniformly in a horizontal circle of radius 0.600
m. The ball makes 2.00 revolutions in a
second.
– What is its centripetal acceleration?
 Solution #2
• :
• we can find v from the radius and frequency.

– v = 7.54 m/s
• SO a = 94.7 m/s2.
Applications of Uniform circular motion
Example 1: A 3-kg rock swings in a
circle of radius 5 m. If its constant
speed is 8 m/s, what is the
centripetal acceleration?
v v 2
m=3
m ac 
R kg
R R = 5 m; v = 8 m/s
2
(8 m/s) 2
ac  12.8 m/s
5m
F = (3 kg)(12.8
2 m/s2)
mv
Fc mac  FFcc =
= 38.4
38.4 N
N
R
Example 2: A skater moves with 15
m/s in a circle of radius 30 m. The ice
exerts a central force of 450 N. What is
the mass of the skater?
Draw and label mv 2 Fc R
sketch Fc  ; m 2
v = 15 R v
m/s
Fc R (450 N)(30 m)
m 2
450 N
30
(15 m/s)
m
m=?
m
m== 60.0
60.0 kg
kg
Speed skater
Example 3. The wall exerts a 600 N
force on an 80-kg person moving at 4
m/s on a circular platform. What is the
radius of the circular path?
Draw and label
sketch Newton’s 2nd law
m = 80 kg;
for circular
v = 4 m/s2
motion:
2 2
Fc = 600 N mv mv
F ; r
r F
r=?
2
(80 kg)(4 m/s)
r rr =
= 2.13
2.13 m
m
600 N
Car Negotiating a Flat Turn

v Fc

R
What is the direction of the
force ON the car?
Ans. Toward Center
This central force is
exerted BY the road ON
the car.
Car Negotiating a Flat Turn

v Fc

R
Is there also an outward
force acting ON the car?

Ans. No, but the car does exert a

outward reaction force ON the
road.
 Car Negotiating a Flat Turn
The centripetal force
Fc is that of static
Fc R n
friction fs: Fc = fs
m fs

v R

mg
The
The central
central force
force FFCC and
and the
the friction
friction force
force
ffss are
are not
not two
two different
different forces
forces that
that are
are
equal.
equal. There
There isis just
just one
one force
force onon the
the car.
car.
The
The nature
nature of
of this
this central
central force
force isis static
static
 Finding
Finding the
the maximum
maximum speed
speed for
for
negotiating
negotiating aa turn
turn without
without slipping.
slipping.

n Fc = fs
fs
Fc R
R m
v
mg
The car is on the verge of slipping when
FC is equal to the maximum force of
static friction
mv 2 f s .
Fc = fs Fc = fs = msmg
R
Maximum
Maximum speed
speed without
without slipping
slipping
(Cont.)
(Cont.)
Fc = fs
n
fs R mv2
= msmg
R
mg
v=
msgR
Fc R
m Velocity
Velocity vv is
is
v maximum
maximum speed speed for
for
no
no slipping.
slipping.
 Example 4: A car negotiates a turn
of radius 70 m when the coefficient
of static friction is 0.7. What is the
maximum speed to avoid slipping?
mv2
Fc = fs = msmg
m R
Fc R v=
From which:
msgR
v ms = 0.7
g = 9.8 m/s2; R = 70 m

vv =
= 21.9
21.9
v   s gR  (0.7)(9.8)(70 m) m/s
m/s
 Optimum Banking Angle
By banking a curve at
the optimum angle, the
Fc normal force n can
R
m provide the necessary
v centripetal force without
the need for a friction
force. fs =
fs 0 n
n n
fs
w q w q
w q
slow speed fast speed optimum
 Free-body Diagram
Acceleration a is toward
x n the center. Set x axis
along the direction of
ac , i. e., horizontal (left
mg q
to right).
n cos
n q q n
q + ac
n sin q
mg q mg
 Optimum Banking Angle
(Cont.)
n cos
n q q n

mg q n sin q
mg

Apply mv2
SFx = mac n sin q =
Newton’s R
2nd Law to x
and y axes. SFy = 0 n cos q = mg
Optimum Banking Angle
(Cont.)
n cos q
n n
q
tan  
n sin 
n sin n cos 
mg q q
mg

2
mv 2 mv
n sin q = v 2
R tan   R 
mg gR
n cos q = mg
1
Optimum Banking Angle
(Cont.)
n cos
n q q n

mg q
n sin q
mg

2
Optimum v
Banking Angle q
tan  
gR
 Example 5: A car negotiates a turn
of radius 80 m. What is the
optimum banking angle for this
curve if the speed is to be equal to
12 m/s?
n v 2 (12 m/s)2
tan q = =(9.8 m/s2)(80
gR
mg q m)
n cos tan q =
q=
q q n 0.184 10.40
How might you 2find the
n sin q centripetal
mv
FC force on the
car, knowing R
its mass?
mg
 The Conical Pendulum
A conical pendulum consists of a
mass m revolving in a horizontal
circle of radius R at the end of a cord
of length L.
T cos q
T
L q q
h
T T sin q
R mg
Note: The inward component of
tension T sin q gives the needed
central force.
 Angle q and velocity v:
T cos q
T
L q q
h
T T sin q
R mg

Solve two mv2

equations
T sin q = v2
R tan q =
to find gR
angle q T cos q = mg
Example 6: A 2-kg mass swings in
a horizontal circle at the end of a
cord of length 10 m. What is the
constant speed of the mass if the
rope makes an angle of 300 with
the vertical?
q = 300 1. Draw & label
sketch.
2. Recall formula for
L q
h pendulum.
2
T v
tan   Find: v = ?
gR
R
3. To use this formula, we need to find R
=? R = L sin 30 0
= (10 m) R=5
(0.5) m
Example 6(Cont.): Find v for q =
300
4. Use given info to find q = 300
the velocity at 300. R=5m
R=5 g = 9.8 L q
h
m m/s2 T
Solve for v2 R
tan  
v=? gR

v  gR tan 
2
v  gR tan 
2 0 vv =
= 5.32
5.32
v  (9.8 m/s )(5 m) tan 30 m/s
m/s
 Example 7: Now find the tension T
in the cord if m = 2 kg, q = 300, and
L = 10 m.
T cos q
T
L q q
h
T T sin q
2 kg
R mg
SFy = 0: T cos q - mg = 0; T cos q =
mg
(2 kg)(9.8
mg
T= = m/s2) TT =
= 22.6
22.6 N
N
cos q
cos 300
 Example 8: Find the centripetal
force Fc for the previous example.
q = 300 T cos q
T
L q q
h
T Fc T sin q
2 kg
R mg

m = 2 kg; v = 5.32 m/s; R = 5 m; T = 22.6

N
mv2 or Fc = T sin
Fc = FFcc =
= 11.3
11.3 N
N
R 30 0
 Swinging Seats at the Fair
This problem is
b identical to the other
examples except for
L q
h finding R.
T
d R=d+b
R R = L sin q + b

v2
tan q = and v= gR tan q
gR
 Example 9. If b = 5 m and L = 10 m,
what will be the speed if the angle q =
260? 2
v
tan q = R=d+b
gR
L q b
d = (10 m) sin 260 = 4.38 T
R = 4.38 mm + 5 m = 9.38 d
m R

v  gR tan 
2
v  gR tan 
2 0
vv =
= 6.70
6.70
v  (9.8 m/s )(9.38 m) tan 26 m/s
m/s
 Motion in a Vertical Circle
Consider the forces on a
v v
v ball attached to a string
v +
Bottomm
+ T as it moves in a vertical
T gT
T + m loop.
+m + mg Note also that the
gT g positive direction is
v always along
Top mofSide
Left Path
Top Top
Right acceleration, i.e.,
g
Tension
+
is
Right toward the center of
Weight
Maximum
minimum
Weight has
as Note changes as you
Weight has the circle.
no Bottom
effect
tension
weight
causes T,on
helps
smallW click the mouse to
no effect
T on
opposes
Fc force
decrease Fin
c show new positions.
T
tension T
 As an exercise,
v +
10 assume that a central
N force of Fc = 40 N is
T R required to maintain
T circular motion of a
+ v ball and W = 10 N.
The
The tension
tension TT must
must
10
adjust
adjust so
so that
that
N
central
central resultant
resultant isis
40
40 N.
N.
At top: 10 N + T = 40 T = 30_?_ N
N
Bottom: T – 10 N = 40 TT == __?___
50 N
N
Motion in a Vertical Circle
v Resultant mv2
m force toward Fc =
g center R
T R

Consider TOP of circle:

v
mv2
AT TOP: mg + T =
R
m + mv2
g T= - mg
T R
 Vertical Circle; Mass at
v
bottom
Resultant mv2
force toward Fc =
R center R
T
Consider bottom of
v circle:
m mv2
g T - mg =
AT Bottom: R

T T = mv2 +
+
m mg R
g
Visual Aid: Assume that the centripetal
force required to maintain circular
motion is 20 N. Further assume that the
weight is 5 N.
v
mv 2
FC  20 N
R
R Resultant central force
FC at every point in
path!
v FC = 20
FC = 20 N at Weight N
vector W is
downward at every
top AND at
point.
bottom. W = 5 N, down
Visual Aid: The resultant force (20 N) is
the vector sum of T and W at ANY point
in path.
v Top: T + W = FC
W + T + 5 N = 20 N
T
R T = 20 N - 5 N = 15
+ N
T Bottom:
v
T - W = FC
W
FC = 20 N at T - 5 N = 20 N
top AND at T = 20 N + 5 N = 25
bottom. N
 For Motion in Circle
v
AT TOP:
mv2
R m + T= - mg
g R
T
v

AT BOTTOM:
T T = mv2 +
+ mg R
m
g
Example 10: A 2-kg rock swings in a
vertical circle of radius 8 m. The speed of
the rock as it passes its highest point is 10
m/s. What is tension T in rope? 2
mv
At Top: mg + T =
v R
mg
mv2
T R T= - mg
R
2
v (2 kg)(10 m/s) 2
T  2 kg(9.8 m/s )
8m

T = 25 N - 19.6 N TT =
= 5.40
5.40 N
N
Example 11: A 2-kg rock swings in a
vertical circle of radius 8 m. The speed of
the rock as it passes its lowest point is 10
m/s. What is tension T in rope?
At mv
2

v T - mg =
Bottom: R
R T = mv2 +
mg R
T 2
v (2 kg)(10 m/s) 2
T  2 kg(9.8 m/s )
mg 8m

T = 25 N + 19.6
TT =
= 44.6
44.6 N
N
N
Example 12: What is the critical speed
vc at the top, if the 2-kg mass is to
continue in a circle of radius 8 m?
0
v mv2
At Top: mg + T =
mg R
T R vc occurs when T = 0
mv2 vc = gR
v mg =
R

v= gR = (9.8 m/s2)(8 vvcc=

= 8.85
8.85 m/s
m/s
m)
 The Loop-the-Loop
Same as cord, n replaces T
v AT TOP:
mv2
R
m + n= - mg
g R

v n

AT BOTTOM:
n= mv 2
+
n mg R
+
m
g
 The Ferris Wheel
v mv2
AT TOP: mg - n=
R
n
R
+ mv2
v
m n = mg -
g R

AT BOTTOM:
n n= mv 2
+
+ mg R
m
g
Example 13: What is the
apparent weight of a 60- n
kg person as she moves +
through the highest point v m
when R = 45 m and the
g R
speed at that point is 6
m/s?
Apparent weight will be v
the normal force at the
top:mv2 mv2
mg - n = n = mg -
R R
2
(60 kg)(6 m/s)
n 60 kg(9.8 m/s ) 
2
nn == 540
540 N
N
45 m
 Summary
Centripetal
Centripetal 2 2
v mv
acceleration
acceleration ac  ; Fc mac 
:: R R

v= v2
tan q =
msgR gR

Conical
v= gR tan q
pendulum:
Summary: Motion in Circle
v AT TOP:
m + T= mv 2
- mg
R R
g
T
v
AT BOTTOM:
T=
mv2 +
T
+ mg
R
m
g
 Summary: Ferris Wheel
v mv2
AT TOP: mg - n=
R
n
R
+ mv2
v
m n = mg -
g R

AT BOTTOM:
n n= mv 2
+
+ mg R
m
g
Circular motion

MORE EXAMPLES
 Tension
A particle of mass 1.5 kg is attached to one end of a light,
inextensible string of length 2 m. The other end of the string
is fixed at O on a smooth horizontal surface.
The particle moves in a circle on the horizontal surface, with
centre O, at 8 ms–1.
Find the tension in the string.

O T

1.5g
 Tension
Applying Newton’s Second Law towards the centre:
F = ma: T = 1.5 × a

It is necessary to calculate the acceleration of the particle.

r = 2 m, v = 8 ms–1:
 a = 82  2 = 32

The acceleration of the particle is 32 ms–2.

Hence, T = 1.5 × 32 = 48
Therefore the tension in the string is 48 N.
 Tension
A particle of mass 0.8 kg is attached to one end of a light,
inextensible string of length 1.2 m. The other end of the
string is fixed at O on a smooth horizontal surface.
The particle moves in a circle on the horizontal surface
with centre O.
Given that the tension in the string is 15 N, calculate the
speed of the particle.
R
15N
O

0.8g
 Tension
Applying Newton’s Second Law towards the centre,
F = ma:15 = 0.8 × a
 a = 18.75
Therefore the acceleration of the particle is 18.75 ms–2.

a = 18.75 ms–2, r = 1.2:

v2 2
Using a  , v = 18.75 × 1.2 = 22.5
r
 v = 4.74 (3 s.f.)

Therefore the velocity of the particle is 4.74 ms–1.

 Friction
A particle of mass 2 kg rests on a rough horizontal
turntable 1 m from the centre. The turntable rotates at 33
rpm.
If the particle is on the point of slipping, calculate the
coefficient of friction between the particle and the
turntable.

R
F
2g
 Friction
As there is no vertical motion, R = 2g.
Applying Newton’s Second Law towards the centre:
F = ma
F=2×a
It is now necessary to find the acceleration.
33 rpm = 66 rad min–1 = 1.1 rad s–1
r = 1 m,  = 1.1 rad s–1:
Using a = r2, a = (1.1)2 × 1 = 11.942 (5 s.f.)
 F = 2 × 11.942 = 23.884 (5 s.f.)
When the particle is on the point of slipping, F = R:
 = 23.884  2g = 1.22 (3 s.f.)
 Friction
A car is travelling around a horizontal bend of radius 20 m.
The coefficient of friction between the surface of the road and
the tyres is 0.75.
Find the maximum speed at which the car can take the bend
without slipping.
R
F

mg
 Friction
When the car is on the point of slipping, F = R.
As there is no horizontal motion, R = mg.
Applying Newton’s Second Law towards the centre, F = ma.
ma = mg
a = 0.75 × 9.8 = 7.35
Therefore the acceleration of the car is 7.35 ms–2.

a = 7.35 ms-2, r = 20:

Using a = v2  r : v2 = 7.35 × 20 = 147
v = 12.1 (3 s.f.)
Therefore the maximum speed that the car can take the
roundabout at without slipping is 12.1 ms–1.
 Exam question 1 A
A particle of mass m kg is attached to one end

of a light, inextensible string. The other end of
the string is attached to a fixed point A. l

The particle moves at a constant speed in a 2mg

horizontal circle with centre O, vertically below
O r
A. The string makes an angle  with the
vertical and is travelling with a constant mg
angular speed of (3g) rad s–1.
If the tension in the string is 2mg, find:
a) the angle .
b) the length of the string.
 Exam question
a) Resolving vertically: 2mgcos = mg
1
cos = ½
 = 60°
Therefore the angle the string makes with the vertical is 60°.

b) Applying Newton’s Second Law towards the centre:

2mgsin = m × a
Since  = (3g) and r = lsin, we can find a using a = r2 :
a = 3g × lsin = 3glsin
 2mgsin = 3mglsin
 l = 32
2
Therefore the string has a length of 3 m.
 Exam question 2
A small particle moves in a horizontal circle on the inside of a
smooth hollow cylinder. At any one time the particle is in
contact with both the base and the side of the cylinder.
The radius of the base of the cylinder is 0.5 m and the mass
of the particle is 0.3 kg.
If the ball is moving with a constant speed of 5 ms–1, find:
a) the force exerted on the particle by the side of the
cylinder.
b) the time taken for the particle to complete one revolution.
R

0.3g
 Exam question 2
a) Applying Newton’s Second Law towards the centre:
N = 0.3 × a
r = 0.5 m, v = 5 ms–1:
a = 52  0.5 = 50
 N = 0.3 × 50 = 15
Therefore, the force exerted on the particle by the side of the
cylinder is 15 N.
b) Using  = v  r,  = 5  0.5 = 10
Angular speed = 10 rad s–1
Time = 2  10 = 0.628 (3 s.f.)
Therefore, the time taken to complete one revolution
is 0.628 seconds.
 Exam question 3
A car of mass 600 kg is travelling in a horizontal circular path
around a bend of radius 75 m, which is banked to the
horizontal at an angle of 10°. The coefficient of friction
between the road and the tyres is 0.4, and the car is travelling
around the bend at the maximum speed possible without
slipping. Find:
a) the normal reaction force exerted on the car by the road.
b) the value of this maximum speed.

R R

F
F
10° 600g
 Exam question 3
a) Resolving vertically: Rcos10° – Fcos80° = 600g
Since F = 0.4R, Rcos10° – 0.4Rcos80° = 600g
 R = 600g  (cos10° – 0.4cos80°) = 6423.8 (5 s.f.)
Therefore, the normal reaction force is 6420 N (3 s.f.).
b) Applying Newton’s Second Law horizontally:
Fcos10° + Rcos80° = 600 × a
a = (0.4 × 6423.8cos10° + 6423.8cos80°)  600
= 6.0766 (5 s.f.)
v2 2
Using a = : v = 6.0766 × 75
r
 v = 21.3 (3 s.f.)
Therefore, the maximum speed at which the car
can take the bend without slipping is 21.3 ms–1.