CIRCULAR MOTION

CHAPTER : 5

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Student should be able to:

1.Express angular displacement in
radians ( )
2.Define angular velocity ( ) and
period ( T )
3.Derive and use the formula v = r

Speed
Constant
Therefore
a =0

wer: Tangential acceleration is zero when the

ular motion is constant

his case , Velocity and Speed are the same in magnitu

difference in velocity due to direction.]

Angular displacement ( in radian)

and Angular velocity () in rad s 1

V
V

Vector V 1
is transferred
to other side without changin
its magnitude and direction..

Angular velocity
O

r
r

Angular velocity of an object in

circular motion is the rate change
of angular displacement

Direction of motion

Then,

= d/dt,
Unit - rads-1.

om s =r, when the time is changing, displacement and angular displac

re also changing.

erefore, ds/dt = r d/dt

V=

v=r

ove equation is a relation between linear speed ( v ) a

r velocity ( )

me taken to complete one cycle of rotation is called Pe

l of period is T.

n of T and is, T = 2/
Unit for angular velocity ( ) radian per
second ( rad sec 1 )
for speed ( v ) meter per second ( m s 1 )

the frequency of revolution, f = 1/T, hence,

meaning of revolution:

volution per second = 2 radian per second

volution per minute = [ (2 radian)/60 ] per se

Centripetal Acceleration
Student should be able to:
1.Explain that uniform circular motion
has an acceleration due to the
change in direction of velocity ( )
2.Derive and use the formulae for
centripetal acceleration a = v 2/ r
and a = r 2

V
V

B
r
r
O

A
R

Direction of motion
P

V
V

ough the concept of similar triangle,

ce

QR/PQ = AB/OA.

is very small, straight line AB = Length of arc AB = r

Centripetal Force ( Fc )
Student should be able to:
1.Explain that uniform circular motion is due
to the action on a resultant force that is
always directed to the centre of the circle.
2.Use the formulae for the centripetal force F
= mv 2/r and F = mr 2 .
3.Solve problems involving uniform horizontal
circular motion for a point mass.
4.Solve problems involving vertical circular
motions for a point mass ( knowledge of
tangential acceleration is not required.

cceleration, a always towards the centre of the cir

= ma = mv = mr2 = m v

/r

zero

Velocity and Centripetal Acceleration are always perp

n of velocity is tangentially to the curve of rotation.
n of centripetal acceleration is always towards the ce
on.

Answer: Centripetal and

Velocity

nswer: Tangential, zero, constant and uniform

Answer: Centripetal

or a = r 2

CIRCULAR MOTION 3

nswer: Toward the centre of the circle.

MOTION IN A
HORIZONTAL CIRCLE

Centripetal force, F c = mv2/r = [(1000)(5)

= 1250 N

] / ( 20 )

Centripetal force, F c = mv2/r = [(1000)(20)

= 20 000 N

] / ( 20 )

AEROPLANE CIRCULAR
MOTION

Forces Acting On An Airplane In Flight

= [mv2]/r = [ (20 000 ) x ( 150 )

] / 5 000 = 90 000 N

Find the force

Answer: L sin = [mv

] /r

Answer: mg = L cos Look the figure

Answer: [ v

/ gr ]

Answer: [ tan ]

in = m v 2 / r ( 1 )
os = mg ..( 2 )

Answer: The angle of banking = 24.66

VERTICAL CIRCULAR
MOTION

C
T = centripetal force of string.

The string make angle with the vertic

D

Then, Resultant force towards O, the ce

O
B

v T mg cos .
=

T
From F = ma = mr 2, then,

mg

T mg cos = mr

2.

Tension ,

T = mr

+ mg cos

T = mr
cos

+ mg

From the equation above, when the object at the lowest

position A, = 0
Then, T = mr 2 + mg ( which is the maximum
tension )
From the equation above, when the object at the middle
position B, = 90 0
Then , T = mr

T = mr

+ mg cos 90

+0

From the equation above, when the object at the highest

position C, = 180 0
Then , T = mr

T = mr

+ mg cos 180
2

- mg ( which is the least tention.

For an object to be able to reach the highest point in

vertical circle:
Let, the tension at C :
T = mr2 mg 0
Then the minimum velocity to reach at the point C,
g

v gr
or

T=

mv
r

mg 0, then

Motion of a Cyclist Going Round a Curved Tra

Consider to the two factors:
1. Centripetal force on the Cyclist:

mv 2
Fc
r

2. Taking moment at the centre of gravity ( G ) of the Cyclist.

Clockwise moment about G = Anticlockwise moment about G

Fh
mv 2
r

=Ra

h mga

a
v2

h
rg
a v2
tan
h rg

a v
tan
h rg
Notes:
The Cyclist has to lean through a larger angle:
a. When his speed v increases
b. If the radius of the curve track is smaller.

CONICAL PENDULUM

nswer: The force is supplied from - Tension

Answer: The size of centripetal force, Fc = m v

r
= [ 0.1 x ( 1.5 )

] / 0.2

Fc
T sin = Fc

wer: Tan = v 2/g r = ( 1.5 ) 2/[ 9.81 x 0.2 ] = 1.147.

herefore, = 48.92 0

T sin = mv 2/r = 1.125. Therefore, T = 1.125/sin 48.92

= 1.493

The centripetal force is also equal to the horizontal component T

sin .
Then,

T sin =
T sin

mr2 . ; r = l sin .

= ml2 sin

T = ml

Also, we found that,

T cos = mg
Then,
Therefore,
Period,

( ml 2 ) cos = mg.

g
l cos

2
l cos
2

Answer: T = 2 / = [2 ] / [v/r ] =
[2 r] / v
T

= [2 x 0.2 ] / 1.5 = 0.837 sec

1.1 A pendulum bob of mass 0.15 kg is suspended from a fixed point

by a thread of fixed length. The bob is given a push so that it moves
along a circular path of radius 1.90 m in a horizontal plane at a
steady speed. The bob takes 20.0s to make 10 complete
revolutions. Calculate
a) The speed of the bob,
b) The centripetal force of the bob
c) What provides the centripetal force of the bob

1.2 A stone of mass 0.50 kg is tied firmly to one end of a rope, the
stone is then whirled round in a vertical circle of radius 0.8 m at a
steady rate of 10 turns per second. Calculate
a) The centripetal acceleration of the stone
b) The tension of the string at the top of the loop
c) The tension of the string at the middle of the loop
d) The tension of the string at the bottom of the loop

1.3 A car of mass 500 kg travels at steady speed round a roundabout of

radius 100 m. The centripetal force is provided by sideways friction
between the car tires and the road. If the maximum sideways friction is
10000 N,
a) Calculate the maximum speed that the car can travel without slipping.
b) If the total mass of the car increases to 800 kg, what is its maximum
speed that the car can travel without slipping.

THE END