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We know that angles can be measured in degrees. They can also be measured in something called
Radians*, where
𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐬
𝛉=
𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐬
𝐫
Angle (in radians) =
Angular Velocity
=
Angular Velocity is the rate of change of angle with respect to time.
𝐭
Angular Velocity is measured in radians per second, (rad/s).
The symbol for angular velocity is (pronounced “omega”).
If an object is moving in a circle at constant speed, it is accelerating.
This is because while its speed is not changing, its velocity is. Why? Because velocity is defined as speed
in a given direction, so if direction is changing, even though speed is not, then the velocity is changing,
therefore the object is accelerating.
Relationship between Linear Speed (v) and Angular Velocity ( ) 𝐯= 𝐫
To derive v = r
𝜃= 𝑟
𝑠
𝜃(𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠) =
𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠
=
𝜃 𝑠
𝑡 𝑡𝑟
{divided both sides by t}
= ×
𝜃 𝑠 1 𝜃 𝑠
𝑡 𝑡 𝑟 𝑡 𝑡
but =ω and =v
ω = 𝑣× 𝑟
1
v = rω
Centripetal Force*
The force - acting in towards the centre - required to keep an object moving in a circle is called a
centripetal force.
Centripetal Acceleration
If a body is moving in a circle the acceleration it has towards the centre is called Centripetal Acceleration.
For both of the definitions above you must refer the object moving in a circle and that the direction is in
towards the centre.
Formulae for Centripetal Acceleration and Centripetal Force
𝒂=
𝒗𝟐
𝒓 but because v = r we also have a = r2
mv 2 F = mr2
Fc
r
Centripetal Motion
‘centripetal’ means ‘centre seeking’.
One of the greatest misconceptions in all of science is to with circular
motion, and that’s one reason why many students don’t like this chapter.
Look at the image of the stone moving in a circular path above a person’s
head.
If an object is to go round in a circle it must have a force pulling it inwards
towards the centre of the circle e.g. the pull of a string on an object being
swirled round. Without a force towards the centre of the circle, the object
will carry on in a straight line!
The force towards the centre is called the centripetal force but –
and here’s the important bit – what causes this centripetal force
will change from situation to situation.
The misconception that arises here is that students (teachers?)
think that the centripetal force is a type of force – it’s not; it’s just
a name given to any force that causes an object to move in a
circle.
So for the moon orbiting the Earth, the centripetal force is gravity.
For a stone tied to a string swinging above your head the
centripetal force is the tension in the string.
For a bike going around a bend the centripetal force is friction
Sometimes reference is made to a centrifugal force – a force
acting outwards on an object travelling in a circle. There is no
such force. The cyclist on the wall of death does not experience an
outward force towards the wall. Instead the wall exerts an inward
force on the cyclist, towards the centre of the curved wall, which
results in circular motion. When going around a corner a car,
passengers experience an inward force being exerted by the side
of the car to prevent them continuing on in a straight line.
So for the diagram above many (most?) students would put in
three forces; gravity (acting downwards), tension (acting in
towards the centre) and a centrifugal force acting outwards.
Hopefully by now you will see that the centrifugal force does not
exist.
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