Chapter 7 – Circular Motion (JEE Main &
Advanced)
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Angular Variables
3. Unit Vectors Along Radius and Tangent
4. Angular Velocity
5. Angular Acceleration
6. Relation Between Linear and Angular Quantities
7. Acceleration in Circular Motion
8. Dynamics of Circular Motion
9. Centripetal Force
10. Circular Turning
11. Banking of Roads
12. Centrifugal Force
13. Effect of Earth's Rotation on Apparent Weight
14. Formula Sheet
15. Solved Examples
16. Short Answer Questions
17. Objective Type-I
18. Objective Type-II
19. Practice Exercises
1. Introduction
Circular motion is the motion of a particle along a circular path.
Two types:
Uniform Circular Motion (Speed constant)
Non-uniform Circular Motion (Speed changes)
Radius remains constant.
2. Angular Variables
Angular Displacement
\[ \theta=\frac{s}{r} \]
Unit
Radian
360°
\[ 2\pi \text{ radians} \]
Angular Velocity
Rate of change of angular displacement.
\[ \omega=\frac{d\theta}{dt} \]
Unit
rad/s
Angular Acceleration
Rate of change of angular velocity.
\[ \alpha=\frac{d\omega}{dt} \]
Unit
rad/s²
3. Unit Vectors Along Radius and Tangent
Radial Unit Vector
\[ \hat r \]
Points outward from centre.
Tangential Unit Vector
\[ \hat t \]
Perpendicular to radius.
Direction of motion.
Important relation
\[ \hat r \perp \hat t \]
4. Linear and Angular Quantities
Linear Speed
\[ v=r\omega \]
Tangential Acceleration
\[ a_t=r\alpha \]
Distance
\[ s=r\theta \]
5. Angular Equations
Exactly similar to linear motion.
\[ \omega=\omega_0+\alpha t \]\[ \theta=\omega_0 t+\frac12\alpha t^2 \]\[
\omega^2=\omega_0^2+2\alpha\theta \]
6. Acceleration in Circular Motion
Two components
(A) Centripetal Acceleration
Towards centre
\[ a_c=\frac{v^2}{r} \]
or
\[ a_c=r\omega^2 \]
(B) Tangential Acceleration
Along tangent
\[ a_t=r\alpha \]
Resultant Acceleration
\[ a=\sqrt{a_c^2+a_t^2} \]
7. Dynamics of Circular Motion
According to Newton's Second Law
\[ F=ma \]
Required force
\[ F_c=\frac{mv^2}{r} \]
called
Centripetal Force
Sources
Tension
Friction
Gravity
Normal reaction
8. Centripetal Force
Formula
\[ F_c=\frac{mv^2}{r} \]
or
\[ mr\omega^2 \]
Always
Towards centre
9. Circular Turning of Roads
Without Banking
Friction provides centripetal force.
\[ \mu mg=\frac{mv^2}{r} \]
Maximum speed
\[ v=\sqrt{\mu rg} \]
10. Banking of Roads
No friction
\[ \tan\theta=\frac{v^2}{rg} \]
Design speed
\[ v=\sqrt{rg\tan\theta} \]
With friction
Higher speed possible.
11. Centrifugal Force
Pseudo force.
Observed only in rotating frame.
Magnitude
\[ F=\frac{mv^2}{r} \]
Direction
Away from centre.
12. Effect of Earth's Rotation on Apparent
Weight
True weight
\[ W=mg \]
Apparent weight
\[ W'=m(g-\omega^2R\cos^2\lambda) \]
where
λ = latitude
Maximum reduction
At equator
No reduction
At poles
Formula Sheet
Angular Motion
\[ \theta=\frac{s}{r} \]\[ \omega=\frac{d\theta}{dt} \]\[ \alpha=\frac{d\omega}{dt} \]
Linear-Angular Relation
\[ v=r\omega \]\[ a_t=r\alpha \]
Centripetal Motion
\[ a_c=\frac{v^2}{r} \]\[ a_c=r\omega^2 \]
Resultant
\[ a=\sqrt{a_t^2+a_c^2} \]
Centripetal Force
\[ F=\frac{mv^2}{r} \]
Flat Road
\[ v=\sqrt{\mu rg} \]
Banked Road
\[ v=\sqrt{rg\tan\theta} \]
Solved Example 1
A particle moves in a circle of radius 2 m with speed 8 m/s.
Find centripetal acceleration.
Solution
\[ a=\frac{v^2}{r} \]\[ =\frac{64}{2} \]\[ =32\;m/s^2 \]
Answer
\[ 32\;m/s^2 \]
Solved Example 2
Radius = 0.5 m
Angular velocity = 20 rad/s
Find linear speed.
Solution
\[ v=r\omega \]\[ =0.5\times20 \]\[ =10\;m/s \]
Answer
10 m/s
Solved Example 3
Mass = 4 kg
Speed = 6 m/s
Radius = 3 m
Find centripetal force.
Solution
\[ F=\frac{mv^2}{r} \]\[ =\frac{4\times36}{3} \]\[ =48N \]
Answer
48 N
Solved Example 4
A road has
μ = 0.4
Radius = 50 m
Find maximum speed.
Solution
\[ v=\sqrt{\mu rg} \]\[ =\sqrt{0.4\times50\times9.8} \]\[ =\sqrt{196} \]\[ =14m/s \]
Answer
14 m/s
Short Answer Questions
1. Define angular displacement.
2. Define angular velocity.
3. What is centripetal acceleration?
4. Why is circular motion accelerated motion?
5. Define centripetal force.
6. Define centrifugal force.
7. Why are roads banked?
8. What is apparent weight?
9. Where is apparent weight minimum?
10. State relation between linear and angular velocity.
Objective Type-I (Single Correct)
1. SI unit of angular velocity is:
o A. m/s
o B. rad/s ✅
o C. N
o D. m/s²
2. Centripetal acceleration acts:
o A. Tangential
o B. Away from centre
o C. Towards centre ✅
o D. Vertical
3. Linear speed equals:
o A. r/ω
o B. rω ✅
o C. ω/r
o D. r²ω
4. Banking avoids dependence on:
o A. Gravity
o B. Friction ✅
o C. Mass
o D. Radius
5. Centrifugal force is:
o A. Real
o B. Conservative
o C. Pseudo force ✅
o D. Electromagnetic
Objective Type-II (Multiple Correct)
1. In uniform circular motion:
o ✅ Speed constant
o ✅ Velocity changes
o ✅ Acceleration zero
o ✅ Centripetal acceleration exists
2. Centripetal force may be supplied by:
o ✅ Tension
o ✅ Friction
o ✅ Gravity
o ✅ Normal reaction
3. At the poles:
o ✅ Apparent weight is maximum
o ✅ Centrifugal effect is zero
Practice Exercises
1. A wheel of radius 0.4 m rotates at 15 rad/s. Find the linear speed.
2. A particle moves at 12 m/s in a circle of radius 8 m. Calculate the centripetal
acceleration.
3. Find the centripetal force on a 3 kg object moving at 10 m/s in a circle of radius 5 m.
4. A road of radius 100 m has a coefficient of friction of 0.3. Find the maximum safe speed.
5. A car moves on a banked road of radius 50 m at a design speed of 20 m/s. Calculate the
banking angle.
6. A fan accelerates uniformly from rest to 60 rad/s in 10 s. Find its angular acceleration.
7. A particle rotates with angular acceleration 4 rad/s² from rest. Find its angular velocity
after 8 s.
8. A cyclist turns around a curve of radius 25 m at 15 m/s. Calculate the required centripetal
force if the mass is 70 kg.
9. Compare the apparent weight of a person at the equator and at the poles.
10. Derive the expression for the ideal banking angle of a road.