1
CIRCULAR MOTION
Kinematics of uniform circular motion
Consider a body moving from A to B along arc s in time t:
v
s
Angular displacement is the angle, measured in radians (rad),
turned about the centre of a circle.
v
r
The radian is defined as the angle subtended at the centre of a
circle by an arc equal in length to the radius of the circle
s
=
r
In one complete turn:
2 r
=2 rad=360
r
or rad =
180
Angular velocity () is defined as the rate of change of angular displacement.
=
-1
t (unit: rad s , a vector)
For constant angular velocity,
=
2
1
=2 f , where T is period and f =
T
T
Linear (tangential) speed
is frequency of rotation.
s r
v = = =r
(unit: ms-1)
t t
An object moving in a circle at a constant speed is accelerating because its direction and
hence its velocity is continually changing. The direction of the acceleration is towards the
centre of the circle such that only direction of motion changes. This acceleration is called a
centripetal acceleration. By Newtons Second Law, if there is an acceleration there must be a
resultant force causing it. This force is called the centripetal force and acts towards the centre
of the circle. Word done by the centripetal force is zero because it is always perpendicular to
displacement. So there is no change in k.e of the object.
Note: (i) centripetal force is not an additional force acting on the body moving in a circle. It is
the resultant of all forces on the body (ii) uniform circular motion is not a kind of uniformly
accelerated motion since the acceleration is fixed only in magnitude, but not in direction.
Examples of circular motions:
A stone in a string whirling in a circle: tension in the string = centripetal force
A satellite orbiting a planet: gravitational force between planet and satellite = centripetal
force
vB
-vA
A car rounding a curve: friction between tyres and road = centripetal force
An electron orbiting the nucleus: electrostatic force = centripetal force
Car cornering on banked track: component of gravity
Aircraft banking: horizontal component of lift on the wings
CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION & CENTRIPETAL FORCE
A body moves with a constant speed v round a circle of radius r. It moves from point A to
point B in a short time t.
vA = velocity of body at point A and vB = velocity of body at point B.
vA vB because the body is traveling in different directions at A and B, but | vA| = |vB|=v
The velocity change in moving from A to B = v = vB -vA
If is very small v can be considered as perpendicular to vB and vA, i.e, pointing towards
centre O and v length of arc swept by an angle about the centre of a circle of radius v.
The centripetal acceleration
a v r 2
v2
r
a=
changevelocity v v
=
=
timte taken
t
t
(unit: ms-2)
If the body has a mass m, the centripetal force F required to keep it moving in a circle of
radius r is given by
mv2
F ma
r
or mv or mr2 (unit:N)
Note: The directions of a and F are both towards the centre O of the circle
Procedure to solve circular motion questions:
1. Identify the object and the centre of the circular motion
2. Draw the free body diagram of the object in circular motion
3. Resolve all forces and find the resultant force pointing towards the centre of the
circular motion
4. equate this resultant force to the centripetal force.
T
F
W
Horizontal Circle
The figure shows a conical pendulum (mass m) describing a circle in a horizontal plane.
Centripetal force on the bob is the resultant of the Tension T along the string and the weight
W = mg of the bob.
T he horizontal component of T provides the centripetal force.
mv 2
T sin
r
The vertical component of Tension T supports the weight:
Tcos=mg
2
tan=
v
gr
Vertical Circle
Consider an object of mass m tied to a string, describing a circular path of radius r in a
vertical plane.
A
mv2
TA mg
r
2
mv
TA
TA
mg
r
O
At point A:
TB
mv2
TB
r
TC
At point B:
mv 2
TC
mg
r
C
At point C:
Maximum tension in the string is at point C, i.e at its lowest position (string most likely to
break).
Note: There are two types of circular motion possible in this vertical circle - uniform speed
and non-uniform speed. The speeds of objects in a vertical plane are generally not constant
(and difficult to maintain at constant speed) hence is non-uniform circular motion. This
implies the centripetal acceleration cannot be the same magnitude throughout the motion.
A bucket of water whirling in a vertical circle by means of a string attached to it:
R
W
R mg
mv
r
mv
mg
r
T=R+W
At its highest point, resultant force on water:
or
2
When R = 0 water falls out of the bucket. So mv /r (centripetal force) should be greater than
the weight (W= mg) of water in order for the water to remain into bucket. Otherwise part of
the weight of the water, which is not used to provide the centripetal force, will cause the
water
water to accelerate downwards. If the speed v is not large enough, then at the top of the circle,
mv 2
mv 2
mg>
. For the water to stay in the bucket, r >mg and v > gr .
r
centre of circle
Aircraft making a turn:
Aircraft is banked (tilted) to change direction
Horizontal component of the lift
force L provides the centripetal
m v2
Lsin=
force:
r
Lcos
Lsin
W=mg
Vertical component of L balances the
weight of the aircraft: Lcos=mg
Cycling on curved path:
Sideway friction between tyres and road, f provides the centripetal force.
f=
m v2
r
If not leaned, f provides a torque (anticlockwise moment about G) on cyclist that may cause
toppling. For stability, while rounding, cyclist leans inwards.
A.C.M = C.M
fh=Ra
mv 2
h=mga
r
a v2
=
h rg
W
R
f
Centre of circle
h
f
a v2
tan= =
h rg
N Banking
of
roads:
For
safety
when a
W
car moving over a curved road, part of the road that is curved is tilted at an angle (banked).
On a banked curved, the normal force exerted by the road on the car contributes to the
centripetal force required for the car to turn.