CHAPTER 6

Figure 6.1This Australian Grand Prix Formula 1 race car moves in a circular path as it makes the turn. Its wheels
also spin rapidly. The same physical principles are involved in both of these motions. (Richard Munckton).

Circular and Rotational

Motion
Chapter Outline

6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity

6.2 Uniform Circular Motion

6.3 Rotational Motion

INTRODUCTION You may recall learning about various aspects of motion along a straight line: kinematics (where we learned
about displacement, velocity, and acceleration), projectile motion (a special case of two-dimensional kinematics), force, and
Newton’s laws of motion. In some ways, this chapter is a continuation of Newton’s laws of motion. Recall that Newton’s first law
tells us that objects move along a straight line at constant speed unless a net external force acts on them. Therefore, if an object
198 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

moves along a circular path, such as the car in the photo, it must be experiencing an external force. In this chapter, we explore
both circular motion and rotational motion.

6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity

Section Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
• Describe the angle of rotation and relate it to its linear counterpart
• Describe angular velocity and relate it to its linear counterpart
• Solve problems involving angle of rotation and angular velocity

Section Key Terms

angle of rotation angular velocity arc length circular motion radius of

curvaturerotational motion spin tangential velocity

Angle of Rotation
What exactly do we mean bycircular motionorrotation? Rotational motion is the circular motion of an object about an axis of
rotation. We will discuss specifically circular motion and spin. Circular motion is when an object moves in a circular path.
Examples of circular motion include a race car speeding around a circular curve, a toy attached to a string swinging in a circle
around your head, or the circularloop-the-loopon a roller coaster. Spin is rotation about an axis that goes through the center of
mass of the object, such as Earth rotating on its axis, a wheel turning on its axle, the spin of a tornado on its path of destruction,
or a figure skater spinning during a performance at the Olympics. Sometimes, objects will be spinning while in circular motion,
like the Earth spinning on its axis while revolving around the Sun, but we will focus on these two motions separately.

When solving problems involving rotational motion, we use variables that are similar to linear variables (distance, velocity,
acceleration, and force) but take into account the curvature or rotation of the motion. Here, we define the angle of rotation,
which is the angular equivalence of distance; and angular velocity, which is the angular equivalence of linear velocity.

When objects rotate about some axis—for example, when the CD in Figure 6.2 rotates about its center—each point in the
object follows a circular path.

Figure 6.2 All points on a CD travel in circular paths. The pits (dots) along a line from the center to the edge all move through
the same angle in time .

The arc length, , is the distance traveled along a circular path. The radius of curvature, r, is the radius of the circular path. Both
are shown in Figure 6.3.

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 6.1 • Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity 199

. The arc length,

Figure 6.3 The radius (r) of a circle is rotated through an angle , is the distance covered
along the circumference.

Consider a line from the center of the CD to its edge. In a given time, eachpit(used to record information) on this line moves
through the same angle. The angle of rotation is the amount of rotation and is the angular analog of distance. The angle of
rotation is the arc length divided by the radius of curvature.

The angle of rotation is often measured by using a unit called the radian. (Radians are actually dimensionless, because a radian
is defined as the ratio of two distances, radius and arc length.) A revolution is one complete rotation, where every point on the
circle returns to its original position. One revolution covers radians (or 360 degrees), and therefore has an angle of rotation
of radians, and an arc length that is the same as the circumference of the circle. We can convert between radians,
revolutions, and degrees using the relationship

1 revolution = rad = 360°. See Table 6.1 for the conversion of degrees to radians for some common angles.

6.
1
Degree Measures Radian Measures

Table 6.1Commonly Used Angles in Terms of

Degrees and Radians

Angular Velocity
How fast is an object rotating? We can answer this question by using the concept of angular velocity. Consider first the angular
speed is the rate at which the angle of rotation changes. In equation form, the angular speed is
6.
2
which means that an angular rotation occurs in a time, . If an object rotates through a greater angle of rotation in
a given time, it has a greater angular speed. The units for angular speed are radians per second (rad/s).
200 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Now let’s consider the direction of the angular speed, which means we now must call it the angular velocity. The direction of the
angular velocity is along the axis of rotation. For an object rotating clockwise, the angular velocity points away from you along
the axis of rotation. For an object rotating counterclockwise, the angular velocity points toward you along the axis of rotation.

Angular velocity (ω) is the angular version of linear velocity v. Tangential velocity is the instantaneous linear velocity of an
object in rotational motion. To get the precise relationship between angular velocity and tangential velocity, consider again a pit
on the rotating CD. This pit moves in a short time through an arc length so its
tangentialspeedis
6.
From the definition of the angle of rotation, . Substituting this into
3 the
expression forvgives , we see that

The equation says that the tangential speedvis proportional to the distancerfrom the center of rotation. Consequently,
tangential speed is greater for a point on the outer edge of the CD (with largerr) than for a point closer to the center of the CD
(with smallerr). This makes sense because a point farther out from the center has to cover a longer arc length in the same
amount of time as a point closer to the center. Note that both points will still have the same angular speed, regardless of their
distance from the center of rotation. See Figure 6.4.

), but point 2 moves through a greater

( arc
Figure 6.4 Points 1 and 2 rotate through the same angle ( length
) because it is farther from the center of rotation.

Now, consider another example: the tire of a moving car (see Figure 6.5). The faster the tire spins, the faster the car moves—
large means largevbecause . Similarly, a larger-radius tire rotating at the same angular velocity, , will produce a
greater
linear (tangential) velocity, v, for the car. This is because a larger radius means a longer arc length must contact the road, so the
car must move farther in the same amount of time.

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 6.1 • Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity 201

Figure 6.5 A car moving at a velocity, v, to the right has a tire

rotating with angular velocity . The speed of the tread of the tire relative to the axle is v, the same as if the car
were jacked up and the wheels spinning without touching the road. Directly below the axle, where the tire touches the road,
the tire tread moves backward with respect to the axle with tangential velocity , where ris the tire radius. Because
the road is stationary with respect to this point of the tire, the car must move forward at the linear velocity v. A larger
angular velocity for the tire means a greater linear velocity for the car.

However, there are cases where linear velocity and tangential velocity are not equivalent, such as a car spinning its tires on ice.
In this case, the linear velocity will be less than the tangential velocity. Due to the lack of friction under the tires of a car on ice,
the arc length through which the tire treads move is greater than the linear distance through which the car moves. It’s similar to
running on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike; you are literally going nowhere fast.

TIPS FOR
Angular
SUCCESS velocity
ωand tangential velocity
vare vectors, so we must include magnitude and direction. The direction of the
angular velocity is along the axis of rotation, and points away from you for an object rotating clockwise, and toward you for
an object rotating counterclockwise. In mathematics this is described by the right-hand rule. Tangential velocity is usually
described as up, down, left, right, north, south, east, or west,
Figure
as6.6
shown
. in

As the fly on the edge of an old-fashioned vinyl record moves in a circle, its instantaneous velocity is always at a
Figure 6.6
tangent to
the circle. The direction of the angular velocity is into the page
this case.

WATCH PHYSICS
202 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Relationship between Angular Velocity and Speed

This video reviews the definition and units of angular velocity and relates it to linear speed. It also shows how to convert
between revolutions and radians.

Click to view content ([Link]

GRASP CHECK
For an object traveling in a circular path at a constant angular speed, would the linear speed of the object change if the
radius of the path increases?
a. Yes, because tangential speed is independent of the radius.
b. Yes, because tangential speed depends on the radius.
c. No, because tangential speed is independent of the radius.
d. No, because tangential speed depends on the radius.

Solving Problems Involving Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity

Snap Lab
Measuring Angular Speed
In this activity, you will create and measure uniform circular motion and then contrast it with circular motions with different
radii.

• One string (1 m long)

• One object (two-hole rubber stopper) to tie to the end
• One timer

Procedure
1. Tie an object to the end of a string.
2. Swing the object around in a horizontal circle above your head (swing from your wrist). It is important that the circle be
horizontal!
3. Maintain the object at uniform speed as it swings.
4. Measure the angular speed of the object in this manner. Measure the time it takes in seconds for the object to travel 10
revolutions. Divide that time by 10 to get the angular speed in revolutions per second, which you can convert to radians
per second.
5. What is the approximate linear speed of the object?
6. Move your hand up the string so that the length of the string is 90 cm. Repeat steps 2–5.
7. Move your hand up the string so that its length is 80 cm. Repeat steps 2–5.
8. Move your hand up the string so that its length is 70 cm. Repeat steps 2–5.
9. Move your hand up the string so that its length is 60 cm. Repeat steps 2–5
10. Move your hand up the string so that its length is 50 cm. Repeat steps 2–5
11. Make graphs of angular speed vs. radius (i.e. string length) and linear speed vs. radius. Describe what each graph looks
like.

GRASP CHECK
If you swing an object slowly, it may rotate at less than one revolution per second. What would be the revolutions per
second for an object that makes one revolution in five seconds? What would be its angular speed in radians per second?
a. The object would spin at . The angular speed of the object would be .
b. The object would spin at . The angular speed of the object would be .
c. The object would spin at . The angular speed of the object would be .
d. The object would spin at . The angular speed of the object would be .

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 6.1 • Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity 203

Now that we have an understanding of the concepts of angle of rotation and angular velocity, we’ll apply them to the real-world
situations of a clock tower and a spinning tire.

WORKED EXAMPLE
Angle of rotation at a Clock Tower
The clock on a clock tower has a radius of 1.0 m. (a) What angle of rotation does the hour hand of the clock travel through when
it moves from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.? (b) What’s the arc length along the outermost edge of the clock between the hour hand at
these two times?
Strategy
We can figure out the angle of rotation by multiplying a full revolution ( radians) by the fraction of the 12 hours covered by
the hour hand in going from 12 to 3. Once we have the angle of rotation, we can solve for the arc length by rearranging the
equation since the radius is given.

Solution to (a)
In going from 12 to 3, the hour hand covers 1/4 of the 12 hours needed to make a complete revolution. Therefore, the angle
between the hour hand at 12 and at 3 is (i.e., 90 degrees).

Solution to (b)
Rearranging the equation

6.
we get 4

6.5
Inserting the known values gives an arc length of

6.6
Discussion
We were able to drop the radians from the final solution to part (b) because radians are actually dimensionless. This is because
the radian is defined as the ratio of two distances (radius and arc length). Thus, the formula gives an answer in units of meters,
as expected for an arc length.

WORKED EXAMPLE
How Fast Does a Car Tire Spin?
Calculate the angular speed of a 0.300 m radius car tire when the car travels at 15.0 m/s (about 54 km/h). See Figure 6.5.
Strategy
In this case, the speed of the tire tread with respect to the tire axle is the same as the speed of the car with respect to the road,
so we havev= 15.0 m/s. The radius of the tire isr= 0.300 m. Since we knowvandr, we can rearrange the equation , to get
and find the angular speed.

Solution
To find the angular speed, we use the relationship: .
Inserting the known quantities gives

6.
7
204 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Discussion
When we cancel units in the above calculation, we get 50.0/s (i.e., 50.0 per second, which is usually written as 50.0 s−1). But the
angular speed must have units of rad/s. Because radians are dimensionless, we can insert them into the answer for the angular
speed because we know that the motion is circular. Also note that, if an earth mover with much larger tires, say 1.20 m in
radius, were moving at the same speed of 15.0 m/s, its tires would rotate more slowly. They would have an angular speed of

6.8

Practice Problems
1. What is the angle in degrees between the hour hand and the minute hand of a clock showing 9:00 a.m.? a.
0°
b. 90°
c. 180°
d. 360°

2. What is the approximate value of the arc length between the hour hand and the minute hand of a clock showing
10:00 a.m if the radius of the clock is 0.2 m?
a. 0.1 m
b. 0.2 m
c. 0.3 m
d. 0.6 m

Check Your Understanding

3. What is circular motion?
a. Circular motion is the motion of an object when it follows a linear path.
b. Circular motion is the motion of an object when it follows a zigzag path.
c. Circular motion is the motion of an object when it follows a circular path.
d. Circular motion is the movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path.

4. What is meant by radius of curvature when describing rotational motion?

a. The radius of curvature is the radius of a circular path.
b. The radius of curvature is the diameter of a circular path.
c. The radius of curvature is the circumference of a circular path.
d. The radius of curvature is the area of a circular path.

5. What is angular velocity?

a. Angular velocity is the rate of change of the diameter of the circular path.
b. Angular velocity is the rate of change of the angle subtended by the circular path.
c. Angular velocity is the rate of change of the area of the circular path.
d. Angular velocity is the rate of change of the radius of the circular path.

6. What equation defines angular velocity, ? Take that is the radius of curvature, is the angle, and is time. a.

b.
c.
d.

7. Identify three examples of an object in circular motion.

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 6.2 • Uniform Circular Motion 205

a. an artificial satellite orbiting the Earth, a race car moving in the circular race track, and a top spinning on its axis
b. an artificial satellite orbiting the Earth, a race car moving in the circular race track, and a ball tied to a string being
swung in a circle around a person's head
c. Earth spinning on its own axis, a race car moving in the circular race track, and a ball tied to a string being swung in a
circle around a person's head
d. Earth spinning on its own axis, blades of a working ceiling fan, and a top spinning on its own axis

8. What is the relative orientation of the radius and tangential velocity vectors of an object in uniform circular motion?
a. Tangential velocity vector is always parallel to the radius of the circular path along which the object moves.
b. Tangential velocity vector is always perpendicular to the radius of the circular path along which the object moves.
c. Tangential velocity vector is always at an acute angle to the radius of the circular path along which the object moves.
d. Tangential velocity vector is always at an obtuse angle to the radius of the circular path along which the object moves.

6.2 Uniform Circular Motion

Section Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
• Describe centripetal acceleration and relate it to linear acceleration
• Describe centripetal force and relate it to linear force
• Solve problems involving centripetal acceleration and centripetal force

Section Key Terms

centrifugal force centripetal acceleration centripetal force uniform circular motion

Centripetal Acceleration
In the previous section, we defined circular motion. The simplest case of circular motion is uniform circular motion, where an
object travels a circular pathat a constant speed. Note that, unlike speed, the linear velocity of an object in circular motion is
constantly changing because it is always changing direction. We know from kinematics that acceleration is a change in velocity,
either in magnitude or in direction or both. Therefore, an object undergoing uniform circular motion is always accelerating,
even though the magnitude of its velocity is constant.

You experience this acceleration yourself every time you ride in a car while it turns a corner. If you hold the steering wheel
steady during the turn and move at a constant speed, you are executing uniform circular motion. What you notice is a feeling of
sliding (or being flung, depending on the speed) away from the center of the turn. This isn’t an actual force that is acting on you
—it only happens because your body wants to continue moving in a straight line (as per Newton’s first law) whereas the car is
turning off this straight-line path. Inside the car it appears as if you are forced away from the center of the turn. This fictitious
force is known as the centrifugal force. The sharper the curve and the greater your speed, the more noticeable this effect
becomes.

Figure 6.7 shows an object moving in a circular path at constant speed. The direction of the instantaneous tangential velocity is
shown at two points along the path. Acceleration is in the direction of the change in velocity; in this case it points roughly
toward the center of rotation. (The center of rotation is at the center of the circular path). If we imagine becoming smaller
and smaller, then the acceleration would pointexactlytoward the center of rotation, but this case is hard to draw. We call the
acceleration of an object moving in uniform circular motion the centripetal acceleration ac because centripetal meanscenter
seeking.
206 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Figure 6.7The directions of the velocity of an object at two different points are shown, and the change
is seen
in to
velocity
point
approximately toward the center of curvature (see small inset). For an extremely, small
points
value
exactly
of toward the center of

the circle (but this is hard to draw). Because , the acceleration is also toward the center, so acis called centripetal
acceleration.

Now that we know that the direction of centripetal acceleration is toward the center of rotation, let’s discuss the magnitude of
centripetal acceleration. For an object traveling at speedvin a circular path with radiusr, the magnitude of centripetal
acceleration is

Centripetal acceleration is greater at high speeds and in sharp curves (smaller radius), as you may have noticed when driving a
car, because the car actually pushes you toward the center of the turn. But it is a bit surprising that ac is proportional to the
speed squared. This means, for example, that the acceleration is four times greater when you take a curve at 100 km/h than at
50 km/h.

We can also express ac in terms of the magnitude of angular velocity. Substituting into the equation above, we get

. Therefore, the magnitude of centripetal acceleration in terms of the magnitude of angular velocity is

6.
9
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
The equation expressed in the formac =rω2 is useful for solving problems where you know the angular velocity rather than the
tangential velocity.

Virtual Physics
Ladybug Motion in
2D
In this simulation, you experiment with the position, velocity, and acceleration of a ladybug in circular and elliptical
motion. Switch the type of motion from linear to circular and observe the velocity and acceleration vectors. Next,

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 6.2 • Uniform Circular Motion 207

try elliptical motion and notice how the velocity and acceleration vectors differ from those in circular motion. Click
to view content ([Link]
GRASP CHECK
In uniform circular motion, what is the angle between the acceleration and the velocity? What type of acceleration does a
body experience in the uniform circular motion?
a. The angle between acceleration and velocity is 0°, and the body experiences linear acceleration.
b. The angle between acceleration and velocity is 0°, and the body experiences centripetal acceleration.
c. The angle between acceleration and velocity is 90°, and the body experiences linear acceleration.
d. The angle between acceleration and velocity is 90°, and the body experiences centripetal acceleration.

Centripetal Force
Because an object in uniform circular motion undergoes constant acceleration (by changing direction), we know from Newton’s
second law of motion that there must be a constant net external force acting on the object.

Any force or combination of forces can cause a centripetal acceleration. Just a few examples are the tension in the rope on a
tether ball, the force of Earth’s gravity on the Moon, the friction between a road and the tires of a car as it goes around a curve,
or the normal force of a roller coaster track on the cart during a loop-the-loop.

Any net force causing uniform circular motion is called a centripetal force. The direction of a centripetal force is toward the
center of rotation, the same as for centripetal acceleration. According to Newton’s second law of motion, a net force causes the
acceleration of mass according to Fnet =ma. For uniform circular motion, the acceleration is centripetal acceleration: a = ac.
Therefore, the magnitude of centripetal force, Fc, is .

By using the two different forms of the equation for the magnitude of centripetal acceleration, and , we
get two expressions involving the magnitude of the
andcentripetal force Fc. The first expression is in terms of tangential speed, the
second is in terms of angular speed: .

Both forms of the equation depend on mass, velocity, and the radius of the circular path. You may use whichever expression for
centripetal force is more convenient. Newton’s second law also states that the object will accelerate in the same direction as the
net force. By definition, the centripetal force is directed towards the center of rotation, so the object will also accelerate
towards the center. A straight line drawn from the circular path to the center of the circle will always be perpendicular to the
tangential velocity. Note that, if you solve the first expression forr, you get

From this expression, we see that, for a given mass and velocity, a large centripetal force causes a small radius of curvature—
that is, a tight curve.
208 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Figure 6.8 In this figure, the frictional force fserves as the centripetal force Fc. Centripetal force is perpendicular to tangential
velocity and causes uniform circular motion. The larger the centripetal force Fc, the smaller is the radius of curvature rand
the sharper is the curve. The lower curve has the same velocity v, but a larger centripetal force Fc produces a smaller
radius .

WATCH PHYSICS

Centripetal Force and Acceleration Intuition

This video explains why a centripetal force creates centripetal acceleration and uniform circular motion. It also covers the
difference between speed and velocity and shows examples of uniform circular motion.

Click to view content ([Link]

GRASP CHECK
Imagine that you are swinging a yoyo in a vertical clockwise circle in front of you, perpendicular to the direction you are
facing. Now, imagine that the string breaks just as the yoyo reaches its bottommost position, nearest the floor. Which of the
following describes the path of the yoyo after the string breaks?
a. The yoyo will fly upward in the direction of the centripetal force.
b. The yoyo will fly downward in the direction of the centripetal force.
c. The yoyo will fly to the left in the direction of the tangential velocity.

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 6.2 • Uniform Circular Motion 209

d. The yoyo will fly to the right in the direction of the tangential velocity.

Solving Centripetal Acceleration and Centripetal Force Problems

To get a feel for the typical magnitudes of centripetal acceleration, we’ll do a lab estimating the centripetal acceleration of a
tennis racket and then, in our first Worked Example, compare the centripetal acceleration of a car rounding a curve to
gravitational acceleration. For the second Worked Example, we’ll calculate the force required to make a car round a curve.

Snap Lab
Estimating Centripetal Acceleration
In this activity, you will measure the swing of a golf club or tennis racket to estimate the centripetal acceleration of the end
of the club or racket. You may choose to do this in slow motion. Recall that the equation for centripetal acceleration is
o .

•
r
One tennis racket or golf club
• One timer
• One ruler or tape measure

Procedure
1. Work with a partner. Stand a safe distance away from your partner as he or she swings the golf club or tennis racket.
2. Describe the motion of the swing—is this uniform circular motion? Why or why not?
3. Try to get the swing as close to uniform circular motion as possible. What adjustments did your partner need to make?
4. Measure the radius of curvature. What did you physically measure?
5. By using the timer, find either the linear or angular velocity, depending on which equation you decide to use.
6. What is the approximate centripetal acceleration based on these measurements? How accurate do you think they are?
Why? How might you and your partner make these measurements more accurate?
GRASP CHECK
Was it more useful to use the equation
o in this activity? Why?
r measuring angular velocity through observation would be easier.
because
a. It should be simpler to use
because measuring tangential velocity through observation would be easier.
b. It should be simpler to use
because measuring angular velocity through observation would be difficult.
c. It should be simpler to use
because measuring tangential velocity through observation would be difficult.
d. It should be simpler to use

WORKED EXAMPLE

Comparing Centripetal Acceleration of a Car Rounding a Curve with

Acceleration Due to
Gravity
A car follows a curve of radius 500 m at a speed of 25.0 m/s (about 90 km/h). What is the magnitude of the car’s centripetal
acceleration? Compare the centripetal acceleration for this fairly gentle curve taken at highway speed with acceleration due to
gravity (g).
210 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Strategy
Because linear rather than angular speed is given, it is most convenient to use the expression to find the magnitude of
the centripetal acceleration.

Solution
Entering the given values ofv= 25.0 m/s andr= 500 m into the expression for ac gives

Discussion
To compare this with the acceleration due to gravity (g= 9.80 m/s2), we take the ratio
. Therefore, , which means that the centripetal acceleration is about
one tenth the acceleration due to gravity.

WORKED EXAMPLE

Frictional Force on Car Tires Rounding a Curve

a. Calculate the centripetal force exerted on a 900 kg car that rounds a 600-m-radius curve on horizontal ground at 25.0 m/s.
b. Static friction prevents the car from slipping. Find the magnitude of the frictional force between the tires and the road that
allows the car to round the curve without sliding off in a straight line.

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 6.2 • Uniform Circular Motion 211

Strategy and Solution for (a)

We know that . Therefore,

Strategy and Solution for (b)

The image above shows the forces acting on the car while rounding the curve. In this diagram, the car is traveling into the page
as shown and is turning to the left. Friction acts toward the left, accelerating the car toward the center of the curve. Because
friction is the only horizontal force acting on the car, it provides all of the centripetal force in this case. Therefore, the force of
friction is the centripetal force in this situation and points toward the center of the curve.

Discussion
Since we found the force of friction in part (b), we could also solve for the coefficient of friction, since .

Practice Problems
9. What is the centripetal acceleration of an object with speed going along a path of radius ? a.

b.
c.
d.

10. Calculate the centripetal acceleration of an object following a path with a radius of a curvature of 0.2 m and at an
angular velocity of 5 rad/s.
a. 1 m/s
b. 5 m/s
c. 1 m/s2
d. 5 m/s2
212 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Check Your Understanding

11. What is uniform circular motion?
a. Uniform circular motion is when an object accelerates on a circular path at a constantly increasing velocity.
b. Uniform circular motion is when an object travels on a circular path at a variable acceleration.
c. Uniform circular motion is when an object travels on a circular path at a constant speed.
d. Uniform circular motion is when an object travels on a circular path at a variable speed.

12. What is centripetal acceleration?

a. The acceleration of an object moving in a circular path and directed radially toward the center of the circular orbit
b. The acceleration of an object moving in a circular path and directed tangentially along the circular path
c. The acceleration of an object moving in a linear path and directed in the direction of motion of the object
d. The acceleration of an object moving in a linear path and directed in the direction opposite to the motion of the object

13. Is there a net force acting on an object in uniform circular motion?

a. Yes, the object is accelerating, so a net force must be acting on it.
b. Yes, because there is no acceleration.
c. No, because there is acceleration.
d. No, because there is no acceleration.

14. Identify two examples of forces that can cause centripetal acceleration.
a. The force of Earth’s gravity on the moon and the normal force
b. The force of Earth’s gravity on the moon and the tension in the rope on an orbiting tetherball
c. The normal force and the force of friction acting on a moving car
d. The normal force and the tension in the rope on a tetherball

6.3 Rotational Motion

Section Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:
• Describe rotational kinematic variables and equations and relate them to their linear counterparts
• Describe torque and lever arm
• Solve problems involving torque and rotational kinematics

Section Key Terms

angular acceleration kinematics of rotational motion lever arm

tangential acceleration torque

Rotational Kinematics
In the section on uniform circular motion, we discussed motion in a circle at constant speed and, therefore, constant angular
velocity. However, there are times when angular velocity is not constant—rotational motion can speed up, slow down, or
reverse directions. Angular velocity is not constant when a spinning skater pulls in her arms, when a child pushes a merry-go-
round to make it rotate, or when a CD slows to a halt when switched off. In all these cases, angular acceleration occurs because
the angular velocity changes. The faster the change occurs, the greater is the angular acceleration. Angular acceleration is
the rate of change of angular velocity. In equation form, angular acceleration is

whereis the change in angular velocity and is the change in time. The units of angular acceleration are (rad/s)/s, or rad/ s2.
If increases, then is positive. If decreases, then is negative. Keep in mind that, by convention,
counterclockwise is the positive direction and clockwise is the negative direction. For example, the skater in Figure 6.9 is
rotating counterclockwise as seen from above, so her angular velocity is positive. Acceleration would be negative, for example,

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 6.2 • Uniform Circular Motion 213

when an object that is rotating counterclockwise slows down. It would be positive when an object that is rotating
counterclockwise speeds up.
214 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Figure 6.9 A figure skater spins in the counterclockwise direction, so her angular velocity is normally considered to be
positive. (Luu, Wikimedia Commons)

The relationship between the magnitudes of tangential acceleration, a, and angular acceleration,

6.1
0
These equations mean that the magnitudes of tangential acceleration and angular acceleration are directly proportional to each
other. The greater the angular acceleration, the larger the change in tangential acceleration, and vice versa. For example,
consider riders in their pods on a Ferris wheel at rest. A Ferris wheel with greater angular acceleration will give the riders
greater tangential acceleration because, as the Ferris wheel increases its rate of spinning, it also increases its tangential velocity.
Note that the radius of the spinning object also matters. For example, for a given angular acceleration , a smaller Ferris wheel
leads to a smaller tangential acceleration for the riders.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Tangential acceleration is sometimes denoted at. It is a linear acceleration in a direction tangent to the circle at the point of
interest in circular or rotational motion. Remember that tangential acceleration is parallel to the tangential velocity (either in
the same direction or in the opposite direction.) Centripetal acceleration is always perpendicular to the tangential velocity.

So far, we have defined three rotational variables: , , and . These are the angular versions of the linear variablesx, v, and a.
Table 6.2 shows how they are related.

Rotational Linear Relationship

Table 6.2 Rotational and Linear Variables

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 6.3 • Rotational Motion 215

Rotational Linear Relationship

Table 6.2 Rotational and Linear Variables

We can now begin to see how rotational quantities like , , and are related to each other. For example, if a
motorcycle wheel that starts at rest has a large angular acceleration for a fairly long time, it ends up spinning rapidly and rotates
through many revolutions. Putting this in terms of the variables, if the wheel’s angular acceleration is large for a long period
of timet, then the final angular velocity and angle of rotation are large. In the case of linear motion, if an object starts at
rest and undergoes a large linear acceleration, then it has a large final velocity and will have traveled a large distance.

The kinematics of rotational motion describes the relationships between the angle of rotation, angular velocity, angular
acceleration, and time. It onlydescribesmotion—it does not include any forces or masses that may affect rotation (these are
part of dynamics). Recall the kinematics equation for linear motion: (constant a).

As in linear kinematics, we assume a is constant, which means that angular acceleration is also a constant, because .
The equation for the kinematics relationship between , , andtis

where is the initial angular velocity. Notice that the equation is identical to the linear version, except with angular analogs of
the linear variables. In fact, all of the linear kinematics equations have rotational analogs, which are given in Table 6.3. These
equations can be used to solve rotational or linear kinematics problem in which a and are constant.

Rotational Linear

constant , a

constant , a

constant , a

Table 6.3 Equations for Rotational Kinematics

is zero, and the average angular velocity

6.1
In these equations, and are initial values, and average velocity are
1
FUN IN PHYSICS
216 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

Storm Chasing

Figure 6.10 Tornadoes descend from clouds in funnel-like shapes that spin violently. (Daphne Zaras, U.S. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration)

Storm chasers tend to fall into one of three groups: Amateurs chasing tornadoes as a hobby, atmospheric scientists gathering
data for research, weather watchers for news media, or scientists having fun under the guise of work. Storm chasing is a
dangerous pastime because tornadoes can change course rapidly with little warning. Since storm chasers follow in the wake of
the destruction left by tornadoes, changing flat tires due to debris left on the highway is common. The most active part of the
world for tornadoes, calledtornado alley, is in the central United States, between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian
Mountains.

Tornadoes are perfect examples of rotational motion in action in nature. They come out of severe thunderstorms called
supercells, which have a column of air rotating around a horizontal axis, usually about four miles across. The difference in wind
speeds between the strong cold winds higher up in the atmosphere in the jet stream and weaker winds traveling north from the
Gulf of Mexico causes the column of rotating air to shift so that it spins around a vertical axis, creating a tornado.

Tornadoes produce wind speeds as high as 500 km/h (approximately 300 miles/h), particularly at the bottom where the funnel
is narrowest because the rate of rotation increases as the radius decreases. They blow houses away as if they were made of
paper and have been known to pierce tree trunks with pieces of straw.

GRASP CHECK
What is the physics term for the eye of the storm? Why would winds be weaker at the eye of the tornado than at its
outermost edge?
a. The eye of the storm is the center of rotation. Winds are weaker at the eye of a tornado because tangential velocity is
directly proportional to radius of curvature.
b. The eye of the storm is the center of rotation. Winds are weaker at the eye of a tornado because tangential velocity is
inversely proportional to radius of curvature.
c. The eye of the storm is the center of rotation. Winds are weaker at the eye of a tornado because tangential velocity is
directly proportional to the square of the radius of curvature.
d. The eye of the storm is the center of rotation. Winds are weaker at the eye of a tornado because tangential velocity is
inversely proportional to the square of the radius of curvature.

Torque
If you have ever spun a bike wheel or pushed a merry-go-round, you know that force is needed to change angular velocity. The
farther the force is applied from the pivot point (or fulcrum), the greater the angular acceleration. For example, a door opens
slowly if you push too close to its hinge, but opens easily if you push far from the hinges. Furthermore, we know that the more
massive the door is, the more slowly it opens; this is because angular acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. These
relationships are very similar to the relationships between force, mass, and acceleration from Newton’s second law of motion.
Since we have already covered the angular versions of distance, velocity and time, you may wonder what the angular version of
force is, and how it relates to linear force.

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 6.3 • Rotational Motion 217

The angular version of force is torque , which is the turning effectiveness of a force. See Figure 6.11. The equation for the
magnitude of torque is

whereris the magnitude of the lever arm, F is the magnitude of the linear force, and is the angle between the lever arm and
the force. The lever arm is the vector from the point of rotation (pivot point or fulcrum) to the location where force is applied.
Since the magnitude of the lever arm is a distance, its units are in meters, and torque has units of N⋅m. Torque is a vector
quantity and has the same direction as the angular acceleration that it produces.

Figure 6.11 A man pushes a merry-go-round at its edge and perpendicular to the lever arm to achieve maximum torque.

Applying a stronger torque will produce a greater angular acceleration. For example, the harder the man pushes the merry-
goround in Figure 6.11, the faster it accelerates. Furthermore, the more massive the merry-go-round is, the slower it
accelerates for the same torque. If the man wants to maximize the effect of his force on the merry-go-round, he should push as
far from the center as possible to get the largest lever arm and, therefore, the greatest torque and angular acceleration. Torque
is also maximized when the force is applied perpendicular to the lever arm.

Solving Rotational Kinematics and Torque Problems

Just as linear forces can balance to produce zero net force and no linear acceleration, the same is true of rotational motion.
When two torques of equal magnitude act in opposing directions, there is no net torque and no angular acceleration, as you
can see in the following video. If zero net torque acts on a system spinning at a constant angular velocity, the system will
continue to spin at the same angular velocity.

WATCH PHYSICS
Introduction to Torque
This video ([Link]
totorque) defines torque in terms of moment arm (which is the same as lever arm). It also covers a problem with forces acting
in opposing directions about a pivot point. (At this stage, you can ignore Sal’s references to work and mechanical advantage.)

GRASP CHECK
Click to view content ([Link]
If the net torque acting on the ruler from the example was positive instead of zero, what would this say about the angular
acceleration? What would happen to the ruler over time?
a. The ruler is in a state of rotational equilibrium so it will not rotate about its center of mass. Thus, the angular
acceleration will be zero.
b. The ruler is not in a state of rotational equilibrium so it will not rotate about its center of mass. Thus, the angular
acceleration will be zero.
218 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

c. The ruler is not in a state of rotational equilibrium so it will rotate about its center of mass. Thus, the angular
acceleration will be non-zero.
d. The ruler is in a state of rotational equilibrium so it will rotate about its center of mass. Thus, the angular acceleration
will be non-zero.

Now let’s look at examples applying rotational kinematics to a fishing reel and the concept of torque to a merry-go-round.

WORKED EXAMPLE

Calculating the Time for a Fishing Reel to Stop Spinning

A deep-sea fisherman uses a fishing rod with a reel of radius 4.50 cm. A big fish takes the bait and swims away from the boat,
pulling the fishing line from his fishing reel. As the fishing line unwinds from the reel, the reel spins at an angular velocity of 220
rad/s. The fisherman applies a brake to the spinning reel, creating an angular acceleration of −300 rad/s2. How long does it take
the reel to come to a stop?

Strategy
We are asked to find the timetfor the reel to come to a stop. The magnitude of the initial angular
velocity israd/s, and the magnitude of the final angular velocity . The signed magnitude of the
angular acceleration is rad/s2, where the minus sign indicates that it acts in the direction opposite to the angular velocity.
Looking at the rotational kinematic equations, we see all quantities buttare known in the equation , making it the
easiest equation to use for this problem.

Solution
The equation to use is .

We solve the equation algebraically fort, and then insert the known values.

6.1
2
Discussion
The time to stop the reel is fairly small because the acceleration is fairly large. Fishing lines sometimes snap because of the
forces involved, and fishermen often let the fish swim for a while before applying brakes on the reel. A tired fish will be slower,
requiring a smaller acceleration and therefore a smaller force.

WORKED EXAMPLE
Calculating the Torque on a Merry-Go-Round
Consider the man pushing the playground merry-go-round in Figure 6.11. He exerts a force of 250 N at the edge of the merrygo-
round and perpendicular to the radius, which is 1.50 m. How much torque does he produce? Assume that friction acting on the
merry-go-round is negligible.
Strategy

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 6.3 • Rotational Motion 219

To find the torque, note that the applied force is perpendicular to the radius and that friction is negligible.

Solution

6.1
3
Discussion
The man maximizes the torque by applying force perpendicular to the lever arm, so that and . The man also maximizes his
torque by pushing at the outer edge of the merry-go-round, so that he gets the largest-possible lever arm.

Practice Problems
15. How much torque does a person produce if he applies a force away from the pivot point, perpendicularly to
the lever arm?
a.
b.
c.
d.

16. An object’s angular velocity changes from 3 rad/s clockwise to 8 rad/s clockwise in 5 s. What is its angular acceleration? a.
0.6 rad/s2
b. 1.6 rad/s2
c. 1 rad/s2
d. 5 rad/s2

Check Your Understanding

17. What is angular acceleration?
a. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of the angular displacement.
b. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of the angular velocity.
c. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of the linear displacement.
d. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of the linear velocity.

18. What is the equation for angular acceleration, α? Assume θis the angle, ωis the angular velocity, andtis time. a.

b.
c.
d.

19. Which of the following best describes torque?

a. It is the rotational equivalent of a force.
b. It is the force that affects linear motion.
c. It is the rotational equivalent of acceleration.
d. It is the acceleration that affects linear motion.

20. What is the equation for torque?

a.
220 Chapter 6 • Circular and Rotational Motion

b.
c.
d.

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 221

Chapter 6 • Key Terms kinematics of rotational motion the relationships

between rotation angle, angular velocity, angular
acceleration, and time
lever arm the distance between the point of
KEY TERMS rotation (pivot point) and the location where force is
angle of rotation the ratio of the arc length to the radius applied
of curvature of a circular path radius of curvature the distance between the center of a
angular acceleration the rate of change of angular circular path and the path
velocity with time rotational motion the circular motion of an object about
angular velocity ( ) the rate of change in the an axis of rotation
angular position of an object following a circular path spin rotation about an axis that goes through the
arc length ( ) the distance traveled by an center of mass of the object
object along a circular path tangential acceleration the acceleration in a direction
centrifugal force a fictitious force that acts in the direction tangent to the circular path of motion and in the same
opposite the centripetal acceleration direction or opposite direction as the tangential velocity
centripetal acceleration the acceleration of an object tangential velocity the instantaneous linear velocity of an
moving in a circle, directed toward the center of the object in circular or rotational motion
circle torque the effectiveness of a force to change the rotational
centripetal force any force causing uniform circular speed of an object
motion uniform circular motion the motion of an object in a
circular motion the motion of an object along a circular circular path at constant speed
path
• The standard unit for centripetal acceleration is m/s2.
SECTION SUMMARY • Centripetal force Fc is any net force causing uniform
6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular circular motion.
Chapter 6 • Key Equations

Velocity
6.3 Rotational Motion
KEY EQUATIONS
• Circular motion is motion in a circular path.
• Kinematics is the description of motion.
• The angle of rotation is defined as the ratio of the
6.1 arc
Angle
lengthof Rotation
to the and Angular
radius of curvature. 6.3 Rotational
• The kinematics ofMotion
rotational motion describes the
relationships between rotation angle, angular velocity,
Velocity
• The arc length is the distance traveled along a circular
path andris the radius of curvature of the circular path. angular acceleration, and time.
• The angle of rotation is measured in units of radians • Torque is the effectiveness of a force to change the
(rad), where revolution. rotational speed of an object. Torque is the rotational
• Angular velocity is the rate of change of an analog of force.
,
angle, where a rotation occurs in a time . • The lever arm is the distance between the point of
,
rotation (pivot point) and the location where force is
• The units of angular velocity are radians per second
(rad/s). applied. Angular
•Angle
Tangential speedvand angular speed are related by • Torque is maximized by applying force perpendicular to
of rotationacceleration
, and tangential velocity has units of m/s. the lever arm and at a point as far as possible from the
• The direction of angular velocity is along the axis of pivot point or fulcrum. If torque is zero, angular
Angular speed:Rotational, acceleration is zero.
rotation, toward (away) from you for clockwise
kinematic
(counterclockwise) motion. CHAPTER REVIEW
Tangential speed:equations
6.2 Uniform Circular Motion Concept Items
• Centripetal acceleration ac is the acceleration 6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity
experienced while in uniform circular motion. 1. One revolution is equal to how many radians? Degrees?
• Centripetal acceleration force is acenter-seekingforce a.
o of rotation,
that always points toward the center b.
r in the same
perpendicular to the linear velocity, c.
direction as the net force, and in the direction opposite d.
that of the radius vector. ,
 222

2. What is tangential velocity? a. the positivexdirection of the coordinate system

a. Tangential velocity is the average linear velocity of b. the negativexdirection of the coordinate system
an object in a circular motion. c. the counterclockwise direction
b. Tangential velocity is the instantaneous linear d. the clockwise direction
velocity of an object undergoing rotational motion. Chapter 6 • Chapter Review
c. Tangential velocity is the average angular velocity of
an object in a circular motion.
d. Tangential velocity is the instantaneous angular 8. When you push a door closer to the hinges, why does it
velocity of an object in a circular motion. open more slowly?
a. It opens slowly, because the lever arm is shorter so
3. What kind of motion is calledspin?
the torque is large.
a. Spin is rotational motion of an object about an axis
b. It opens slowly because the lever arm is longer so
parallel to the axis of the object.
the torque is large.
b. Spin is translational motion of an object about an
c. It opens slowly, because the lever arm is shorter so
axis parallel to the axis of the object.
the torque is less.
c. Spin is the rotational motion of an object about its
d. It opens slowly, because the lever arm is longer so
center of mass.
the torque is less.
d. Spin is translational motion of an object about its
own axis.
6.2 Uniform Circular Motion Critical Thinking Items
4. What is the equation for centripetal acceleration in 6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity
terms of angular velocity and the radius?
10. When the radius of the circular path of rotational
motion increases, what happens to the arc length for a
given angle of rotation?
a. The arc length is directly proportional to the radius
of the circular path, and it increases with the
a. radius.
b. b. The arc length is inversely proportional to the
c. radius of the circular path, and it decreases with
d. the radius.
c. The arc length is directly proportional to the radius
5. How can you express centripetal force in terms of
of the circular path, and it decreases with the
centripetal acceleration?
radius.
d. The arc length is inversely proportional to the
radius of the circular path, and it increases with
the radius.

11. Consider a CD spinning clockwise. What is the sum of

a.
the instantaneous velocities of two points on both ends
b.
of its diameter?
c.
d.

6. What is meant by the word centripetal?

a. center-seeking
b. center-avoiding a.
c. central force b.
d. central acceleration c.
d.
6.3 Rotational Motion
7. Conventionally, for which direction of rotation of an
object is angular acceleration considered positive?

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 223

6.2 Uniform Circular Motion d. The top with the larger radius because the radius
of
12. What are the directions of the velocity and acceleration
curvature is directly proportional to the angular
of an object in uniform circular motion?
velocity
a. Velocity is tangential, and acceleration is radially
outward. 15. A person tries to lift a stone by using a lever. If the lever
b. Velocity is tangential, and acceleration is radially arm is constant and the mass of the stone increases,
inward. what is true of the torque necessary to lift it?
c. Velocity is radially outward, and acceleration is a. It increases, because the torque is directly
tangential. proportional to the mass of the body.
d. Velocity is radially inward, and acceleration is b. It increases because the torque is inversely
tangential. proportional to the mass of the body.
c. It decreases because the torque is directly
13. Suppose you have an object tied to a rope and are
proportional to the mass of the body.
rotating it over your head in uniform circular motion. If
d. It decreases, because the torque is inversely
9. When is angular acceleration negative?
proportional to the mass of the body.
a. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of the
displacement and is negative when increases.
b. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of the
displacement and is negative when decreases.
c. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of angular
velocity and is negative when increases.
d. Angular acceleration is the rate of change of angular
velocity and is negative when decreases.

you increase the length of the rope, would you have to

apply more or less force to maintain the same speed?
a. More force is required, because the force is inversely
proportional to the radius of the circular orbit.
b. More force is required because the force is directly
proportional to the radius of the circular orbit.
c. Less force is required because the force is inversely
proportional to the radius of the circular orbit.
d. Less force is required because the force is directly
proportional to the radius of the circular orbit.

6.3 Rotational Motion

14. Consider two spinning tops with different radii. Both
have the same linear instantaneous velocities at their
edges. Which top has a higher angular velocity?
a. the top with the smaller radius because the radius
of curvature is inversely proportional to the
angular velocity
b. the top with the smaller radius because the radius
of curvature is directly proportional to the angular
velocity
c. the top with the larger radius because the radius of
curvature is inversely proportional to the angular
velocity
 224 Chapter 6 • Test Prep

Problems 24. If the following objects are spinning at the same

angular velocities, the edge of which one would have
6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity the highest speed?
16. What is the angle of rotation (in degrees) between two a. Mini CD
hands of a clock, if the radius of the b. Regular CD
clock isand the arc length separating ? c. Vinyl record
the two hands is
25. What are possible units for tangential velocity?

a.
b.
a.
d. 13, 333 N
b.
c. 19. Find the frictional force between the tires and the road
d. that allows a 1,000 kg car traveling at 30 m/s to round a
20 m radius curve.
17. A clock has radius of . The outermost point on its
a. 22 N
minute hand travels along the edge. What is its
b. 667 N
tangential speed?
c. 1, 500 N
d. 45, 000 N

6.3 Rotational Motion

a. 20. An object’s angular acceleration is 36 rad/s2. If it
b. were initially spinning with a velocity of 6.0 m/s,
c. what would its angular velocity be after 5.0 s? a.
d. 186 rad/s
b. 190 rad/s2
6.2 Uniform Circular Motion c. −174 rad/s
d. −174 rad/s2
18. What is the centripetal force exerted on a 1,600 kg car
that rounds a 100 m radius curve at 12 m/s? 21. When a fan is switched on, it undergoes an angular
a. 192 N acceleration of 150 rad/s2. How long will it take to
b. 1, 111 N achieve its maximum angular velocity of 50 rad/s? a.
c. 2, 300 N −0.3 s
b. 0.3 s
c. 3.0 s
Performance Task
6.3 Rotational Motion
22. Design a lever arm capable of lifting a 0.5 kg object placing coins on the other end of the lever. How many
such as a stone. The force for lifting should be provided coins would you need? What happens if you shorten or
by lengthen the lever arm? What does this say about
torque?

TEST PREP
Multiple Choice
6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity c.
23. What is 1 radian approximately in degrees?
a. 57.3°
b. 360°
c. π°
d. 2π°

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 Chapter 6 • Test Prep 225

26. What is in radians? c. It decreases, because the centripetal acceleration

is inversely proportional to the radius of the
curvature.
d. It decreases, because the centripetal acceleration
is directly proportional to the radius of the
curvature.
a.
b. 32. Why do we experience more sideways acceleration
c. while driving around sharper curves?
d.

27. For a given object, what happens to the arc length as Short Answer
the angle of rotation increases? 6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity
a. The arc length is directly proportional to the angle 37. What is the rotational analog of linear velocity?
of rotation, so it increases with the angle of
a. Angular displacement
rotation.
b. Angular velocity
b. The arc length is inversely proportional to the
c. Angular acceleration
angle of rotation, so it decreases with the angle of
d. Angular momentum
rotation.
c. The arc length is directly proportional to the angle 38. What is the rotational analog of distance?
of rotation, so it decreases with the angle of a. Rotational angle
rotation. b. Torque
d. The arc length is inversely proportional to the c. Angular velocity
angle of rotation, so it increases with the angle of d. Angular momentum
rotation. a. Centripetal acceleration is inversely proportional
to the radius of curvature, so it increases as the
6.2 Uniform Circular Motion radius of curvature decreases.
b. Centripetal acceleration is directly proportional to
28. Which of these quantities is constant in uniform
the radius of curvature, so it decreases as the
circular motion?
radius of curvature decreases.
a. Speed
c. Centripetal acceleration is directly proportional to
b. Velocity the radius of curvature, so it decreases as the
c. Acceleration radius of curvature increases.
d. Displacement d. Centripetal acceleration is directly proportional to
29. Which of these quantities impact centripetal force? the radius of curvature, so it increases as the
a. Mass and speed only radius of curvature increases.
b. Mass and radius only
c. Speed and radius only 6.3 Rotational Motion
d. Mass, speed, and radius all impact centripetal
33. Which of these quantities is not described by the
force
kinematics of rotational motion? a. Rotation
30. An increase in the magnitude of which of these angle
quantities causes a reduction in centripetal force? b. Angular acceleration
a. Mass c. Centripetal force
b. Radius of curvature d. Angular velocity
c. Speed
34. In the equation , what isF?
31. What happens to centripetal acceleration as the radius a. Linear force
of curvature decreases and the speed is constant, and b. Centripetal force
why? c. Angular force
a. It increases, because the centripetal acceleration is
35. What happens when two torques act equally in
inversely proportional to the radius of the
opposite directions?
curvature.
a. Angular velocity is zero.
b. It increases, because the centripetal acceleration is
b. Angular acceleration is zero.
directly proportional to the radius of curvature.
 226 Chapter 6 • Test Prep

36. What is the mathematical relationship between angular b. Radians are dimensionless because they are
and linear accelerations? defined as a ratio of distances. They are defined as
the ratio of the area to the radius of the circle.
c. Radians are dimensionless because they are
defined as multiplication of distance. They are
defined as the multiplication of the arc length to
a. the radius of the circle.
b. d. Radians are dimensionless because they are
defined as multiplication of distance. They are
c.
defined as the multiplication of the area to the
d.
radius of the circle.

6.2 Uniform Circular Motion

39. What is the equation that relates the linear speed of a 43. What type of quantity is centripetal acceleration?
point on a rotating object with the object's angular a. Scalar quantity; centripetal acceleration has
quantities? magnitude only but no direction
b. Scalar quantity; centripetal acceleration has
magnitude as well as direction
c. Vector quantity; centripetal acceleration has
magnitude only but no direction
a. d. Vector quantity; centripetal acceleration has
b. magnitude as well as direction
c. 44. What are the standard units for centripetal
d. acceleration?
40. As the angular velocity of an object increases, what a. m/s
happens to the linear velocity of a point on that object?
a. It increases, because linear velocity is directly
proportional to angular velocity.
b. It increases, because linear velocity is inversely b.
proportional to angular velocity. c.
c. It decreases because linear velocity is directly d.
proportional to angular velocity. 45. What is the angle formed between the vectors of
d. It decreases because linear velocity is inversely tangential velocity and centripetal force?
proportional to angular velocity.

41. What is angular speed in terms of tangential speed and

the radius?

a.
b.
c.
d.
a.
b. 46. What is the angle formed between the vectors of
c. centripetal acceleration and centripetal force?
d.

42. Why are radians dimensionless?

a. Radians are dimensionless, because they are
defined as a ratio of distances. They are defined as a.
the ratio of the arc length to the radius of the b.
circle. c.
d.

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 Chapter 6 • Test Prep 227

47. What are the standard units for centripetal force? 50. What is the kinematics relationship between ,
a. m , and
b. m/s ?
c. m/s2 a.
d. newtons b.
c.
48. As the mass of an object in uniform circular motion
d.
increases, what happens to the centripetal force
required to keep it moving at the same speed? 51. What kind of quantity is torque?
a. It increases, because the centripetal force is a. Scalar
directly proportional to the mass of the rotating b. Vector
body. c. Dimensionless
b. It increases, because the centripetal force is d. Fundamental quantity
inversely proportional to the mass of the rotating
52. If a linear force is applied to a lever arm farther away
body.
from the pivot point, what happens to the resultant
c. It decreases, because the centripetal force is
torque?
directly proportional to the mass of the rotating
a. It decreases.
body.
b. It increases.
d. It decreases, because the centripetal force is
c. It remains the same.
inversely proportional to the mass of the rotating
d. It changes the direction.
body.
53. How can the same force applied to a lever produce
6.3 Rotational Motion different torques?
a. By applying the force at different points of the lever
49. The relationships between which variables are
arm along the length of the lever or by changing the
described by the kinematics of rotational motion?
angle between the lever arm and the applied force.
a. The kinematics of rotational motion describes the
b. By applying the force at the same point of the lever arm
relationships between rotation angle, angular
along the length of the lever or by changing the angle
velocity, and angular acceleration.
between the lever arm and the applied force.
b. The kinematics of rotational motion describes the
c. By applying the force at different points of the lever
relationships between rotation angle, angular
arm along the length of the lever or by maintaining the
velocity, angular acceleration, and angular
same angle between the lever arm and the applied
momentum.
force.
c. The kinematics of rotational motion describes the
d. By applying the force at the same point of the lever arm
relationships between rotation angle, angular
along the length of the lever or by maintaining the same
velocity, angular acceleration, and time.
angle between the lever arm and the applied force.
d. The kinematics of rotational motion describes the
relationships between rotation angle, angular
velocity, angular acceleration, torque, and time.
Extended Response b. The one close to the center would go through the
greater angle of rotation. The one near the center
6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity would trace a greater arc length.
54. Consider two pits on a CD, one c. Both would go through the same angle of rotation.
close to the center and one The one near the outer edge would trace a greater
close to the outer edge. When arc length.
the CD makes one full rotation, d. Both would go through the same angle of rotation.
which pit would have gone The one near the center would trace a greater arc
through a greater angle of rotation? Which one would length.
have covered a greater arc length?
55. Consider two pits on a CD, one close to the center and
a. The one close to the center would go through the
one close to the outer edge. For a given angular
greater angle of rotation. The one near the outer
velocity of the CD, which pit has a higher angular
edge would trace a greater arc length.
velocity?
Which has a higher tangential velocity?
 228 Chapter 6 • Test Prep

a. The point near the center would have the greater d.

angular velocity and the point near the outer edge
would have the higher linear velocity. 6.3 Rotational Motion
b. The point near the edge would have the greater
60. Why do tornadoes produce more wind speed at the
angular velocity and the point near the center
bottom of the funnel?
would have the higher linear velocity.
a. Wind speed is greater at the bottom because rate
c. Both have the same angular velocity and the point
of rotation increases as the radius increases.
near the outer edge would have the higher linear
velocity. b. Wind speed is greater at the bottom because rate
of rotation increases as the radius decreases.
d. Both have the same angular velocity and the point
near the center would have the higher linear c. Wind speed is greater at the bottom because rate
velocity. of
rotation decreases as the radius increases.
56. What happens to tangential velocity as the radius of an 62.
object increases provided the angular velocity remains d. Wind speed is greater at the bottom because rate
the same? of rotation decreases as the radius increases.
a. It increases because tangential velocity is directly
61. How can you maximize the torque applied to a
proportional to the radius.
given lever arm without applying more force?
b. It increases because tangential velocity is inversely
a. The force should be applied perpendicularly to the lever
proportional to the radius.
arm as close as possible from the pivot point.
c. It decreases because tangential velocity is directly
b. The force should be applied perpendicularly to the lever
proportional to the radius.
arm as far as possible from the pivot point.
d. It decreases because tangential velocity is
c. The force should be applied parallel to the lever arm as
inversely
far as possible from the pivot point.
proportional to the radius.
d. The force should be applied parallel to the lever arm
as close as possible from the pivot point.
6.2 Uniform Circular Motion
When will an object continue spinning at the same angular
57. Is an object in uniform circular motion accelerating?
velocity?
Why or why not?
a. When net torque acting on it is zero
a. Yes, because the velocity is not constant.
b. When net torque acting on it is non zero
b. No, because the velocity is not constant.
c. When angular acceleration is positive
c. Yes, because the velocity is constant.
d. When angular acceleration is negative
d. No, because the velocity is constant.

58. An object is in uniform circular motion. Suppose the

centripetal force was removed. In which direction
would the object now travel?
a. In the direction of the centripetal force
b. In the direction opposite to the direction of the
centripetal force
c. In the direction of the tangential velocity
d. In the direction opposite to the direction of the
tangential velocity

59. An object undergoes uniform circular motion. If the

radius of curvature and mass of the object are constant,
what is the centripetal force proportional to?

a.
b.
c.

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229 Chapter 6 • Test Prep

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