Circular Motion

Motion of a body in a circular path (or circle) is called circular motion. If

the speed of the body in the circular motion is constant, then the motion
is called uniform circular motion. E.g. motion of the moon around the
earth, stone revolved in a circle with constant speed with the help of
string etc. The tangent drawn at any point on the circle gives direction
of velocity at that point. Although the speed is constant in the uniform
circular motion, the direction of velocity is different at different points,
which produces an acceleration. Therefore, the uniform circular motion
is an accelerated motion. The circular motion is a two dimensional
motion.

Fig: Uniform Circular Motion

 Terms Related to Circular Motion
 Angular displacement (𝜽):
It is defined as the angle traced out by the radius vector at the center
of the circular path in a given interval of time.
In figure, < 𝑄𝑂𝑃 = 𝜃 is angular displacement
in small time ‘t’. Its SI-unit is radian.

Figure: Angular Displacement

 Angular velocity (𝜔):
It is defined as the rate of change of angular displacement with respect
to time. (Unit: rad/Sec)
Consider a particle moving in a circular path of radius ‘r’
with center ‘O’. Suppose, at time t=0, the object is at
point ‘P’. Let, it reaches to the point ‘𝑄1 ′ in time ′𝑡1 ′ and
to the point ′𝑄2 ′ in time ′𝑡2 ′ as in figure. In figure,
< 𝑃𝑂𝑄1 = 𝜃1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 < 𝑃𝑂𝑄2 = 𝜃2 are angular
displacements in time ‘𝑡1′ and ‘𝑡2 ’ respectively.
Then the average angular velocity of the particle
from 𝑄1 𝑡𝑜 𝑄2 is given by;
𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝜃2 − 𝜃1
𝜔𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑡2 − 𝑡1
Fig: Average angular velocity
∆𝜃 between 𝑄1 and 𝑄2
∴ 𝜔𝑎𝑣𝑔 =
∆𝑡

Instantaneous angular velocity (ω𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 ):

The velocity of the particle at any instant (or at any point on
the circle) is called instantaneous velocity.
∆𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜔𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡
 Angular acceleration (α ):
It is defined as the rate of change of angular velocity of a particle with respect to time.
( it arises when the motion is non-uniform). Unit: 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑆 2 .
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑖. 𝑒. 𝛼 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙
Average angular acceleration 𝛼𝑎𝑣𝑔 :
If 𝜔1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔2 are the angular velocities of a particle in time 𝑡1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡2 respectively,
then, we have;
𝜔2 − 𝜔1 ∆𝜔
𝛼𝑎𝑣𝑔 = =
𝑡2 − 𝑡1 ∆𝑡
Instantaneous angular acceleration (𝛼𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 ):
It is defined as the angular acceleration of the particle at a particular instant of time
during the circular motion.
∆𝜔 𝑑𝜔
𝛼𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝜃 𝑑 𝑑𝜃
𝐴𝑠 𝜔= , 𝛼𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 = ( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑2 𝜃
∴ 𝛼𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 =
𝑑𝑡 2
Time Period (T):
It is defined as the time taken by a particle to complete one revolution in a circular
path. As the particle completes one revolution (i.e. angular displacement of 2π radian )
in time ‘T’, we have;
2𝜋
𝜔=
𝑇
Frequency (f):
It is defined as the number of revolutions completed by the particle in one second.
Unit: Hertz (Hz).
1
We have; 𝑓 =
𝑇
2𝜋
And 𝜔 = = 2πf
𝑇
Relation between linear and angular velocity:

Consider a particle moving with uniform speed ‘V’

in a circular path of radius ‘r’ with center ‘O’. Let,
the particle moves from initial position ‘P’ to the
final position ‘Q’ in time ‘t’ such that the linear
displacement along the circular path is PQ≈S and
the angular displacement at the center is ‘𝜃’.
From figure, for small angle ‘𝜃 ′ , 𝑤𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒;
𝑆
𝜃= Fig: Relation between V and ω
𝑟
𝑜𝑟, 𝑆 = 𝑟𝜃
Differentiating with respect to time ‘t’, we get;
𝑑𝑆 𝑑𝜃
=𝑟
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
∴ v = rω … … … . . 1
𝑑𝑆 𝑑𝜃
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑣 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦.
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
 Centripetal Force and Centripetal acceleration:
The force which causes a body to move in a circular path with uniform
speed is called centripetal force. This force acts at every point on the
circular path in such a way that it would change the direction of velocity
(i.e. deflects the particle from its tangential path to the circular path)
without changing the magnitude of velocity. Therefore, the force must
always act at right angle to the circular path at every [Link] acts
along the radius vector and towards the center. According to Newton’s
second law, net force acting on a particle produces an acceleration and
the acceleration produced by the centripetal force is called centripetal
acceleration. Its direction is same as that of the centripetal force. It
arises due to the change in direction of velocity of the particle in the
uniform circular motion.
Consider a particle of mass ‘m’ moving with a constant speed ‘v’ in a circular path of
radius ‘r’ with center at ‘O’. Let, the particle moves from the point ‘A’ to the point ‘B’ in
small interval of time ‘∆𝑡 ′ such that the linear displacement along the circle is ‘∆𝑙′ and
the angular displacement at the center is ‘∆𝜃 ′ as in figure (a). Let, 𝑉𝐴 and 𝑉𝐵 be the
velocities of the particle at the points ‘A’ and ‘B’ respectively.
In figure (b), −𝑉𝐴 and 𝑉𝐵 are redrawn as the two sides of the ∆PQR,
where; ∆𝑉 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴 represents
the change in velocity.
From geometry, we see that the
triangles; ∆𝑂𝐴𝐵 and ∆𝑃𝑄𝑅 are
similar. Therefore, from figure,
we have;
∆𝑉 ∆𝑙
=
𝑉 𝑟 Fig: Uniform Circular Motion
𝑉
𝑜𝑟, ∆𝑉 = ∆𝑙
𝑟
Diff. with respect to time, we get;
∆𝑉 𝑉 ∆𝑙
= … … … … (1)
∆𝑡 𝑟 ∆𝑡
Fig:Trianle law to find ∆𝑉
 For time ∆𝑡 → 0,
∆𝑉
lim =a
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡
∆𝑙
𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim =𝑉
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡
Then, the equation (1) becomes;
𝑉
𝑎= 𝑉
𝑟
𝑉2
∴𝑎= ………. 2
𝑟
When ∆𝑡 → 0, the point ‘B’ lies very close to ‘A’ and hence ′∆𝜃′ becomes very
small. Then the change in velocity ∆𝑉 becomes perpendicular to V𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝐵 .
Therefore, the acceleration is perpendicular to velocity and acts along the
radius vector and towards the center. This acceleration is called centripetal or
radial acceleration.
Again, v= 𝑟𝜔, then the equation (2) becomes;
𝑎 = 𝑟𝜔2 … … … . (3)
From Newton’s second law;
Centripetal force= mass x centripetal acceleration
𝑚𝑣 2
∴𝐹= = 𝑚𝑟𝜔2 … … … … (4)
𝑟
It acts along the radius vector and toward the center.
Relation between Linear and radial acceleration:
For a particle moving in a circular path with non-uniform speed, there are two types of
acceleration;
(i) Linear or Tangential acceleration (𝑎𝑡 ) along the tangential direction and
(ii) Radial or Centripetal acceleration (𝑎𝑟 ) along the radius vector or towards the
center.
Then, the resultant acceleration of the particle for the non-uniform motion is given by;
𝑎 = 𝑎𝑡2 + 𝑎𝑟2
 Motion of a Vehicle on a level curved road:
 When a vehicle moves around a level (or horizontal) curved path, the necessary
centripetal force is provided by the frictional force between the wheels and the
road, acting towards the center of the circular path.
 Suppose a vehicle of mass ‘m’ is moving around a curved path of radius ‘r’ as in
figure. The weight of the vehicle ‘mg’ acts vertically downwards. Let, ‘R1’and ‘R2’
are the normal reactions of the road on the wheels which act vertically upward as
in figure. Obviously, R1 + R2 = mg
 Let ‘µ’ be the coefficient of friction between the wheels and the road, ‘F1’ and
‘F2’ be the forces of friction between the wheels and the road, directed towards
the center of the curved path.
∴ F1 = µR1 and F2 = µR2
 If ‘v’ be the velocity of the vehicle along the curved
path, then; centripetal force = frictional force
𝑚𝑣 2
i.e. = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 = µR1 + µR2
𝑟
𝑚𝑣 2
or, = µ(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 )
𝑟
𝑚𝑣 2
o𝑟, = µmg
𝑟
∴ 𝑣 = 𝜇𝑟𝑔 … … . . 1
This gives maximum possible velocity of the vehicle around the level
curved path. If ‘v’ exceeds this limit, the vehicle skids out of the road.
 Banking of road:
 The phenomenon of raising of outer edge of the curved road above the inner
edge in order to provide necessary centripetal force for the vehicles is called
Banking of Roads.
 When a vehicle moves along horizontal curved road, necessary centripetal force is
provided by the force of friction between the wheels of vehicle and the road.
Such frictional force may not enough and reliable every time as it changes when
road becomes icy or wet in rainy season. Further, it may not be sufficient to
. provide the desired speed of the vehicles and it produces wear and tear of the
tires of the wheels.
 When the roads are banked on the curved paths, the horizontal component of the
normal reaction provides the necessary centripetal force for the vehicles.
Therefore, in order to provide the necessary centripetal force for the vehicles and
make their motion independent(or less dependent) of the force of friction, the
roads are banked at the curved paths.
 Consider a vehicle of mass ‘m’ moving with constant speed ‘v’ around a banked
curved path of radius ‘r’ as in figure. Let,′𝜃′ be the angle made by the banked
road with the horizontal, called angle of banking.
 The weight ‘mg’ of the vehicle act vertically downwards while the normal
reaction ‘R’ acts upward by making an angle ‘θ’ with the vertical direction.
 The normal reaction ‘R’ has two components; ′𝑅𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 ′ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ′𝑅𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 ′ .

The component ′𝑅𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 ′ acts vertically upwards

and balances the weight of the vehicle.
𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑅𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑚𝑔 … . . (1)
And the component ′𝑅𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 ′ acts towards the
center of circular path and provides the
necessary centripetal force.
𝑚𝑣 2
i. e. 𝑅𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 = … … . (2)
𝑟
Dividing, we get;
𝑣2
𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃 =
𝑟𝑔
𝑣2 −1
∴ 𝜃 = tan ( ) … … (3)
𝑟𝑔
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣 = 𝑟𝑔𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃 … … … . (4)
 Bending of a Cyclist around a curved path:
 A cyclist has to bend himself slightly towards the center of the circular track by
making certain angle with the vertical direction in order to provide the necessary
centripetal force.
 Consider a cyclist (cycle +man) of mass ‘m’ taking a turn around a circular path of
radius ‘r’ with velocity ‘v’ as in figure. Suppose, he bends inwards by making an
angle ′𝜃′ with the vertical as in figure. The weight ‘mg’ of the cyclist acts vertically
downward while the normal reaction ‘R’ acts upwards by making an angle ‘θ’ with
the vertical direction. The normal reaction ‘R’ has two components;
𝑅𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃.
The component ′𝑅 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃′ acts vertically upwards and balances the
weight of the cyclist.
𝑅 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑚𝑔 … . (1)
And the component ′𝑅𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃′ acts towards the center of circular path
and provides the necessary centripetal force.
𝑚𝑣 2
𝑅 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑟
……… 2
Dividing, we get;
𝑣2
𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑟𝑔 … … … . 3
𝑣2
∴𝜃= tan−1 ( ) … … . . (4)
𝑟𝑔
This gives the angle through which the cyclist has to bend while
moving through a circular path of radius ‘r’ with speed ‘v’.
 Motion of Conical Pendulum
 A conical pendulum consists of a bob fixed at the one end of a string suspended
from a rigid support where the bob moves with a constant speed in a horizontal
circle such that the angle made by the string with the vertical remains constant.
 Consider a conical pendulum of length ‘L’ with a bob of mass ’m’ suspended from a rigid
support where the bob is revolving with a constant speed ‘v’ in a horizontal circle of
radius ‘r’ as in figure. Let, ′𝜃 ′ be the angle made by the string with the vertical.
Let ′𝑇′ be the tension acting on the string. The tension ′𝑇′
has two components; 𝑇𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃. The vertical
component ′𝑇𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃′ balances the weight of the bob ′𝑚𝑔′
and the horizontal component ′𝑇𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃′ provides the
necessary centripetal force for the bob.
i.e. 𝑇𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑚𝑔 … … … 1
𝑚𝑣 2
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 = ……… 2 𝑇𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑟
Dividing, we get;
𝑣2
𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑟𝑔
𝑜𝑟, 𝑟𝜔 2 = 𝑟𝑔𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃
2 𝑇𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃
2𝜋
𝑜𝑟, 𝑟 = 𝑔𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃
𝑡
v
𝑟
𝑜𝑟, 𝑡 = 2𝜋 … … … … … (3)
𝑔𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃
 Again, from figure, we have;
𝑟
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
𝐿
𝑜𝑟, 𝑟 = 𝐿𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 … … (4)

Using equation (4) in (3), we get;

𝐿𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡 = 2𝜋
𝑔𝑇𝑎𝑛𝜃

𝐿𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃
∴ 𝑡 = 2𝜋 ........(5)
𝑔
This is required expression for the time period for the conical pendulum.

Again, squaring and adding equations (1) and (2), we get;

2 2
𝑚𝑣
𝑇 2 = 𝑚𝑔 2 +
𝑟
2
2 2
𝑣2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑇 = 𝑚𝑔 {1 + }
𝑟𝑔
1
∴ 𝑇 = 𝑚𝑔 1 + 𝑇𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 2 … … … … (6)
 Motion of a particle in Vertical Circle with non-uniform velocity
 Let us consider a body of mass ‘m’ tied to the one end of a string which is fixed
at ‘O’ and it is whirled in a vertical circle of radius ‘r’ as shown in figure.
 The motion is circular but is not uniform, since the body speeds up while
coming down and slows down while going up.
 Suppose, the body is at ‘P’ at any instant of time t.
The tension ‘T’ in the string always acts towards 0.
 The weight ‘mg’ of the body at ‘P’ has two
components; ‘mg cosθ’, which acts outwards and
‘mg sinθ’ which acts perpendicular to the string.

 At point ‘p’, the force ′𝑇 − 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 ′ acts towards

the center and provides the necessary centripetal
force.
Therefore;
𝑚𝑣 2
𝑇 − 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝑟
𝑚𝑣 2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑇 = 𝑟 + 𝑚𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 … … . . (1)
 At the lowest point A, θ = 0o, Cos0 = 1, then;
2
𝑚𝑣𝐴
𝑇𝐴 = + 𝑚𝑔 … … 2 (𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛)
𝑟
 At the highest point C, θ = 180°, Cos180 = −1,then;
𝑚𝑣𝐶2
𝑇𝐶 = − 𝑚𝑔 … … . . 3 (𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛)
𝑟
 At the intermediate points ‘B’ and ‘D’, 𝜃 = 90° 𝑜𝑟 270°, 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0
𝑚𝑣 2
𝑇= , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑣𝐵 = 𝑣𝐷 = 𝑣 … … … . . (4)
𝑟
 If TC > 0, then the string remains taut, while if TC < 0, the string slackens and it
becomes impossible to complete the motion in the vertical circle.
 If the velocity ′𝑣𝐶 ′ is decreased, the tension ′𝑇𝐶 ′ in the string also decreases, and
becomes zero at a certain minimum value of the speed, called critical velocity. The
critical speed is defined as the minimum speed required for the body to complete
the vertical circle at the highest point.
 Therefore;
𝑚𝑣𝐶2
− 𝑚𝑔 =0
𝑟
𝑜𝑟, 𝑣𝑐2 = 𝑔𝑟
∴ 𝑣𝑐 = 𝑔𝑟 … … . (5)
 If the velocity of the body at the highest point ‘C’ is below this critical velocity, the
string becomes slack and the body falls downwards instead of moving along the
circular path.
 The velocity ′𝑣𝐴 ′ of the body at the lowest point ‘A’ can be obtained by using law of
conservation of energy. When the body rises from A to C, i.e. through a height 2r, its
potential energy increases by an amount equal to the decrease in kinetic energy.
∴ Potential energy at A + Kinetic energy at A = Potential energy at C + Kinetic energy at C
𝑜𝑟, 𝐾. 𝐸𝐴 = 𝑃. 𝐸𝐶 − 𝑃. 𝐸𝐴 + 𝐾. 𝐸𝐶

1 1
𝑜𝑟, 𝑚𝑣𝐴2 = 𝑚𝑔 2𝑟 + 𝑚𝑣𝐶2
2 2
2
𝑜𝑟, 𝑣𝐴 = 4𝑔𝑟 + 𝑔𝑟 [∵ 𝑣𝐶 = 𝑔𝑟 ]
∴ 𝑣𝐴 = 5𝑔𝑟 … … … (6)
This is the minimum velocity required by the particle
to complete the vertical circle at the lowest point.
 Centrifugal Force
It is an outward force experienced by a body moving in a circular path. Its magnitude is
𝑚𝑣 2
same as that of centripetal force (i.e. ) but its direction is opposite to that of the
𝑟
centripetal force. i.e. radially outward from the center.

The centrifugal force is a fictitious force (not real) as it comes into play when there is
centripetal force. It arises due to the inertial property of the body moving in the circular
path. Due to the inertial property, a body moves in the direction opposite to the change
in velocity of the body. For example, when a moving bus suddenly stops, due to inertia
of motion; the passengers inside the bus fall forward while the direction of change in
velocity of the bus is in backward direction. Similarly, in the circular motion, the change
in velocity takes place towards the center of the circular path and hence due to the
inertial property of the body, it tends to move away from the center of the circular path.
 Principle of Centrifuge
Let, a light particle of mass ‘m’ and a heavy particle of mass ‘M’ are rotated in a
circle of radius ‘R’ with uniform angular velocity ‘ω’. Then, the centrifugal forces
experienced by the particles are given by;
𝐹𝑚 = 𝑚𝑅𝜔2 … … … 1
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑀 = 𝑀𝑅𝜔2 … … (2)
𝐹 𝑀
Dividing, we get; 𝑀 = … … … … … (3)
𝐹𝑚 𝑚
As M > 𝑚, 𝐹𝑀 > 𝐹𝑚 . i.e. the centrifugal force experienced by the heavy particle is
greater than the centrifugal force experienced by the light particle. Therefore, the
heavier particles of the mixture move away from the axis of rotation where as the
lighter particles move closer towards the axis of rotation and hence they can be
separated from their mixture. This is called principle of centrifuge.
Examples:
 Cream is separated from milk in a cream separator.
 Wet clothes are dried in drying machines.
 Sugar crystals are separated from their molasses.
 Honey can be separated from the mixture honey and wax.