Uniform Circular Motion

Uniform Circular Motion is constant speed motion along a circular path.

Important Variables
Velocity: v [m/s]

Centripetal Acceleration: ac [m/s2]

Period: T [seconds/cycle] Frequency: f [cycles/seconds = Hz]
f = 1/T

Finding the velocity when going around a circle

Velocity = distance/time
Distance Circumference = 2R Time Period = seconds/cycle or seconds/revolution Circular Velocity: v = 2R/T = 2Rf

Example Problem 1
A ferris wheel makes 2 complete revolutions every 5 minutes. If the diameter of the ferris wheel is 20 meters, what is the velocity of the rider?

Example Problem 1
A ferris wheel makes 2 complete revolutions every 5 minutes. If the diameter of the ferris wheel is 20 meters, what is the velocity of the rider? v = 2R/T

R = diameter/2 = 20/2 [meters] = 10 meters

T = seconds/cycle= 300/2 [seconds/cycle] = 150 s/cycle v = 2(10 m)/150 s = 0.42 m/s

Things to notice about the velocity and acceleration:

At any instant during the motion around the circle, the direction of the velocity is tangent to the circle. At what angle is the centripetal acceleration to the velocity? Which direction is the centripetal acceleration always pointing in?

ac = v2/r

Example Problem 2
Determine the acceleration of a rider on the Cajun Cliffhanger (a barrel ride at an amusement park) if the rider makes 7.4 revolutions around the circle with radius 3.265 m in 26.1 seconds.

Example Problem 2
Determine the acceleration of a rider on the Cajun Cliffhanger (a barrel ride at an amusement park) if the rider makes 7.4 revolutions around the circle with radius 3.265 m in 26.1 seconds. ac = v2/r T = 26.1 s / 7.4 cycles = 3.53 s/cycle v = 2r/T = 2(3.265 m)/(3.53 s/cycle) = 5.81 m/s

ac = (5.81)2/3.265 = 10.3 m/s2

Newtons 2nd Law

You can use Newtons 2nd Law to find forces for things like
Tension in a string The normal force on a person upside down at the top of a loop
of a roller coaster How fast the person has to be going on that roller coaster so that he/she doesnt plummet to his death F = ma = mv2/r

Breaking the String

A ball is being whirled in a vertical circle. Assuming the balls speed is constant, the string is most likely to break when the ball is

1. At the top of the circle.

2. At the bottom of the circle.

3. Halfway between the top and bottom of the circle. 4. Because the speed is constant, all points on the circle are
equally likely for the string to break.

Lets figure it out!

1. What forces are acting on the object at the top of the circle? 2. What forces are acting on the object at the bottom of the circle? 3. Apply Newtons 2nd Law to find at which point the tension is greater. Ftop = ? Fbottom = ?

Applying Newtons 2nd Law

Ftop = Ttop + mg = mv2/r

Ttop = mv2/r mg
Fbottom = Tbottom mg = mv2/r Tbottom = mv2/r + mg

So where is the tension greater?

Water Bucket
A water bucket of mass m is being whirled in a vertical circle of radius r at constant speed v. What is the minimum speed required so that the water remains in the bucket without falling out?

Water Bucket
What is the minimum value that the normal force/tension
force can be at the top before the water falls out or the string becomes slack?
Ftop = 0 + mg = mv2/r
v = gr