CIRCULAR MOTION

- A type of motion exhibited by bodies

following a circular/curved path.
- Motion caused by centripetal force.
Related Terms:
Rotation motion about an internal axis
Revolution motion about an external axis
The earth revolves around the sun. It takes
earth a year to complete one revolution around
the sun.
To differentiate, for example:
The earth rotates on its own axis. This is the
reason why we are experiencing night and day.
Basic Rotational Quantities
The angular displacement is
defined by:
For a circular path it follows
that the angular velocity is
and the angular acceleration is
where the acceleration here is
the tangential acceleration.
Basic Rotational Quantities
Angular velocity
can be considered to
be a vector quantity,
with direction along
the axis of rotation in
the right-hand rule
sense.
Angular velocity
For an object rotating about an axis, every point on the
object has the same angular velocity. The tangential
velocity of any point is proportional to its distance from
the axis of rotation. Angular velocity has the units rad/s.
Angular velocity is the rate of change of angular
displacement and can be described by the relationship
1. What is the angular velocity in rad/s of the
second hand of a watch?
Sample Problem:
Answer: = 2rad / 60s = 0.10 rad/s
2. A bicycle travels 141 m along a circular track
of radius 15 m. What is the angular
displacement in radians of the bicycle from its
starting position?
Answer: = 141m / 15m = 9.4 rad
Centripetal Force
Any motion in a
curved path represents
accelerated motion, and
requires a force directed
toward the center of
curvature of the path.
This force is called the
centripetal force which
means "center seeking"
force.
where:
m = mass of the object
v = tangential velocity
r = radius of the curved
path
Centripetal Force
The straight line motion in the absence of the
constraining force (tension) is an example of
Newtons first law of motion.
Centripetal Acceleration
The centripetal acceleration can be derived for the
case of circular motion since the curved path at any point
can be extended to a circle.
Centripetal Acceleration
Problem 3:
A 200g object is tied to the end of a cord and
whirled in a horizontal circle of radius 1.20m at
a constant 3.0 rev/s. Assume that the cord is
horizontal, determine:
(a) the acceleration of the object; and
(b) the tension in the cord.
2 2
2
) / 6 )( 20 . 1 ( s rad m r
r
v
a
c
T [ ! ! !
Solution 3:
a. The object is not accelerating tangentially to
the circle but is undergoing a radial or
centripetal acceleration:
2
2
[ r
r
v
a
c
! !
2
/ 426 s a
c
!
where must be in rad/s, then, 3.0 rev/s = 6.0rad/s
b. To cause the acceleration found in (a), the
cord must pull on the 0.20 kg mass with a
centripetal force:
) / 426 )( 20 . 0 (
2
s m kg ma F
c c
! !
N F
c
85 !
This is the tension in the cord.
Centripetal force on banked highway
curve
The centripetal force is
proportional to the square
of the velocity, e.g.
doubling of speed will
require four times the
centripetal force to keep
the motion in a circle.
If centripetal force must
be provided by friction
alone on a curve, an
increase in speed could
lead to an unexpected skid
if friction is insufficient
Working Equations:
Since centripetal force is provided by friction
If F
f
= F
N
and F
N
= mg, then
The minimum speed required to make a turn
r
mv
F F
f c
2
! !
r
v
g
2
! Q
gr v Q !
Also, the equation of = tan, therefore:
r
v
g
2
) ( tan ! U
gr
v
2
1
tan

! U
where is the banking angle.
A car enters a horizontal, curved
roadbed of radius 50 m. The coefficient of
static friction between the tires and the
roadbed is 0.20. What is the maximum
speed with which the car can safely
negotiate the unbanked curve?
Problem 4:
) 50 )( 8 . 9 )( 20 . 0 ( ! ! gr v Q
Solution:
s v / 89 . 9 !
Determine the minimum angle at which a
roadbed should be banked so that a car
traveling at 20m/s can safely negotiate the
curve if the radius of the curve is 200m.
Problem 5:
Solution:
) 200 )( 8 . 9 (
) 20 (
tan tan
2
1
2
1
! !
gr
v
U
r ! 5 . 11 U
Motion in a Vertical Circle
Motion in a Vertical Circle
The motion of a mass on a string in a vertical
circle includes a number of mechanical concepts.
1. It must satisfy the constraints of centripetal
force to remain in a circle,
2. It must satisfy the demands of conservation
of energy as gravitational potential energy is
converted to kinetic energy when the mass
moves downward.
3. The velocity must increase as the mass
moves downward from the top of the circle,
subject to the constraints stated.
Motion in a Vertical Circle
Using the centrifugal force conditions, the
tension at the bottom can be related to the
tension at the top:
A 0.75-kg ball is attached to a 1.0-m rope and
whirled in a vertical circle. The rope will break
when the tension exceeds 450 N. What is the
maximum speed the ball can have at the bottom
of the circle without breaking the rope?
Problem 6:
Solution:
mg
r
v m
T
bottom
bottom
!
2
) (
? A
s m v / 24
75 . 0
) 1 ( ) 8 . 9 )( 75 . 0 ( ) 450 (
!

!
Circular Orbit
The force of gravity in keeping an object in
circular motion is an example of centripetal force.
Since it acts always perpendicular to the motion,
gravity does not do work on the orbiting object if it is
in a circular orbit.
What is the acceleration due to gravity at
an altitude of 1.00 10
6
m above the
earth's surface? (Note: the radius of the
earth is 6.38 10
6
m.)
Problem 7:
Solution:
2
6 6
6
2
) 10 38 . 6 10 1 (
10 38 . 6
) 8 . 9 (

!
x x
x
r
R
g g
planet
surface orbit
2
/ 32 . 7 s m g
orbit
!
Assignment:
1. In an amusement park ride, a small child
stands against the wall of a cylindrical
room that is then made to rotate. The
floor drops downward and the child
remains pinned against the wall. If the
radius of the device is 2.15 m and the
relevant coefficient of friction between
the child and the wall is 0.400, with what
minimum speed is the child moving if he
is to remain pinned against the wall?
2. An indoor track is to be designed such
that each end is a banked semi-circle with
a radius of 24 m. What should the
banking angle be for a person running at
speed v = 6.0 m/s?
3. Outdoor Activity in Motion
- tell your experience about motion in an
amusement park.
- include your picture in motion
- written output must be 1-2 pages only and
must be compiled by group (lab. group) in
a clear book
- deadline: before midterm exam
- other option: experience motion within
your vicinity