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CHAPTER 6:
Circular motion
(3 Hours)

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 Learning Outcome:

6.1 Uniform circular motion (1 hour)

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At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

Describe uniform circular motion.
In terms of velocity with constant magnitude (only the
direction of the velocity changes).
Define centripetal acceleration and use formulae for
centripetal acceleration,

v2
ac
r

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6.1 Uniform circular motion
is defined as a motion in a circle (circular arc) at a constant
speed.
Consider an object which does move with uniform circular
motion as shown in Figure 6.1.

The length of a circular arc, s is given

r by

s s r
O where
: angle which the arc subtends
to the centre of the circle in radian
r : radius of the circular path
Figure 6.1

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6.1.1 Linear (tangential) velocity , v
It is directed tangentially to the circular path and always
perpendicular to the radius of the circular path as shown in
Figure 6.2.
v v
r r

O
r
Figure 6.2
v
In uniform circular motion, the magnitude of the linear velocity
(speed) of an object is constant but the direction is
continually changing.
The unit of the tangential (linear) velocity is m s 1.

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 The linear velocity, v is difficult to measure but we can measure
the period, T of an object in circular motion.
Period, T
is defined as the time taken for one complete revolution
(cycle/rotation).
The unit of the period is second (s).

Frequency, f
is defined as the number of revolutions (cycles/rotations)
completed in one second.
The unit of the frequency is hertz (Hz) or s 1.
Equation : 1
f
T
Let the object makes one complete revolution in circular motion,
thus
the distance travelled is 2 r (circumference of the circle),

the time interval is one period, T.

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 From the definition of speed,
change of distance
v
time interval
2 r
v OR v 2 rf
T
2
If 2 f therefore v r
T
where
: angular ve locity (angular frequency)
Note: r : radius of the circular path
The unit of angular velocity (angular frequency) is rad s 1

(radian per second).

Unit conversion of angle, : rad 180
2 rad 360
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6.1.2 Centripetal (radial) acceleration, ac or ar
Figure 6.3 shows a particle moving with constant speed in a
circular path of radius, r with centre at O. The particle moves
from A to B in a time, t.
v1 The arc length AB is given by
s r
v2 s
(1)
r
The velocities of the particle at A
and B are v1 and v2 respectively
where

v1 v2 v

Figure 6.3 7
 Let PQ and PR represent the velocity vectors v1 and v2
in Figure 6.4.
respectively, as shown
v1
P Q

v v2 v1
Figure 6.4 v2
R
Then QR represent the change in velocity vector v of the
particle in time interval t. Since the angle between PQ and PR
is small hence
QR PQ
v v
v
(2)
v
By equating (1) and (2) then
s v
r v 8
Dividing by time, t, thus
1 s 1 v
r t v t
v a
r v
2
v 2
ac OR ac r v
r
where ac : centripeta l accelerati on
v : linear(tangential) velocity
r : radius of circular path
: angular ve locity (angular frequency)

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 The centripetal acceleration is defined as the acceleration of
an object moving in circular path whose direction is
towards the centre of the circular path and whose
magnitude is equal to the square of the speed divided by
the radius.
The direction of centripetal (radial) acceleration is always
directed toward the centre of the circle and perpendicular to
the linear (tangential) velocity as shown in Figure 6.5.

ac
ac ac

ac

ac

ac
Figure 6.5 10
 For uniform circular motion, the magnitude of the centripetal
acceleration always constant but its direction continuously
changes as the object moves around the circular path.
Because of 2 r
v
T
therefore we can obtain the alternative expression of centripetal
acceleration is
2 r 2
T
ac
r
4 2r
ac
T2

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Example 6.1 :
A motorbike moving at a constant speed 20.0 m s 1 in a circular
track of radius 25.0 m. Calculate
a. the centripetal acceleration of the motorbike,
b. the time taken for the motorbike to complete one revolution.
Solution :
a. From the definition of the centripetal acceleration, thus

b. From the alternate formula of the centripetal acceleration, hence

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Example 6.2 :

Figure 6.6
A car initially travelling eastward turns north by travelling in a
circular path at uniform speed as shown in Figure 6.6. The length
of the arc ABC is 235 m and the car completes the turn in 36.0 s.
Determine
a. the acceleration when the car is at B located at an angle of
35.0 ,
b. the cars speed,
c. its average acceleration during the 36.0 s interval.
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Solution :
a. The period of the car is given by

The radius of the circular path is

Therefore the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration is

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Solution :
b. From the definition of the speed, thus

c. 1st method :
By using the triangle method for vector addition, thus the change
in the velocity is given by

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Solution :
Therefore the magnitude of the average acceleration is

and its direction :

Solution :
c. 2nd method :
x-component :

y-component :

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Solution :
Therefore the magnitude of the average acceleration is

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Example 6.3 :
A boy whirls a marble in a horizontal circle of radius 2.00 m and at
height 1.65 m above the ground. The string breaks and the marble
flies off horizontally and strikes the ground after traveling a
horizontal distance of 13.0 m. Calculate
a. the speed of the marble in the circular path,
b. the centripetal acceleration of the marble while in the circular
motion.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)
Solution :
r =2.00 m

u

u
1.65 m 1.65 m

13.0 m
Before After
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Solution :
a. From the diagram :

The time taken for the marble to strike the ground is

The initial speed of the marble after the string breaks is equal to
the tangential speed of the marble in the horizontal circle.
Therefore

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Solution :
b. From the definition of the centripetal acceleration, thus

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Exercise 6.1 :
1.

1
11.0 m s
5.0 m 5.0 m
A centre B 1
11.0 m s
Figure 6.7

A particle moves in a semicircular path AB of radius 5.0 m with

constant speed of 11.0 m s-1 as shown in Figure 6.7. Calculate
a. the time taken to travel from A to B,
b. the average velocity,
c. the average acceleration.
ANS. : 1.43 s; 6.99 m s 1 (to the right); 15.4 m s 2 (downward)

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Exercise 6.1 :
2. The astronaut orbiting the Earth is preparing to dock with
Westar VI satellite. The satellite is in a circular orbit 600 km
above the Earths surface, where the free fall acceleration is
8.21 m s 2. Take the radius of the Earth as 6400 km. Determine
a. the speed of the satellite,
b. the time interval required to complete one orbit around the
Earth.
ANS. : 7581 m s 1; 5802 s
3. The radius of the mercurys circular orbit around the sun is 5.79
107 km and the mercury travels around this orbit in 88.0 days.
Calculate
a. the linear speed of the mercury,
b. the radial acceleration of the mercury.
ANS. : 4.79 104 m s 1; 3.96 10 2 m s 2 (towards the sun)

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 Learning Outcome:

6.2 Centripetal force (2 hours)

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At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

Define centripetal force and use its formulae,

mv 2
Fc
r
Identify forces such as tension, T, friction, f, weight, W
and reaction, N that enable a body to perform circular
motion on a horizontal and vertical plane.
Use the relationship of the forces above and centripetal
force.

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6.2 Centripetal force
6.2.1 Equation of centripetal force
From Newtons second law of motion, a force must be
associated with the centripetal acceleration. This force is
known as the centripetal force and is given by

F Fnett ma where a ac and F Fc
v 2
2
Fc mac and ac r v
r
mv2 2
Fc mr mv
r
where Fc : centripeta l force

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 The centripetal force is defined as a force acting on a body
causing it to move in a circular path of magnitude
mv 2
Fc
r
and it always directed towards the centre of the circular
path.
Its direction is in the same direction of the centripetal
acceleration as shown in Figure 6.8.

v
ac
v Fc

Fc
ac

Fc ac

Figure 6.8 v
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 If the centripetal force suddenly stops to act on a body in the
circular motion, the body flies off in a straight line with the
constant tangential (linear) speed as show in Figure 6.9.

v
Fc ac
v
Fc
ac

a F 0 F 0
Fc c c c
Figure 6.9 ac 0 ac 0
Note : v
v v
In uniform circular motion, the nett force on the system is
centripetal force.
The work done by the centripetal force is zero but the
kinetic energy of the body is not zero and given by
1 2 1 2 2
K mv mr
2 2
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6.2.2 Examples of uniform circular motion
Conical Pendulum
Example 6.4 :
Figure 6.10 shows a conical pendulum
with a bob of mass 80.0 kg on a 10.0 m
long string making an angle of 5.00 to the
vertical.
a. Sketch a free body diagram of the bob.
b. Determine
i. the tension in the string,
ii. the speed and the period of the bob,
iii. the radial acceleration of the bob.
(Given g =9.81 m s 2)
Figure 6.10

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Solution : m 80.0 kg; l 10.0 m; 5.00
a. The free body diagram of the bob :

b. i. From the diagram,

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Solution : m 80.0 kg; l 10.0 m; 5.00
b. ii. The centripetal force is contributed
by the horizontal component of the
tension.

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Solution :
b. ii. and the period of the bob is given by

iii. From the definition of the radial acceleration, hence

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Motion rounds a curve on a flat (unbanked) track (for car,
motorcycle, bicycle, etc)
Example 6.5 :
A car of mass 2000 kg rounds a circular turn of radius 20 m. The
road is flat and the coefficient of friction between tires and the road
is 0.70.
a. Sketch a free body diagram of the car.
b. Determine the maximum cars speed without skidding.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)
Solution : m 2000 kg; r 20 m; 0.70
a. The free body diagram of the car :
N
ac

Centre of f
circle
mg
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Solution :
b. From the diagram in (a),
y-component :

x-component : The centripetal force is provided by the frictional

force between the wheel (4 tyres) and the road.
Therefore

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Motion in a horizontal circle
Example 6.8 :
A ball of mass 150 g is attached to one end of a string 1.10 m long.
The ball makes 2.00 revolution per second in a horizontal circle.
a. Sketch the free body diagram for the ball.
b. Determine
i. the centripetal acceleration of the ball,
ii. the magnitude of the tension in the string.
Solution : m 0.150 kg; l r 1.10 m; f 2.00 Hz
a. The free body diagram for the ball :

ac
T r

mg
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Solution : m 0.150 kg; l r 1.10 m; f 2.00 Hz
b. i. The linear speed of the ball is given by

Therefore the centripetal acceleration is

ii. From the diagram in (a), the centripetal force enables the ball
to move in a circle is provided by the tension in the string.
Hence

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Motion in a vertical circle B
Example 6.9 :
v
3.00 m

v
Figure 6.12
A
A small remote control car with mass 1.20 kg moves at a constant
speed of v = 15.0 m s 1 in a vertical circle track of radius 3.00 m as
shown in Figure 6.12. Determine the magnitude of the reaction
force exerted on the car by the track at
a. point A,
b. point B.
(Given g = 9.81 m s 2)
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Solution :
a. The free body diagram of the car at point A :

ac NA

mg

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Solution :
b. The free body diagram of the car at point B :

NB
mg
ac

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Example 6.10 :
v

v
Figure 6.13
A rider on a Ferris wheel moves in a vertical circle of radius,
r = 8 m at constant speed, v as shown in Figure 6.13. If the time
taken to makes one rotation is 10 s and the mass of the rider is
60 kg, Calculate the normal force exerted on the rider
a. at the top of the circle,
b. at the bottom of the circle.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2) 39
Solution :
a. The constant speed of the rider is

The free body diagram of the rider at the top of the circle :

Nt

ac

40
Solution :
b. The free body diagram of the rider at the bottom of the circle :

ac Nb

mg

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Example 6.11 : 3.0 m s 1 A

3.0 m s 1

Figure 6.14 3.0 m s 1

E
A sphere of mass 5.0 kg is tied to an inelastic string. It moves in a
vertical circle of radius 55 cm at a constant speed of 3.0 m s 1 as
shown in Figure 6.14. By the aid of the free body diagram,
determine the tension in the string at points A, D and E.
(Given g = 9.81 m s-2)

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 1
Solution : m 5.0 kg; r 0.55 m; v 3.0 m s
The free body diagram of the sphere at :
Point A,
A

Point D,

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Solution :
The free body diagram of the sphere at :
Point E,

Caution :
For vertical uniform circular motion only,

the normal force or tension is maximum at the bottom of

the circle.
the normal force or tension is minimum at the top of the
circle.
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Exercise 6.2 :
Use gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81 m s 2
1. A cyclist goes around a curve of 50 m radius at a speed of
15 m s 1. The road is banked at an angle to the horizontal and
the cyclist travels at the right angle with the surface of the road.
The mass of the bicycle and the cyclist together equals 95 kg.
Calculate
a. the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the cyclist,
b. the magnitude of the normal force which the road exerts on
the bicycle and the cyclist,
c. the angle .
ANS. : 4.5 m s 2; 1.02 kN; 24.6

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Exercise 6.2 :
2. A ball of mass 0.35 kg is attached to the end of a horizontal
cord and is rotated in a circle of radius 1.0 m on a frictionless
horizontal surface. If the cord will break when the tension in it
exceeds 80 N, determine
a. the maximum speed of the ball,
b. the minimum period of the ball.
ANS. : 15.1 m s 1; 0.416 s
3. A small mass, m is set on the surface m
of a sphere as shown in Figure 6.14.
If the coefficient of static friction is s
= 0.60, calculate the angle would
the mass start sliding. O
ANS. : 31

Figure 6.14
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Exercise 6.2 :
4. A ball of mass 1.34 kg is connected
by means of two massless string to
a vertical rotating rod as shown in
Figure 6.15. The strings are tied to
the rod and are taut. The tension in
the upper string is 35 N.
a. Sketch a free body diagram for
the ball.
b. Calculate
i. the magnitude of the tension
in the lower string,
ii. the nett force on the ball,
iii. the speed of the ball. Figure 6.15
ANS. : 8.74 N; 37.9 N (radially
inward); 6.45 m s 1

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 THE END.
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Next Chapter
CHAPTER 7 :
Rotation of a rigid body

48