Round and Round

6-1 Circular Motion

Uniform Circular Motion

How do wein
define
VELOCITY?
Objects traveling
circular
motion
Velocity
is
TANGENT
to
the
have constant speed
constantly
Whatand
d
t are
are
we
we talking
talking abo
abo
d
circle
at all points
CHANGING
velocity
PERIOD
changing
v
CIRCUMFERENCE
(T) in
t but not
Timemagnitude
C
for
= one
2r revolution
= d 2r
direction

vc

If this is true, why does ANYTHING

move in a circle?

Centripetal Force
Inertia causes objects to travel
STRAIGHT
Paths can be bent by FORCES
CENTRIPETAL FORCE bends an
objects path into a circle - pulling
toward the CENTER

Misconception

doors to the Gravitron close and it starts to s

are pushed against the outside edge of the ride
ned there, You must be experiencing centrifu
rce throwing you outward from the ride! Righ

What is really happening?

As the Gravitron starts F
to spin, friction between
your body and the ride start you moving
v
Once you are moving,
your body wants
to go STRAIGHT
but you cant
The wall keeps pushing you back in toward
the centre of the ride!

What is the sensation that

you feel?
centrifugal (centre fleeing) force
A fictitious or inertial force that is
experienced from INSIDE a circular
motion system WHAT YOU FEEL

centripetal (centre seeking) force

A true force that pushes or pulls an
object toward the centre of a circular
path WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS

Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal force is a NET FORCE
Causes ACCELERATION
In the SAME DIRECTION AS NET
FORCE

v
ac
r

Example #1
What is the centripetal acceleration
of a toy ball on the end of a 1.44
metre long string if it is moving at
12 metres per second?

ac = v2/r
ac = (12 m/s)2/1.44
m
ac = 100 m/s2

Centripetal Force
2
Fnet
v
Fc maFcanet maac
m
r

mv
Fc
r

Example #2
What is the centripetal force acting
on a 2000 kilogram airplane if it turns
with a radius of 1000 metres while
moving at 300 meters per second?

ac = v2/r

Fc = mac

ac = (300
m/s)2/1000 m

Fc = (2000 kg)(90
m/s2)

ac = 90 m/s2

Fc = 1.8 x 105 N

Example #3
Is it possible for a 1000 kilogram car to
make a turn with a radius of 50 metres
while moving at 15 metres per second
with rubber tires on dry asphalt?

Fc = 4500
Ff = 8339 N
N
2
F
F
=
=
mv
F
/r
c f longN
Yes, as
as Ff
Fc
2
Fc =F(1000
=
(0.85)(9810
kg)(15
m/s)
/
f
50
N)m
Fcf = 8339
4500 N

End of 6.1