CIRCULAR MOTION

Circular motion:
The motion of a body is said to be circular if the body is always at a fixed distance from a fixed point. The
fixed distance is called radius and the fixed point is called the centre of the circular path.

Angular displacement:
Angular displacement in circular motion is defined as the angle covered by the object from its initial
position to final position in a given interval of time.

In figure,
AOB =  is angular displacement.
Its unit is radian (rad).

Angular velocity:

The rate of change of angular displacement w.r.t. is called angular velocity. It is denoted by ‘’ and given
angular displacement
by, angular velocity () =
time

=
t
It’s unit is Radian per second (Rad/sec)
Angular acceleration ():

The rate of change of angular velocity with respect to time is called angular acceleration.

Angular acceleration,  =
t
Its unit is Rad sec-2

Time period (T):

Time period is defined as the time taken by the object to complete one revolution in a circular path. It is
denoted by ‘T’.
From angular velocity, we have,

=
t
For one complete revolution,  = 2, t =T
2
Or, =
T
2
 T=


Frequency (f):

Frequency is defined as the number of complete revolutions made in one second. It is denoted by ‘f ’ or ‘n’
and it is the reciprocal of time period. i.e,
1
f=
T
1
Or, f=
2/

 f=
2
It’s unit is (sec-1) or hertz (Hz) or revolution per second (rps). Another unit is revolution per minute (rpm).
Types of circular motion:

1) Uniform circular motion:-

A circular motion is said to be uniform if an object covers equal angular displacement in equal interval of
time. The work done in uniform circular motion is zero because the angle between force and displacement
is 90.

2) Non uniform circular motion:-

A circular motion is said to be non-uniform if the object covers unequal angular displacement in equal
interval of time.

Relation between linear velocity and angular velocity:

Let us consider an object revolving in a circular path of radius ‘r’ and centre ‘O’. Let ‘’ be the small
angular displacement when the object moves from A to B in a given time ‘t’. Let ‘v’ and ‘’ be the linear
velocity and angular velocity respectively.
From figure
l AB
= = .........(1)
r r
For a small angle , arc length AB= chord AB, i.e.
̂ = AB = S (say)
𝐴𝐵
Now, equation (i) becomes
s
=
r
Or, s = r
Differentiating above equation with respect to time,
ds d
= (r )
dt dt
Or, = r  
ds d
[r is constant for circular path]
dt  dt 
 v = r which is the required relation between ‘v’ and 
Again, differentiating above equation with respect to time we get

dv d(r)
=
dt dt
dv d()
=r
dt dt
 a = r
This is the required relation between linear acceleration and angular acceleration.
Centripetal force and its expression:
Centripetal force is the force required to keep a body moving in a circular path with uniform speed. It is
directed towards the center of the circular path.

Fig: a. Acceleration in a circle b. Change in velocity

Let us consider an object of mass ‘m’ revolving in a circular path of radius ‘r’ and centre ‘O’.
Let ‘’ be the small angular displacement when the object moves from A to B.
 
Also, let VA and VB be the velocities of the object at position A and B respectively.
Then,
l AB
= =
r r
For a small angle , arc length AB= chord AB, i.e.
̂ = AB =  S
𝐴𝐵 (say)
S
So,  = ........(i)
r
 
Let |VA|= |(VB)|= V (say)
From figure (b) change in velocity is given as
  
And |VAB|= VB – VA = V (say)
V
Also,  = ..............(ii)
V
From equations (i) and (ii)
V S
=
V r
r V = V S ...........(iii)
Dividing above equation by t and taking lim on both sides we get,
t 0
V S
lim r = lim V
t 0 t t 0 t

V S
r lim = V lim
t 0 t t 0 t
Or, ra=VV
V2
Or, a= Also, V = r  a = 2r
r
This is the required expression for centripetal acceleration.
Now, centripetal force,
Fc = ma
mV2
Fc = OR Fc = m2r
r
Which is the required expression for centripetal force.
Motion of a body in horizontal circle (conical pendulum):
A conical pendulum is attached to a string and whirls in a horizontal circle with uniform speed and makes
a constant angle with the vertical.

Fig: Motion of an object attached to a string in horizontal circle (Conical pendulum)

Let us consider an object of mass ‘m’ attached to a string length ‘l’ is whirled in a horizontal circle of
radius ‘r’ with uniform speed ‘v’. The string makes an angle ‘’ with the vertical. Resolving tension ‘T’
into its constituent components, we get Tcos and Tsin. Tsin provides necessary centripetal force
mv2
 r .
The weight (mg) acts vertically downward which is balanced by Tcos as shown in figure above.
i.e,
mv2
Tsin = ................................ (i)
r
Tcos = mg ................................ (ii)

Dividing (i) by (ii),

v2
tan = ............................... (iii)
rg
r
Or, tan = ................................. (iv)
h
From (iii) and (iv),
r v2
= ........................................ (v)
h rg
g v2
Or, =
h r2
g r22
Or, = 2 [v = r]
h r
g
Or, = 2
h
g 22
Or, = , where T’ is the time period.
h  T' 
Or,  T' 2 = h
2 g

h
Or, T’ = 2√g

l cos
 T’ = 2√ g

This is the required expression for the time period of conical pendulum.

Now, tension in the string of conical pendulum,

Squaring and adding (i) and (ii)

T2 (sin2 + cos2) = 
mv 2
2
2
 r  + (mg)
m2v4
T2 = m2g2 + 2
r
T2 = m2g2 1+ 2 2
v4
 gr
v4
T = mg 1+ 2 2
gr
Using eqn (V)
r2
Or, T = mg 1+ 2
h
This is the required expression for tension in conical pendulum.

Motion of a body attached to a string in a vertical circle:

Fig: Motion of a body in a vertical circle

Let us consider an object of mass ‘m’ attached to a string is whirled in a vertical circle of radius ‘r’ with
speed ‘v’. Let at any instant of time, the position of the object is at P, where the string makes an angle ‘’
with the vertical (OC). The weight (mg) acts vertically downward and resolving it, we get (mgcos) and
mv2
(mgsin). The resultant of tension (T) and mgcos provides the necessary centripetal force .
r
mv2
i.e, T– mg cos =
r
mv2
T= + mg cos
r
Which is the required expression for tension.
Special cases:
1. At position A (highest point),  = 180°
mv2
T= + mg cos180°
r
mv2
Tmin= – mg which is the minimum tension.
r

2. At position C (lowest point),  = 0°

mv2
T= + mg cos0°
r
mv2
Tmax = + mg which is the maximum tension.
r

3. At position D,  = 90°
mv2
T= + mg cos90°
r
2
mv
T=
r
Critical velocity:
The minimum velocity needed to keep the object moving in the vertical circle is called critical velocity.

Fig: Motion of a body in a vertical circle

1. At position A (highest point), for minimum velocity tension can be assumed zero.
mv2
T= – mg
r
mv2
0= – mg
r
VA= rg
This is the critical velocity at point A.
2. At position C:
Mechanical energy at A = Mechanical energy at C
Or, (M.E)C = (M.E)A
or, KEC + PEC = KEA + PEA
or, KEC = KEA + (PEA –PEC)
1 1
or, m Vc2 = m V2A + mg.2r
2 2
or, Vc2 = VA2 + 4rg
or, Vc = 5rg ,
This is the critical velocity at lowest point.
3. At point B:
Mechanical energy at C = Mechanical energy at A
Or, (M.E)B = (M.E)A
or, KEB + PEB = KEA + PEA
or, KEB = KEA + (PEA –PEB)
1 1
or, m V2B = m V2A + mg.r
2 2
or, V2B = V2A + 2rg
or, VB = 3rg
This is the critical velocity at point B.
Motion of a car in a level curved path:

Fig: Motion of a car on a level curved path

Let us consider a car of mass ‘m’ moving with speed ‘v’ in a level circular path of radius ‘r’. The weight of
the car acts vertically downward, which is balanced by the normal reaction (R = R1 + R2). The frictional
mv2
force (Ff = F1 + F2) provides necessary centripetal force , i.e.
r
Ff = FC
mv2
Or, R =
r
mv2
Or,  mg = ( R = mg)
r
Or, v= rg , Which is the required maximum speed of car with which it can take turn in a circular
path

Motion of a car in a banked curve path:

Fig: Motion of a car on a banked track

Let us consider a car of mass ‘m’ moving with velocity ‘v’ in a banked curve path of radius ‘r’. Let the
surface of the road make an angle  with the horizontal. The weight of the car acts vertically downward
and normal reaction acts perpendicularly outward to the surface of the road. Resolving normal reaction (R
= R1+R2) into its constituent components, we get Rsin and Rcos. The component Rcos is balanced by
mv2
weight (mg) and the component Rsin provides necessary centripetal force i.e.
r
2
mv
R sin = ...(i)
r
R cos = mg ...(ii)
Dividing (i) by (ii)
v2
tan =
rg
 = tan–1  which is the expression for banking angle of a road.
v2
rg
2
And, v = tan. rg
 v = rg tan ,which is the required expression for maximum velocity in a banked curve path
Motion of a cyclist in a curved path / Bending of a cyclist in a curved path:

Fig: Bending of a cyclist in a circular path

Let us consider a cyclist of mass ‘m’ moving in a circular path of radius ‘r’ with velocity ‘v’. Let the
cyclist make an angle ‘’ with the vertical. The weight of the cyclist acts vertically downward. Resolving
normal reaction into its constituent components, we get Rsin and Rcos. The component Rcos is
mv2
balanced by mg and the component Rsin provides necessary centripetal force i.e.
r
mv2
Rsin = .......(i)
r
Or, Rcos = mg ......(ii)

Dividing (i) and (ii),

v2
tan =
rg
 = tan-1 
v2
rg
This is the required bending angle of the cyclist with the vertical in a circular path
Also, v2 = rg tan
v = rg tan
This is the required expression for the velocity of cyclist in a circular path.

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