Physics

CIRCULAR MOTION
DEF INITION OF CIR CULAR MOT ION
When a particle moves in a plane such that its distance from a fixed (or moving) point remains constant then its
motion is called as circular motion with respect to that fixed point.
That fixed point is called centre and the distance is called radius of circular path.

KIN EM ATICS OF CIRCUL AR MOTION

An g ula r Di s pla c eme nt
Angle traced by position vector of a particle moving w.r.t. some fixed point is called angular displacement.

Dq = angular displacement
Q
fixed
point Arc
Dq Angle =
Radius
r
P
Arc PQ
Dq =
r
GOLDEN KEY POINTS
r
¥ Small Angular displacement dq is a vector quantity, but large angular displacement q is scalar quantity..
¥ Its direction is perpendicular to plane of rotation and given by right hand screw rule.
¥ It is dimensionless and has S.I. unit is "Radian" while other units are degree or revolution.
2p radian = 360° =1 revolution

Q u e . A particle completes 1.5 revolutions in a circular path of radius 2 cm. Find the angular displacement of the
particle. Ans. 3p
Freq uenc y (n)
Number of revolutions describes by particle per second is its frequency. Its unit is revolutions per second (r.p.s.)
or revolutions per minute (r.p.m.)
Time P eriod (T)

1
It is time taken by particle to complete one revolution. T =
n

Angular Velocit y (w)

It is defined as the rate of change of angular displacement of moving particle .

Angle traced Dq dq
w= = Lim =
Time taken Dt ®0 Dt dt
GOLDEN KEY POINTS
¥ It is an axial vector quantity.
¥ Its direction is same as that of angular displacement i.e. perpendicular to the plane of rotation and along the
axis according to right hand screw rule.
¥ Its unit is radian/second.
R elation betwee n linear a nd Ang ular velocity

Arc Ds
Angle = or
Radius r
E 53
 Q
Ds
Dq = or Ds = rDq r
r
Dq Ds
Ds rDq ds dq
\ = if Dt ® 0 then =r v = wr r
Dt Dt dt dt
P

® ® ® ®
v = w´ r (direction of v is according to right hand thumb rule)

Average Ang ular Veloci t y (w av )

total angle of rotation q2 - q1 Dq 2p

wav = = t -t = = = 2pn
total time taken 2 1 Dt T

where q1 and q2 are angular position of the particle at instant t1 and t2.
Instanta neous Angular Velocit y
r
Dq dq r dq
The angular velocity at some particular instant w = Lim = or w=
Dt ® 0 Dt dt dt

Relat ive Angular Velocit y

Relative angular velocity of a particle 'A' w.r.t. other moving particle 'B' is
the angular velocity of the position vector of 'A' w.r.t. 'B'. That means it is
the rate at which position vector of 'A' w.r.t. 'B' rotates at that instant

(v AB ) ^
wAB =
rAB

Relative velocity of A w.r.t. B perpendicular to line AB

=
seperation between A and B

v A sin q1 + v B sin q2
here (vAB)^ = vA sin q1 + vB sin q2 \ wAB =
r
Ang ular Ac celeration (a )
Rate of change of angular velocity is called angular acceleration.
r
Dw dw r dw
a = Lim = or a=
Dt ®0
Dt dt dt
GOLDEN K EY POINT
¥ Its an axial vector quantity. It direction is along the axis according to right hand screw rule.
¥ Unit ® rad/s2
Ex. A particle revolving in a circular path completes first one third of circumference in 2 s, while next one third in
1 s. Calculate the average angular velocity of particle.

2p 2p
Sol. q1 = and q2 = total time T = 2 + 1 = 3 s
3 3

2p 2p 4 p
q1 + q2 + 4p
\ < wav > = = 3 3 = 3 =
9
rad/s
T 3 3

54 E
 Physics
1 2
Ex. The angular displacement of a particle is given by q = wot + at , where wo and a are constant and wo = 1 rad/
2
s, a = 1.5 rad/s2. Find the angular velocity at time t = 2s.

dq
Sol. w = = w0 + at = 4 rad/s
dt

Ex. Two moving particles P and Q are 10 m apart at any instant.

Velocity of P is 8 m/s at 30°, from line joining the P and Q and velocity
of Q is 6m/s at 30°.Calculate the angular velocity of P w.r.t. Q

8 sin 30o - ( -6 sin 30o )

S o l . wPQ = = 0.7 rad/s.
10
Ex. A particle moving parallel to x-axis as shown in fig. such that at all
instant the y-axis component of its position vector is constant and is
equal to 'b'. Find the angular velocity of the particle about the origin.

v sin q v 2
S o l . \ wPO = = sin q
b b
sin q

Ex. Two points of a rod move with velocity 3v and v seperated by a distance 'r'. Calculate the angular velocity of the
rod w.r.t. its end.

3v - v 2v
Sol. \ w= =
r r
Ex. The angular velocity of a particle is given by w =1.5 t – 3t2 +2, Find the time when its angular acceleration
becomes zero.

dw
Sol. a = = 1.5 – 6 t = 0 or t = 0.25 s.
dt
Ex. A disc starts from rest and on the application of a torque, it gains an angular acceleration given
by a = 3t – t2 . Calculate the angular velocity after 2 s.

w
dw t
3t2 t3 10
ò dw = ò (3t - t )dt
2
Sol. = 3t-t 2 r r w= - r at t =2 s, w= rad/s
dt 0 0 2 3 3

Re lation between Angular and Linear Acceleration

r r r r r r
v=w´r ( v is a tangential vector, w is a axial vector and r is a radial vector..)
These three vectors are mutually perpendicular. axis of rotation

r r r w
r dv d r r dw r r dr
but a= = (w ´ r) = ´r +w´ v
dt dt dt dt
r
r r
r r r r r dw r dr r
or a = a´r +w´v ( = a and = v)
dt dt
E 55
 r r r r r r r r r
or a = a T + aC ( aT = a ´ r is tangential acc. and a C = w ´ v is centripetal acc.)
r r r r r
a = a T + aC ( a T and a C are two component of net linear acc.)

Ta ngent ial Acc eleration

r r r
a T = a ´ r , its direction is parallel to velocity.
r r r r r r
v = w ´ r and aT = a ´ r
r r r r
as w and a both are parallel and along the axis so that v and a T are also parallel and along the tangential
direction.
r r r
Magnitude of tangential acceleration, a T = a r sin 90° = ar a is axial, r is radial so that a ^ rr )
(
r r r
As a T is along the direction of motion (in the direction of v ) so that a T is responsible for change in speed of
the particle. Its magnitude is rate of change of speed of the particle. If particle is moving on a circular path with
constant speed then tangential acceleration is zero.
Cen tripetal acc eleration axis of rotation
r r r r r r w
a C = w ´ vr r r r
r aC = w ´ (w ´ r) (Q v =w´r)
r
O P
r r
Let r is in $i direction and w is in $j direction
r
then direction of a C is along ˆj ´ (ˆj ´ ˆi) or ˆ
ĵ ´ ( -k) or – $i
r
opposite direction of r i.e., from P to O and it is centripetal direction.

v2 r v2
Magnitude of centripetal acceleration, a C = wv = = w 2r Þ aC = ( -ˆr)
r r
¥ Centripetal acceleration is always perpendicular to the velocity or displacement at each point. So that
work done by centripetal force is always zero.
¥ When a force acts always perpendicular to the direction of velocity then path described by the particle is
circular.
Net Linear A cc eleration
r r r r r r
a = a T + aC and aT ^ aC so that |a|= a2T + a2C
UNIFORM CIRCULAR M OTION
When a particle moves in a circle at a constant speed then the motion
v2
is said to be a uniform circular motion.
v1
In such motion, position vector keep changing.
r r2
Speed is constant, so that aT = 0 r1
r r r r O
Acceleration of particle a = a C = w ´ v

v v2
or a = wv ( but w = ) \ a= = w 2r = centripetal acceleration
r r
due to centripetal acceleration a result the velocity of the particle keeps on changing the direction i.e. the
particle is accelerated.

56 E
 Physics
GOLDEN KEY POINTS
About uniform circular motion :–
r r r r
¥ Position vector (r ) is always perpendicular to the velocity vector (v ) i.e. r. v = 0
r r
¥ velocity vector is always perpendicular to the acceleration. v. a = 0
r
¥ for circular motion force towards centre (Centripetal force) must act so that direction of v keeps on changing
which forces the particle to describe a circular path.
¥ The work done by centripetal force is always zero.
ac
¥ Kinetic Energy = constant

Q
r \
¥ |v| = constant so tangential acc. a t=0 ft = 0 at = 0

¥ Important difference between the projectile motion and uniform circular motion :
In projectile motion, both the magnitude and the direction of acceleration (g) remain constant, while in uniform
circular motion the magnitude remains constant but the direction continuously changes.

Ex. A body of mass 2 kg lying on a smooth surface is attached to a string 3 m long and then rotated in a horizontal
circle making 60 rev/min. Calculate the centripetal acceleration.

2p
S o l . w = 60 ´ = 2p rad/s \ ac = w2 r = 118.4 m/s2
60

Ex. A stone of mass 0.1 kg tied to one end of a string 1m long is revolved in a horizontal circle at the rate of

10
rev/s. Calculate the tension in the string.
p

2
æ 10 ö
S o l . In horizontal circular motion tension T = mw r = (0.10) ç ´ 2p ÷ ´ 1 = 40 N
2
è p ø

Hi nt To Solve Nume rical Problems

(i) Write down the required centripetal force.
(ii) Draw the free body diagram of each component of system.
(iii) Resolve the forces acting on the rotating particle along radius and perpendicular to radius.
(iv) Calculate net radial force acting towards centre of circular path.
(v) Make it equal to required centripetal force.
(vi) For remaining components see according to question.

Ex. Two balls of equal mass are attached to a string at distances 1m and 2m. from one end as shown.The string
with the masses is then moved in a horizontal circle with constant speed. What is the ratio of the tension T 1 and
T2 ?
S o l . at T 1 ¬¾
P
®T
2
O T1 P T
T1 - T2 = mw 2
and T2 = 2mw 2 2 Q

T1 3
\ T1 = T2 + mw2 = 3 mw2 \ =
T2 2

Ex. A car is moving on an uneven road with a uniform speed V. There

A
are three points A, B and C on the road. At which position the C
B
reaction of the road maximum?

E 57
 v
v
v
Sol.

mv 2 mv 2
mg - NA = NB – mg = NC = mg
R R

mv 2 mv 2
\ NA = mg – NB = mg + hence NB > NC > NA
R R
Ex. One meter long string can bear maximum of 0.5 kg mass. A mass of 0.05 kg is tied to one of its end and
rotated in a horizontal circle, calculate the max number of revolution so that string does not brakes (rev/min.)

S o l . m w2 r = mbg = 0.5 × 9.8 \ w= 98 = 2pn r n = 1.576 rev/s = 94.5 rev/min.

MOT ION IN HORIZONTAL CIR CLE

Con ic al P endu lum
A conical pendulum consits of a body attached to a string of length L, such that it can revolved a horizontal
circle with uniform speed. The string traces out a cone in the space.
forces acting on the bob are :
(i) tension in string = T (ii) weight of bob = mg

mv 2
T sin q = T cos q = mg
r

v2
tan q = \ v = rg tan q
rg

2pr 2pr
\ Time period = r (Time Period) T=
v rg tan q

r L cos q OP r
= 2p = 2p n D OSP,
(Q in = sin q or = SP = L )
g tan q g SP sin q

NON- UNIFORM CIRCULAR M OTION

When a particle moving in a circle if the speed of particle increases or decreses then the motion is non-uniform
circular motion.
GOLDEN KEY POINTS
r
¥ In non- uniform circular motion |v|¹ constant w ¹ constant
¥ If at any instant v = magnitude of velocity of particle v = rw
¥ Tangential acceleration

dv ds
\ aT = = rate of change of speed v = = speed s = arc-length
dt dt

58 E
 Physics
¥ Tangential force ft = maT

mv 2
¥ Centripetal force fc = = mw2 r
r
r r r
¥ Net acceleration of the particle a = ac + at Þ a = a2C + a2T

ft
If 'q ' is the angle made by net force ( f ) with fc , then tanq = f
c

at
\ q = tan–1
aC

v2
¥ Net acceleration towards the centre = centripetal acceleration Þ ac = =w2 r
r

Special Note
¥ In both uniform and non- uniform circular motion fc is perpendicular to velocity. So work done by
centripetal force will be zero in both the cases.
¥ In uniform circular motion ft = 0 as aT = 0
But in non- uniform circular motion ft ¹ 0. Thus there will be work done by tangential force in this
case.

Ex. A particle describes a horizontal circle on the smooth surface of an inverted cone. The height of the plane of the
circle above the vertex is 9.8 cm. Find the speed of the particle.

mv 2
S o l . N cosq = , N sinq = mg
r Nsinq
N
q
N cosq
rg r
tanq = 2 = or v = hg = 0.98m / s r
v h h
mg q

Ex. A car is moving in a circular path of radius 100 m with velocity of 200 m/s such that in each second its velocity
increases by 100 m/s. Calculate the net acceleration of the car.

v2
S o l . ac = = 400, given aT = 100 m/s 2 \ anet = 2 2
a c + a T = 100 17 m / s2
r

CIRCUL AR MOTION IN VERTICAL PLANE

Let a particle of mass m is suspended from a string of length l.

The particle is given a horizontal speed u then it moves in a
O
vertical circle about O. Its velocity V, at point p from h height
above the least position. According to energy conservation.
h
1 1
0 + mu2 = mgh + mv2 or v = u 2 - 2gh
2 2

or v= u2 - 2gl (1 - cos q) [Q h = l(1 – cosq)]

Tensi on i n s tri ng
E 59
 mv 2
At point 'p' required centripetal force =
l
Net force toward centre

mv 2
T – mg cosq =
l

m 2
T = m [g cos q + v ] =
2
[u - gl(2 - 3cos q)]
l l
B vC
When string is vertical and particle is at lowest position (A) then tension in the string vB

mv2A mu2 O C
TA = + mg = + mg [q = 0°]
l l
When particle is at point B of the circle – A vA

mv2B
TB = - mg (q = 180°)
l

mu2
= - 5mg [by law of conservation of energy vB2 = u2 – 2g (2l)]
l
When particle is at point C of the circle –

mv 2C
TC = (q = 90°)
l

mu2
= - 2mg [by law of conservation of energy vC2 = u2 - 2g(l)]
l
Thus we can conclude TA > TC > TB
TA - TB = 6mg
TA - TC = 3mg
TC – TB = 3mg
Cases

(a) if u > 5gl

In this case tension in the string will not be zero at any point, which implies that the particle will continue
the circular motion.

mu 2
(b) u = 5gl ® just completes the loop (at point B tension becomes zero, TB = - 5mg )
l

critical velocity to complete the loop is u = vA = 5gl

vB = gl [ vB2 = vA2 – 4g(l) ]

vc = 3gl [ vC2 = vA2 – 2g(l)] and TA = 6mg, TB = 0, Tc = 3mg

(c) 2gl < u < 5gl Þ not complete the loop and leave the circular path.

Tension becomes zero between points C and B but speed v ¹ 0 in this case.
60 E
 Physics

(d) u= 2gl Þ T = 0 and v = 0 at point C.

Particle will horizontal about point A.

(e) u< 2gl v = 0 in between A and C, but T ¹ O oscillates about 'A'.

m
Ex. A particle of mass 'm' tied at with a string of length l is released from horizontal l
position as shown is fig. Find the velocity at the lowest portion.

1 2
S o l . apply COME mgl = mv Þ v = 2gl
2
Ex. A 4 kg ball swing in a vertical circle at the end of a cord 1m long. Find the maximum speed at which it can swing
if the cord can sustain maximum tension of 163.6 N.

mv 2
Sol. T = + mg \ v = 5.6 m/s
r
Ex. A ball is released from height 'h' as shown, which of the following condition
hold good for the particle to complete the circular path. h

5 R
Sol. v = 2gh ³ 5gR Þ 2gh ³ 5gR r h³ R
2
Ex. A circular overbridge having radius 20m, what is the maximum speed with which a car can cross the bridge
without leaving contact with ground at the heighest point ( g = 9.8 m/sec2 )
N
mv 2 v
S o l . For motion, mg – N =
r mg
When reaction N becomes zero, contact is about to leave

mv2
\ mg = or v = rg = 14 m/s
r
Ex. A ring rotates about z-axis as shown in fig. The plane of rotation is x-y plane. At a certain instant the acceleration
of a particle P (Shown in fig.) on the ring is (6$i - 8 $j ) m/sec2 . At that instant what is the angular acceleration and
angular velocity of the ring ? y at=6
r r r r r
Sol. a = a T + aC here a C is along – $j and a T is along $i
w r=8
2
x
r
given a = 6$i - 8$j r aT = 6 = a r and aC = 8 = w 2 r O 2m

r 6 r
ˆ , w ˆ
now a = = 3 rad/s2 ( -k) = 2 rad/s ( -k)
2
Ex. A particle of mass 'm' slide down form the vertex of hemisphere, without any intial velocity. At what height
from the horizontal will the particle leave the sphere.

mv 2 m
u=0 N
S o l . At point P mg cosq – N =
R P
To leave the contact N =0 so v2 = gR cosq
q

q
os

v
gc

h
m

1 q
by law of conservation of energy 0 + mg R = mv2 + mgh mg
2

h 2
v2 = 2g (R -h) = gR cosq (Q cos q = ) r h= R
R 3

E 61
CIRCULAR TURNING AND BANKING OF ROADS

External forc e s act ing on car

(I) Weight 'mg'
(ii) Normal contact force N
(iii) Friction force = f
f ® static friction force and it is self adjustable.
The tyres get a tendency to skid outwords and frictional force which opposes this skidding acts. towards
the centre.
N
mv2
for a safe turn f>
r
There is a limit to magnitude of the frictional force. f

f = mN m = coefficient of friction mg
[ N = mg for vertical equilibrium]

mv 2 v2
or £ mmg r m³ r vmax = mrg
r rg
friction is not always reliable at circular turns if high speed and sharp turns are involved.
To avoid the dependence on friction, the roads are banked at the turn. So that the outer part of the road is some what
lifted up as compared to the inner part. This is known as banking of the road.
At correct speed, horizontal component of 'N" is sufficient to produce the acceleration towards the centre and
the self adjustable frictional force keeps its value zero.

mv 2 Ncosq
N sinq = ...(1) N
r q

N cosq = mg ...(2) Nsinq

h
2
v h f
tanq = =
rg b
mg
b
here h is height of the outer edge and b is width of the road.
Ex. When the string of a conical pendulum makes an angle of 45° with the vertical, its time period is T1. When the

T12
string makes an angle of 60° with the vertical, time period is T2. Then find the value of .
T22

S o l . Time period of conical pendulum is T = 2p h g where h = lcosq

T12 cos 45° 1 2 2 2

Therefore T µ cos q Þ 2 = = = × = 2
T2 cos 60° 12 2 2
Ex. A particle moves in a circle of radius 20 cm. Its linear speed is given by v = (3t2 +5t) where t is in seconds and
v is in m/s. Find the resultant acceleration at t = 1 s.

dv d
S o l . Tangential acceleration at = = (3t2 + 5t) = 6t + 5
dt dt
62 E
 Physics
at t = 1 s : at = 6 × 1 + 5 = 11 m/s.2 and velocity v = 3t2 + 5 t = 3 × 1 + 5 × 1 = 8 m/s

v2 (8)2 64
\ radial acc ar = = = = 320 m/s2
r 0.2 02
.

\ Resultant acceleration a = (a t )2 + ( a r ) 2 = (11)2 + (320)2 = 320.189 m/s2

Ex. A particle of mass 100 gm is suspended from the end of a weightless string of length 100cm. and is allowed to
swing in a vertical plane. The speed of the mass is 200 cm/s. when the string makes an angle of 60° with the
vertical axis. Determine the tension in the string at 60°.

S o l . Tension at point (B)

mv 2B O
TB
vB=200cm/s
F net = F cp Þ T B – mgcos60° =
towards O
l B

60
mg
cos

°
A 60°

60
b g

°
2
mv 2
B 100 200 1 vA mg
TB = + mgcos60° = + 100 × (1000) ×
l 100 2
= 40,000 + 50,000 = 90,000 dyne = 0.9 × 10 5 dyne = 0.9 N
Ex. In a vertical circular motion, tension at the highest point is equal to the weight of the particle, then find
the speed and tension at the lowest point. Mass of the particle is m = 9.5kg and length of string is l =
10 m (g = 10 m/s 2 ) 2
mv
m l
mv 2
S o l . At the highest point T + mg = given T = mg T
l l
mg

mv 2
\ mg + mg = Þ v 2 = 2lg Þ v = 2lg
l A

by conservation of mechanical energy between top most & lowest point

1 1 1 1
mv 2 + mg (2l) = mv 12 r m (2lg) + 2mgl = mv 2
2 2 2 2 1

6gl = v 12 Þ v1 = 6g l T

mv12 m mv2
At lowest point T = mg + = mg + × 6gl l mg
l l

T = 7mg = 665N and v1 = 6gl = 24.49 m/s

E 63