CIRCULAR MOTION

Angular displacement Angular velocity Angular acceleration

s
q
r

s = rq

s = linear displacement

r = radius

q = angular displacement

1 rev = 2p rad = 360o

( For the equation s = r q , the unit of q must be radian. )

Exercises

1. An object of mass 10 kg is whirled round a horizontal circle of radius 4 m

by a revolving string is inclined to the vertical.

If the uniform speed of the object is 5 ms-1, calculate

(i) the tension in the string,

(ii) the angle of inclination of the string to the vertical. ( Ans: 116.24 N, 32.53o )
2. Figure shows a toy runway. After release from a point such as X, a small model car runs down the slope, ‘ loops
the loop’, and travels on towards Z. The radius of the loop is 0.25 m. What is the minimum value of h the car can
have at P in order to remain in contact with the runway? ( Neglect the effect of friction. ) ( Ans: 0.625 m )
N

mg
Kepler’s laws

1. The planets describe ellipses about the sun as one focus.

2. The line joining the sun and the planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

3. The squares of the periods of revolution of the planets are proportional to the

cubes of their mean distances from the sun. ( T2  r3 )

Exercises