Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

Specific Outcome: Period and Frequency
i. I can explain, qualitatively and quantitatively, that the acceleration in
Speed of Circular Motion
uniform circular motion is directed toward the centre of a circle.
ii. I can explain, quantitatively, the relationships among speed, frequency, Centripetal Force
period and radius for circular motion. Centripetal Acceleration
iii. I can summarize an analysis of the relationships among frequency, mass,
speed and path radius.

Centripetal Force and Acceleration Centripetal Force and Acceleration

Period and Frequency Speed of Circular Motion

Period and frequency may be related for
Remember that we can determine average
circular motion: speed for linear motion (Unit 1):
1 where: d
T= v=
f t
T = period or time for a complete
revolution (s)
For one complete revolution of circular
OR
f = frequency or number of complete motion, we can substitute the following:
revolutions per second (rps or Hz)
f=
1  circumference (2πr) for distance (d)
T To convert rpm to rps, divide by 60!
 period (T) for time (t)
Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

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 Speed of Circular Motion Speed of Circular Motion

This gives us an equation for circular motion: ex. A car travels in a circular path of radius 30 m, and
takes 60 s to make a complete circle. What is the
πr
2π
v= speed of the car?
T πr
2π π)(30 m)
(2π
v= = = 3.1 m/s
where: T 60 s
v = tangential speed (m/s)
r = radius (m)
T = period (s)

Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

Centripetal Force Centripetal Force

For uniform circular motion, centripetal
For uniform circular motion, centripetal
force is related to mass, speed and radius by: force is related to mass, radius and period
by:
where:
where:
mv2 Fc = centripetal force (N)
Fc = centripetal force (N)
Fc = m = mass (kg) π2mr
4π
r Fc = m = mass (kg)
r = radius (m) T2
r = radius (m)
v = speed (m/s)
T = period (s)
Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

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 Centripetal Force Centripetal Force

Converting period into frequency gives us ex. A 2.0 kg rubber stopper travels at 20 m/s in a
another equation for centripetal force: circular path of radius 10 m. Find the centripetal
force.
where: mv2 (2.0 kg)(20 m/s)2
Fc = = = 80 N
Fc = centripetal force (N) r 10 m
π2mrf2
Fc = 4π m = mass (kg) ex. An object with a mass of 2.0 kg travels in a circular
path of radius 20 m in 15 s. Find the centripetal
r = radius (m)
force.
f = frequency (rps or Hz) π2mr
4π π)2(2.0 kg)(20 m)
4(π
Fc = = = 7.0 N
T2 (15 s)2
Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

Centripetal Force Centripetal Force

ex. A 10 kg object travels in a circular path at 30 rps. If ex. A Ferris wheel gondola has a mass of 51.5 kg. It
the radius is 10 m, find the centripetal force. takes 57 N of centripetal force to move the
gondola. If the Ferris wheel makes a turn every 28
π2mrf2 = 4π
Fc = 4π π2(10 kg)(10 m)(30 rps)2 seconds, determine the radius of the wheel.
= 3.6 x 106 N
FcT2 (57 N)(28 s)2
ex. A 5.00 kg bucket is swung in a circle of radius 1.2 r= = = 22 m
m. A force of 90 N is used. Find the bucket’s speed. π2m
4π π)2(51.5 kg)
4(π
Fcr (90 N)(1.2 m)
v= = = 4.6 m/s
m 5.00 kg

Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

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 Centripetal Acceleration Centripetal Acceleration

We may combine Newton’s 2nd law with the
Eliminating mass gives us the following
first equation for centripetal force: equation for centripetal acceleration:
mv2 where:
Fc = mac Fc =
r v2 ac = centripetal acceleration (m/s2)

This gives us: ac =
r v = tangential speed (m/s)
mv2
Fc = mac = r = radius (m)
r

Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B

Centripetal Acceleration Centripetal Acceleration

ex. A small ball on a string travels at 5.0 m/s in a
Two other equations for centripetal
circular path of radius 2.00 m. Find the centripetal acceleration:
acceleration.
where:
ac =
v2
=
(5.0 m/s)2
= 13 m/s2 π2r
4π
ac = ac = centripetal acceleration (m/s2)
r 2.00 m T2
r = radius (m)

π2rf2
ac = 4π T = period (s)
f = frequency (rps or Hz)

Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B Dulku – Physics 20 – Unit 3 (Circular Motion, Work and Energy) – Topic B