Circular Motion and Gravitation

AP Physics 1

Circular Motion • An object that is in uniform circular motion is constantly changing direction with a constant speed
(magnitude of velocity)
• The direction of the velocity is always tangent to the circle through which the object moves.
• Period (T): time needed to complete one circle
∆𝑥 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 2𝜋𝑟
o 𝑣= = =
∆𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 𝑇
1
• Frequency (f): number of circles completed in one second: 𝑓 =
𝑇
o Unit = seconds-1 = Hertz
• Since the velocity vector is changing, the object is accelerating
• The acceleration is directed towards the center of the circle: centripetal (adjective).
𝑣2
o Magnitude of acceleration: 𝑎𝑐 =
𝑟
• A net force is required to cause an acceleration: this net force is also centripetal (adjective).
• Practically any force or combination of forces can be centripetal
• Anytime we are analyzing forces, we must draw a Free Body Diagram!
o Object in a vertical circle – don’t forget gravity!
Gravitational • Caused by the mass of an object (specifically the gravitational mass) measured in kilograms.
Fields (g) • Unit = N/kg
• Extends over a distance: Gets smaller with increasing distance: depends on the inverse of the
1
distance square: 𝑔 ∝ 2
𝑟
𝐺𝑀
o 𝑔= 2
𝑟
o G = universal gravitational constant
o G = 6.67 x 10-11 N∙kg2/m2 everywhere in the universe (as far as we know).
o Since G is very small, gravitational fields are very weak unless near a mass M that is very
large (for example, Earth).
• 𝑔𝐸𝑎𝑟𝑡ℎ = 9.8 𝑁⁄𝑘𝑔
Gravitational • Exerted on objects with gravitational mass in a gravitational field
Force (Fg) • Unit is Newton’s just like other forces
• All objects have mass, so there is gravitational force between all objects (universal gravitation)
• Very weak force
• Gravitational force near the surface of a planet is also known as weight.
o 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔
𝐺𝑚 𝑚
o 𝐹𝐺 = 12 2
𝑟
o m1 causes the gravitational field that exerts a force on m2 and m2 causes the gravitational
field that exerts a force on m1
• There is only one kind of mass, so gravitational forces are always attractive (this is not true of other
forces, such as the electric force, magnetic forces, etc.).
• Systems with multiple planets – draw the Free Body Diagram, calculate each force independently,
and then add as normal.
Gravitational • The potential energy in a system of massive objects depends on their mass and their position:
Energy (Ug) 𝐺𝑚 𝑚
o 𝑈𝑔 = − 1 2
𝑟
o The energy is defined to be zero when the objects are infinitely far apart (r = ∞)
o As objects move closer together they lose energy, so the gravitational potential energy is
negative.
Circular Orbits • Satellite: an object that orbits another object. Ex: the moon is a satellite of Earth
• In general orbits are elliptical: some orbits are very close to being circular.
o The orbit of the moon around the Earth is very elliptical
o The orbit of the Earth around the sun is approximately circular
• For a circular orbit or a small part of an elliptical orbit, the gravitational force is centripetal.
o 𝐹𝑔 = 𝐹𝑐𝑝
• Caution: for an orbit close to a planet, the radius of the planet may be a significant component of the
radius of orbit
• For an object-satellite system, energy and angular momentum is conserved: often these conservation
laws are more useful than analyzing the forces.

Circular Motion and Gravitation Review

 1. A small ball of mass m is attached to a string of length l and swung in a
counterclockwise vertical circle as shown in the diagram to the right at a constant
velocity. At time t = 0 s, the ball is in the position shown at the top of the circle. l

a) The period of the ball’s revolution is T. On the graphs below, sketch the horizontal
(x) component and vertical (y) component of the ball’s position with respect to time for
the three-period interval shown. Label the vertical axis of each graph appropriately.
Let up be the positive y direction and right be the positive x direction.

x y

T 2T t (s) T 2T t (s)

b) On the diagrams below, draw a free body diagram showing the forces acting on the ball when it is:

i. at the top of its circle ii. at the bottom of its circle.

c) Derive an expression for the minimum velocity, vmin, that the ball must have in order to move through the circle.
Express your answer in terms of m, l, and fundamental constants as appropriate. Do not substitute any numerical
values for variables or physical constants.

d) The maximum tension the string can withstand without breaking is Tmax. Derive an expression for the maximum
velocity, vmax, the ball can be swung with before the string breaks. Express your answer in terms of m, l, and
fundamental constants as appropriate. Do not substitute any numerical values for variables or physical constants.

Circular Motion and Gravitation Review

2. A satellite is in a circular orbit around a planet of unknown mass and radius R such that its height above the
surface of the planet is 2R, at a constant speed of vs.

a) Derive an expression for the mass of the planet. Express your answer in terms of vs, R, and fundamental constants
as appropriate.

b) Derive an expression for the gravitational field strength on the surface of the planet. Express your answer in
terms of vs, R, and fundamental constants as appropriate.

c) A cool space robot is launched from satellite

and descends to the surface of the planet. On the
Weight of Robot

graph to the right, sketch a graph of the weight of

the robot as a function of its position from the
surface of the planet. It is not necessary to add
numbers to the vertical axis.

Explain the shape of your graph below, using

appropriate physics principles.
R 2R 3R 4R
.

d) An asteroid is observed to be orbiting the same planet in a circular orbit at a distance twice as far away from the
surface of the planet as the satellite. How does the speed of the asteroid, vA, compare to the speed of the satellite, vs?

vA < vs _____ vA = vs _____ vA > vs _____

Explain your reasoning using appropriate physics principles or mathematical models.

Circular Motion and Gravitation Review

Sample Multiple Choice Questions

1. A spacecraft is placed in a circular orbit around a planet with mass 6.4 x 10 23 kg. The spacecraft orbits at a
height of 4.5 x 107 m above the planet’s surface. What additional information is needed to calculate the speed of the
spacecraft in the orbit?

a) no additional information b) the planet’s radius only

c) the spacecraft’s mass only d) both the planet’s radius and the spacecraft’s mass

2. While traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is
getting closer to the Sun. Which of the following can be used to explain this gain in speed?

a) As Mars gets closer to the Sun, the Mars–Sun system loses potential energy and Mars gains kinetic energy.
b) A component of the gravitational force exerted on Mars is perpendicular to the direction of motion, causing an
acceleration and hence a gain in speed along that direction.
c) The torque exerted on Mars by the Sun during this segment of the orbit increases the Mars–Sun system’s angular
momentum.
d) The centripetal force exerted on Mars is greater than the gravitational force during this segment of the orbit,
causing Mars to gain speed as it gets closer to the Sun.

3. Each of five satellites makes a circular orbit about an object that is much more massive than any of the satellites.
The mass and orbital radius of each satellite is given below. Which satellite has the greatest speed?

Mass Radius
a) ½m R
b) m ½R
c) m 2R
d) 2m R

4. A newly discovered planet is found to have a mass twice that of the mass of the Earth with a radius of four times
the Earth’s radius. The gravitational field strength at the surface of this planet is most nearly

a) 1.2 N/kg b) 2.5 N/kg c) 5.0 N/kg d) 7.5 N/kg

Questions 5 – 6:

An amusement park ride consists of a large vertical wheel of radius R that

rotates counterclockwise on a horizontal axis through its center, as shown to
the right. The cars on the wheel move at a constant speed v. Points A and D
represent the position of a car at the highest and lowest point of the ride,
respectively. While passing point A, the person releases a small rock of mass
m, which falls to the ground without hitting anything.

5. Which of the following best describes the passenger’s linear and angular velocity while passing point A?

Linear Velocity Angular Velocity

a) Constant Changing
b) Constant Constant
c) Changing Changing
d) Changing Constant

6. The kinetic energy of the rock when it is at the same height as point D is most nearly
1 1 1 1
a) 𝑚𝑣 2 b) 2𝑚𝑔𝑅 c) 2𝑚𝑔𝑅 d) 𝑚(𝑣 2 + 4𝑔𝑅)
2 2 4 2

Circular Motion and Gravitation Review