12-Motion in A Circle

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022 Revision Notes savemyexams.co.
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YOUR NOTES
12. Motion in a Circle ⬇
CONTENTS
12.1 Kinematics of Uniform Circular Motion
12.1.1 Radians & Angular Displacement
12.1.2 Angular Speed
12.2 Centripetal Acceleration

12.2.1 Centripetal Acceleration
12.2.2 Calculating Centripetal Acceleration
12.2.3 Calculating Centripetal Force
12.1 KINEMATICS OF UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION
12.1.1 RADIANS & ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT
Radians & Angular Displacement
In circular motion, it is more convenient to measure angular displacement in units of radians

rather than units of degrees
The angular displacement (θ) of a body in circular motion is defined as:
The change in angle, in radians, of a body as it rotates around a circle
The angular displacement is the ratio of:
Note: both distances must be measured in the same units e.g. metres
A radian (rad) is defined as:
The angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the
radius of the circle
Angular displacement can be calculated using the equation:
CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

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REVISION NOTES TOPIC QUESTIONS PAST PAPERS
CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022 Revision Notes savemyexams.co.uk
YOUR NOTES
When the angle is equal to one radian, the length of the arc (Δs) is equal to the radius (r)
of the circle
Where:
Δθ = angular displacement, or angle of rotation (radians)
s = length of the arc, or the distance travelled around the circle (m)
r = radius of the circle (m)
Radians are commonly written in terms of π
The angle in radians for a complete circle (360o) is equal to:
If an angle of 360o = 2π radians, then 1 radian in degrees is equal to:

YOUR NOTES
Use the following equation to convert from degrees to radians:
Table of common degrees to radians conversions

YOUR NOTES
Worked example: Radians conversion

YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
• You will notice your calculator has a degree (Deg) and radians (Rad) mode
• This is shown by the “D” or “R” highlighted at the top of the screen
• Remember to make sure it’s in the right mode when using trigonometric functions (sin, cos,
tan) depending on whether the answer is required in degrees or radians
• It is extremely common for students to get the wrong answer (and lose marks) because their
calculator is in the wrong mode – make sure this doesn’t happen to you!

YOUR NOTES
12.1.2 ANGULAR SPEED
Angular Speed
Any object travelling in a uniform circular motion at the same speed travels with a
constantly changing velocity
This is because it is constantly changing direction, and is therefore accelerating
The angular speed (⍵) of a body in circular motion is defined as:
The rate of change in angular displacement with respect to time
Angular speed is a scalar quantity, and is measured in rad s-1
When an object is in uniform circular motion, velocity constantly changes direction, but
the speed stays the same
Calculating Angular Speed
Taking the angular displacement of a complete cycle as 2π, the angular speed ⍵ can be
calculated using the equation:

YOUR NOTES
Where:
Δθ = change in angular displacement (radians )
Δt = time interval (s)
T = the time period (s)
f = frequency (Hz)
Angular velocity is the same as angular speed, but it is a vector quantity
When an object travels at constant linear speed v in a circle of radius r, the angular velocity
is equal to:
Where:
v is the linear speed (m s-1)
r is the radius of orbit (m)
This equation tells us:

The greater the rotation angle θ in a given amount of time, the greater the angular
velocity ⍵
An object rotating further from the centre of the circle (larger r) moves with a faster
angular velocity (larger ⍵)

YOUR NOTES
Worked example: Angular speed

YOUR NOTES
12.2 CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION
12.2.1 CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION
What Causes Centripetal Acceleration?
Velocity and acceleration are both vector quantities
An object in uniform circular motion is continuously changing direction, and therefore is

constantly changing velocity
The object must therefore be accelerating
This is called the centripetal acceleration and is perpendicular to the direction of the
linear speed
Centripetal means it acts towards the centre of the circular path
Centripetal force and acceleration are always directed towards the centre of the circle

YOUR NOTES
The centripetal acceleration is caused by a centripetal force of constant magnitude that

also acts perpendicular to the direction of motion (towards the centre)
Therefore, the centripetal acceleration and force act in the same direction
Exam Tip
• The linear speed is sometimes referred to as the ‘tangential’ speed

• A tangent is a straight line which touches a circle or curve at exactly one
point
• The key feature of a tangent of a circle is that it always acts
perpendicular to its radius
• You can find out more in the A Level Maths revision notes on Tangents
Relating Centripetal Acceleration & Angular Speed
An object travelling in uniform circular motion has centripetal acceleration, yet its angular
speed (⍵) is constant
This is because speed is a scalar quantity, whilst velocity is a vector quantity
Therefore, angular speed is the magnitude (size) component of angular velocity
Key ideas to remember:

Angular speed (magnitude) stays constant, angular velocity (direction) is constantly
changing
Angular speed does not change with radius, but linear speed does
The object’s centripetal acceleration is always directed toward the centre of the
circle, and is perpendicular to the object’s velocity at any one time
Velocity and acceleration are both defined by a change in direction, not just a
change in the magnitude

YOUR NOTES
Exam Tip
We are used to the idea of acceleration meaning something is speeding up.

So, it might sound counterintuitive to say an object travelling in a circle is
accelerating, yet it also has constant speed. This is where the idea of scalars
and vectors would be useful to revisit if you are not confident with this
concept.

YOUR NOTES
12.2.2 CALCULATING CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION
Calculating Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal acceleration can be defined using the radius r and linear speed v:
Using the equation relating angular speed ω and linear speed v:
v = r⍵
These equations can be combined to give us another form of the centripetal acceleration
equation:
This equation tells us centripetal acceleration is equal to the radius times the square of the
angular speed
Alternatively, rearrange for r:
This equation can be combined with the first one to give us another form of the centripetal
acceleration equation:
This equation tells us centripetal acceleration is equal to the linear speed times the angular
speed

YOUR NOTES
Centripetal acceleration is always directed toward the centre of the circle, and is
perpendicular to the object’s velocity
Where:
a = centripetal acceleration (m s-2)
v = linear speed (m s-1)
⍵ = angular speed (rad s-1)
r = radius of the orbit (m)

YOUR NOTES
Worked example: Centripetal acceleration

YOUR NOTES
12.2.3 CALCULATING CENTRIPETAL FORCE
Calculating Centripetal Force
An object moving in a circle is not in equilibrium, it has a resultant force acting upon it
This is known as the centripetal force and is what keeps the object moving in a circle
The centripetal force (F) is defined as:
The resultant perpendicular force towards the centre of the the circle needed to
keep a body in uniform circular motion
Centripetal force can be calculated using:
Centripetal force is always perpendicular to the direction of travel
Where:
F = centripetal force (N)
v = linear velocity (m s-1)
⍵ = angular speed (rad s-1)
r = radius of the orbit (m)

YOUR NOTES
Note: centripetal force and centripetal acceleration act in the same direction
This is due to Newton’s Second Law
The centripetal force is not a separate force of its own

It can be any type of force, depending on the situation, which keeps an object moving
in a circular path
Examples of centripetal force

YOUR NOTES
Worked example: Centripetal force


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CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022 Revision Notes savemyexams.co.

12.1.2 Angular Speed

12.2 Centripetal Acceleration

12.2.2 Calculating Centripetal Acceleration

12.2.3 Calculating Centripetal Force

12.1 KINEMATICS OF UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

12.1.1 RADIANS & ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT

Radians & Angular Displacement

In circular motion, it is more convenient to measure angular displacement in units of radians

The angular displacement (θ) of a body in circular motion is deﬁned as:

The change in angle, in radians, of a body as it rotates around a circle

The angular displacement is the ratio of:

A radian (rad) is deﬁned as:

Angular displacement can be calculated using the equation:

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

r = radius of the circle (m)

Radians are commonly written in terms of π

The angle in radians for a complete circle (360o) is equal to:

If an angle of 360o = 2π radians, then 1 radian in degrees is equal to:

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

Use the following equation to convert from degrees to radians:

Table of common degrees to radians conversions

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

Worked example: Radians conversion

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

12.1.2 ANGULAR SPEED

This is because it is constantly changing direction, and is therefore accelerating

The angular speed (⍵) of a body in circular motion is deﬁned as:

The rate of change in angular displacement with respect to time

Angular speed is a scalar quantity, and is measured in rad s-1

Calculating Angular Speed

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

Δt = time interval (s)

T = the time period (s)

Angular velocity is the same as angular speed, but it is a vector quantity

v is the linear speed (m s-1)

r is the radius of orbit (m)

This equation tells us:

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

Worked example: Angular speed

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

12.2 CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION

12.2.1 CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION

What Causes Centripetal Acceleration?

Velocity and acceleration are both vector quantities

An object in uniform circular motion is continuously changing direction, and therefore is

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

The centripetal acceleration is caused by a centripetal force of constant magnitude that

• The linear speed is sometimes referred to as the ‘tangential’ speed

Relating Centripetal Acceleration & Angular Speed

Therefore, angular speed is the magnitude (size) component of angular velocity

Key ideas to remember:

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

We are used to the idea of acceleration meaning something is speeding up.

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

12.2.2 CALCULATING CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION

Calculating Centripetal Acceleration

Using the equation relating angular speed ω and linear speed v:

Alternatively, rearrange for r:

CIE A Level Physics (9702) exams from 2022

a = centripetal acceleration (m s-2)

v = linear speed (m s-1)