NAME:___________________________ CLASS:______________( )

Uniform Circular Motion

Chapter 11

Classwork
 Uniform Circular Motion

11.1 - Angular Velocity

1. Calculate the angular speeds for the following motions:

(a) the rotation of the Earth about its axis through the poles; [Ans: 7.27×10-5 s-1]
(b) the minute hand of a clock; and [Ans: 1.75×10-3 s-1]
(c) a 52x DVD spinning at 10, 000 rpm (rev per minute). [Ans: 1050 s-1]

!" !$
(a) ω = = = 7.27 × 10*+ rad s*,
# !%×'())
!" !$
(b) ω = = = 1.75 × 10*' rad s*,
# '())
,)))(!")
(c) ω = = 1050 rad s*,
()

2. A satellite makes a complete circular orbit once in 12 hours. The radius of the orbit is 4.2 ×
107 m. Find
(a) its angular speed; and [Ans: 1.45×10-4 s-1]
(b) its linear speed. [Ans: 6110 m s-1]

(a) (b)
2π
ω= v = rω
T
2@ = (4.2 × 10! )(1.4544 × 10"# )
=
12 × 3600
= 6108.5 m s"$
= 1.4544 × 10"# BCD E "$

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 Uniform Circular Motion

3. A turntable is rotated with an angular speed of 1.57 s-1. Calculate

(a) the number of revolutions performed by the turntable per second; [Ans: 0.250]
(b) the period of the turntable; and [Ans: 4.00 s]
(c) the angular displacement made by the turntable in 2 second. [Ans: 3.14]

(a) (b) (c)

1
ω = 2πf T = θ = ωt
f
1.57 = 2πf 1 = 1.57(2)
=
0.24987
f = 0.24987 Hz = 3.14 rad
= 4.0020 s

4. An object moves round a circle of radius 5 m at 2 revolutions per second. Calculate

(a) the angular frequency; [Ans: 12.6 s-1]
(b) the period; and [Ans: 0.5 s]
(c) the linear speed of the object. [Ans: 62.8 m s-1]

(a) (b) (c)

1
ω = 2πf T= v = rω
f
= 2π(2) = 0.5 s = (5)(12.566)

= 12.566 rad s "$ = 62.830 m s "$

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 Uniform Circular Motion

11.2 – Centripetal force

1. The Earth’s circular orbit around the Sun has a radius of about 1.5 × 1011 m and a period of
365.25 days.
(a) Find the orbital frequency (i.e. angular frequency) of the Earth around the Sun.
[Ans: 1.99 × 10-7 s-1]
(b) Find the linear speed of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun. [Ans: 2.99 × 104 m s-1]
(c) Find the acceleration of the Earth towards the Sun. [Ans: 5.95 × 10-3 m s-2]

!"
(a) ω = #

!"
=
$%&.!&×!)×$%**

= 1.99 × 10+, (rad s-1)

(b) v = ωr
= 1.99 × 10+, (1.5 × 10-- )
= 2.99 × 10) (m s-1)
(c) a = ω! .
= (1.99 × 10+, )! (1.5 × 10-- )
= 5.9461 × 10+$ (m s-2)

2. Tina on a merry-go-round is moving at a speed of 1.2 m s-1 when she is sitting 1.5 m from
the centre of the merry-go-round.
(a) Find the angular speed of Tina. [Ans: 0.8 rad s-1]
(b) Determine the centripetal force experienced by Tina which has a mass of 30 kg.
[Ans: 28.8 N]

(a) v = ωr
1.2 = ω(1.5)
ω = 0.8 (rad s-1)
./!
(b) Fc =
0

$*(-.!)!
= -.&
= 28.8 (N)

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 Uniform Circular Motion

3. A 0.3 kg ball, attached to end of a string, is whirled in a horizontal circle of radius 0.6 m. It
makes 3.5 revolutions per second.
(a) Find the period of the ball’s motion. [Ans: 0.286 s]
(b) Find the angular speed of the ball. [Ans: 22.0 rad s-1]
(c) The string will break when the tension in it exceeds 100 N, what is the maximum angular
speed of the ball can move? [Ans: 23.6 rad s-1]

(a) f = 3.5 Hz
- -
T= 3
= $.& = 0.286 ())
!4 !"
(b) ω= 5
= *.!6% = 22.0 (,-. ) +- )
or ω = 2πf = 22.0 (rad s +- )

(c) Fc = mω! ,
100 = 0.36789 ! (0.6)
6789 = 23.6 (,-. ) +- )

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 Uniform Circular Motion

4. The rotating disc, of radius 15 cm, on a turntable rotates with a frequency of 0.5 rev/sec.
two small coins of identical mass 20 g are placed on the disc as shown and rotates without
slipping. The maximum friction between the coin and disc is 0.08 N.

7.5 cm
Coin A

Coin B
15 cm

(a) Find the angular speed of the coins. [Ans: 3.14 s-1]
(b) Find the friction of each coin with the disc. [Ans: 0.0296 N, 0.0148 N]
(c) If the rotating disc rotates faster and faster, which coin will slip first? And determine
the maximum possible frequency of rotation of the disc before the first coin slips.
[Ans: 5.16 s-1]

(a) ω = 2πf
= 2π(0.5)
= 3.14 (rad s-1)
(b) for coin A:
fA = m+! rA
= 0.02(3.14)2(0.15)
= 0.0296 (N)
for coin B:
fB = m+! rB
= 0.02(3.14)2(0.075)
= 0.0148 (N)
(c) Coin A will reach its maximum linear speed and slips first.
fmax = m+789 ! rA
0.08 = 0.02 +789 ! (0.15)
+789 = 5.16 (rad s-1)

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 Uniform Circular Motion

11.3 – Conical Pendulum

(g = 9.81 ms-2)
1. A ball of 2 kg mass suspended from a 1 m string is moving at a constant speed in a horizontal
circle as shown. The string makes an angle of 60˚with the vertical.

(a) Find the tension of the string. [Ans: 39.2 N] 1m 60˚

Ty
(b) Find the angular speed of the ball. [Ans: 4.43 s-1] T

T!

(a) In vertical direction,

Ty = mg
T cos60˚ = 2(9.81)
T = 39.24 N
(b) In horizontal direction,
T x = FC
T sin60˚=mω! #
T sin60˚=2ω! (1)sin60˚
39.24 = 2ω!
ω = 4.43 (rad s-1)

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 Uniform Circular Motion

2. A conical pendulum is formed by attaching a 0.1 kg mass to a string. The mass swings around
a circle of radius 0.3 m at an angular speed of 5 rad s-1.
(a) Find the centripetal force needed by the mass. [Ans: 0.75 N] ω = 5 s-1
(b) Find the angle between the string and the vertical. [Ans: 37.4˚]
(c) Find the tension in the string. [Ans: 1.23 N / 1.24 N]

(a) FC = mω! # 0.3 m

= 0.1(5)2(0.3)
= 0.75 (N)

:"
(b) tanθ = ;
*.,&
= *.-(<.6-)

θ = 37.40°

(c) Tsinθ = /=
Tsin37.40° = 0.75
T = 1.23 (N)

3. A conical pendulum is formed by attaching a 2 kg mass to a string. The mass swings around
a circle of radius 0.5 m at a speed of 3 m s-1.
(a) Find the angle between the string and the vertical. [Ans: 61.4˚]
(b) Find the tension in the string. [Ans: 41.0 N]

./!
(a) Tsinθ = ……(1)
0
Tcosθ = mg ……(2) Ty
T
/!
(1) ÷ (2), tanθ = >0
T!
$!
tanθ = <.6-(*.&)
θ = 61.4° W
(b) by (2), T cos61.4° = 2(9.81)
T = 41.0 (N)

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 Uniform Circular Motion

4. An aircraft is flying at a constant speed of 500 km h-1 in a horizontal circle of radius 4 km as

shown.

R: Upthrust
Centre of
circular path

θ
W: Weight
To turn around, the aircraft is banked as shown. So the horizontal component of the lifting
force provides the necessary centripetal force to the aircraft.
(a) Draw the free body diagram for the turning aircraft.
(b) Find
(i) the acceleration experienced by the aircraft. [Ans: 4.82 m s-2]
(ii) the angle θ through which the airplane must tilt in order to perform the circular
motion. [Ans: 26.2˚]

/!
(b) (i) centripetal acceleration = 0
#$$$ %
?&**×%&$$@
= )***
= 4.82 (m s-1)
:"
(ii) tanθ =
;

.().6!)
tanθ =
.(<.6-)

θ = 26.2°

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 Uniform Circular Motion

5. A marble of mass 0.005 kg is made to move in a horizontal circle radius 10 cm inside a smooth
cone as shown in figure below.

R: normal reaction
30°
10 cm

60˚

W: weight
A
(a) Draw a free-body diagram for the marble in the space below.
(b) (i) Find the normal force exerted on the marble. [Ans: 0.0566 N]
(ii) What is the centripetal force acting on the marble? [Ans: 0.0283 N]
(iii) What is the speed of the marble. [Ans: 0.752 m s−1]

(b) (i) Rcos30°= W

Rcos30° = 0.005(9.81)
R = 0.0566 N
(ii) Fc = Rsin30°
=0.0566(0.5)
=0.0283 N
./!
(iii) Fc =
0

/!
0.0283=0.005*.-
v = 0.752 m s−1

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 Uniform Circular Motion

11.4 – Conical Pendulum (II)

(g = 9.81 ms-2)
1. A remote-controlled airplane of mass m is tied to an inextensible string of length L and moves
in a horizontal circular path as shown. The string makes an angle θ with the vertical.

θ
T: tension
airplane

W: weight
(a) Draw the free body of the remote-controlled airplane.
(b) Express the orbital radius r of the airplane in terms of L and θ.
(c) Show that the tension of the string T is directly proportional to the square of angular
speed of the airplane (i.e, T ∝ "! ).
(d) When the angular speed of the airplane increases, how does it affect the angle θ?
Explain your answer briefly.

(c) When the angular speed of the airplane increases, the centripetal force
required by the airplane increases. Thus both the tension and the angle
θ increase to provide the larger centripetal force and balance the weight
of the airplane.

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 Uniform Circular Motion

2. A bob of mass 0.01 kg is connected to a vertical pole by two identical light strings of length
1 m. It is then set into uniform circular motion with a period of 1.5 s, and the string make an
angle of 45° with the pole as shown.

String 1
45° T1: tension in string 1

T2: tension in string 2

45° W: weight
String 2

(a) Draw a free body diagram for the bob.

(b) Compare the magnitude of the tensions in the strings. Explain your answer briefly.
(c) Calculate the tension in the strings.

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Uniform Circular Motion

P. 12
 Uniform Circular Motion

11.5 – Cyclist on Level Road

1. A cyclist travels in a circle of radius 25 m at a constant speed of 10 m s-1. The combined mass
of the bicycle and the rider is 90 kg.

R: normal reaction W: weight

f: friction
(a) Draw a free body diagram for the system of the cyclist and the bicycle.
(b) Find the frictional force exerted by the road. [360 N]
(c) By taking moment about the centre of mass of system, find the tilted angle ! of the
bicycle. [21.8˚]

./!
(b) FC = 0

<*(-*)!
f= !&
= 360 (N)

(c) Take c.g. of the system as pivot,

τ=; = $==; c.g.
% ' sin + = , ' cos +
A R
tan + = B l
!
$%*
tan + = <*(<.6-)
f
θ = 22.18°

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 Uniform Circular Motion

(additional)
(d) Find the total force exerted by the road. [969 N, 68.1˚ to horizontal]
(e) In which direction does the cyclist topple if his tilted angle is less than that calculated
in (c)

(d) Fresultant = Q" ! + $ !

= Q360! + (90 × 9.81)!

= 953 N
A
tan 2 =
B
θ = 22.18°
∴ the resultant force is 953 N (22.18° to vertical)

(e) he will topple outward (in anti-clockwise direction)

Case I c.g.

!
Fresult

Case II Topple inward Case III c.g. Topple outward

c.g.

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 Uniform Circular Motion

2. A man rides a motorcycle and makes a turn on a level road. Suppose the motorcycle running
along the circular path of radius 20 m at a speed of 15 m s-1. The mass of the rider and the
motorcycle is 500 kg. Find
(a) the normal force of the ground to the motorcycle. [5000 N]
(b) the frictional force acting on the motorcycle, and [5625 N]
(c) the angle that the motorcycle makes with the vertical. [48.4˚]

(a) R = mg
= 500(9.81)
= 4905 (N)

./!
(b) FC =
0

&**(-&)!
f= !*
= 5625 N

A
(c) tan & =
B

&%!&
= )<*&
θ = 48.9°

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 Uniform Circular Motion

11.6 – Banked road

1. A bus turns a corner with a radius of curvature of 18 m on a banked road.

R: normal reaction

40˚ W: weight

(a) Draw the free-body diagram of the bus when the friction on the bus is zero.
(b) Find the design speed vdesign at which the friction on bus is zero. [12.3 m s-1]

(b) R cos40° = mg …(1)

./!
R sin40° = …(2)
C
/!
(2)÷(1), tan 40° = DC

v ! = 9.81(18) tan 40°

v =12.17 (m s−1)

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 Uniform Circular Motion

2. (a) Find the ideal banking angle θ for a section of a highway where the radius of
curvature is equal to 300 m if the average road speed of the car is 80 km h-1. [9.53˚]
(b) Indicate the direction of friction required to make the car turning on the banked road
in (a) if the speed of the car is
(i) lower than, and
(ii) higher than the average rood speed 80 km h-1.
car

(a) R cos40° = mg …(1)

./!
R sin40° = C
…(2)
/!
(2)÷(1), tan 1 = DC
#$$$ !
?6*×%&$$@
= <.6-($**)
θ = 9.53°

(b) (i) pointing up the slope

(ii) pointing down the slope

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 Uniform Circular Motion

3. A bus turns a corner with a radius of curvature of 18 m on a banked road. The maximum
friction for the road is 0.8 times the normal reaction. The bus initially moves in uniform
circular motion and it starts to change its speed.
R: normal reaction

f: friction
40˚ W: weight

(a) Draw the free-body diagram of the bus when it is about to skid outwards.
(b) Find the maximum speed at which the bus is starts to skid outwards. [30.0 m s-1]
(additional)
(c) Find the minimum speed at which the bus starts to skid inwards. [2.05 m s-1]

(b) R x + fx = F c Ry
R
R y - fy = W
./!
R sinθ + f cosθ = 0
…(1)
R cosθ − f sinθ = mg …(2) Rx W
fx
EFG)*°I*.6JKE)*° /!
(1)÷(2), =
JKE)*°+*.6EFG)*° >0 f fy
v =29.7 m s-1
(c) R x - fx = F c
R y + fy = W
Ry
./! R
R sinθ − f cosθ = 0
…(1)
R cosθ + f sinθ = mg …(2) fy
f
EFG)*°+*.6JKE)*° /!
(1)÷(2), = >0 Rx fx
JKE)*°I*.6EFG)*°

v =2.03 m s-1
W

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 Uniform Circular Motion

4. A circular highway curve of radius 200 m is banked at an angle 15.̊ A car of mass 1000 kg is
now travelling on the curve.

200 m car

15˚

(a) What is the ideal speed of the vehicle such that it can follow the circular curve in the
absence of friction? [22.9 m s-1]
(b) If the vehicle travels at speed of 25 m s-1,
(i) what is the direction of the friction exerted on the vehicle?
(ii) find the magnitude of the friction and normal force exerted on the vehicle.
[479.50 N, 10284.54 N]

L!
(a) tan $ = >0

L!
tan 15° = <.6-(!**)
v = 22.9 m s-1
(b) (i) down the slope
./! Ry
(ii) R sinθ + f cosθ = …(1) R
0
R cosθ − f sinθ = mg …(2)
.DI3 EFGN
from (2), R= JKEN
…(3) Rx W
fx
sub (3) into (1),
.DI3EFG-&° .L ! f fy
f cos15° + [ JKE-&°
\ sin15° = 0

/!
f(cos15° + tan15°)sin15° = m( 0 − 9 tan 15°)
f = 430 (N)
(iii) Sub f = 430 N into (3),
R = 10468 N

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 Uniform Circular Motion

11.7 – Circular Motion and Normal Force

1. A boy of mass 45 kg on a Ferris wheel moves in a vertical circle of radius 30 m. The Ferris
rotates with an angular speed of 0.5 rad s-1.
(a) Find the centripetal force acting on the boy. [337.5 N]
(b) In the boxes below, draw the weight and the normal force
exerted on the boy by the seat at:
(i) lowest position (ii) highest position

Direction of net force: Direction of net force:

Hence, indicate the direction of net force acting on the boy in each situation.
(c) Find the apparent weight felt by the boy when he is at
(i) the lowest position; [778.95 N]
(ii) the highest postion [103.95 N]
in the Ferris wheel.
(d) At which angular speed will th Ferris wheel need to make for the boy to feel weightless
at the highest positon? [0.57 rad s-1]

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 Uniform Circular Motion

2. A 1500 kg car moving at 10 m s-1 passes over a bump of radius 25 m as shown below.

(a) What the apparent weight of the driver of mass 70 kg when the car passes the highest
point of the bump? [406.7 N]
(b) Calculate the maximum speed that the car have when it passes the highest point of the
bump without losing contact with the road. [15.7 m s-1]

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 Uniform Circular Motion

3. (a) A man of mass 70 kg is rotated in a vertical cylindrical compartment. The rotor has a
radius of 5 m. When the rotor is rotated of 0.5 revolution per second. The man
inside the rotor is “pressed” against the wall not slip down.
f: friction
R: normal reaction
mg: weight

Wall of rotor
man

5m

(i) Find the normal force acting on the man by the wall of the rotor. [3454 N]
(ii) Draw a free-body diagram to show the forces acting on the man.
(iii) If the maximum friction developed between the man and the wall of the rotor is
0.3 times the normal force, find the minimum angular speed of the rotor so that
the man will not slip. [2.56 rad s-1]

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 Uniform Circular Motion

(b) In outer space, an astronaut will experience weightlessness. One way to simulate
gravity is to shape the space station like a cylinder and to make it rotate as shown.

Space station

Astronaut

The space station has a radius of 1 km. What should be angular speed ! so that an
‘artificial gravity’ as on the earth can be created at where the astronaut stands? [0.099
rad s-1]

P. 23