Chapter 4: Motion In 2D

CIRCULAR MOTION

Details and Figures in this presentation are taken from: Halliday, David, Robert Resnick,
Jearl Walker. Principles of Physics, 10 th Ed, University Physics by Young and Freedman,
11th Ed, Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Serway, 5 th Ed, Physics for Scientists and
engineers by Giancoli 3rd Ed, and many websites like physicsclassroom.com,
HyperPhysics.com & Past exams of PHYCS 101 Department of Physics at UoB.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 RULE OF THUMB
Direction of Acceleration and Velocity

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

Acceleration vs. Velocity Direction

When a is parallel
to  the magnitude
of  increases, but
its direction does
not change. The
particle moves in a
straight line with
changing speed.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

Acceleration vs. Velocity Direction

When a is
perpendicular to ,
the direction of 
changes, but its
magnitude is
constant. The
particle moves along
a curve with constant
speed.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 UNIFORM
CIRCULAR
MOTION
Uniform circular motion occurs when an object moves in a
circular path with a constant speed.

An acceleration exists since the direction of the motion is

changing.

This change in velocity is related to an acceleration.

The constant-magnitude velocity vector is always tangent to

the path of the object.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 Changing Velocity in Uniform Circular Motion
• The change in the velocity vector is due to the change in
direction.
• The direction of the change in velocity is toward the center of
the circle.   
• The vector diagram shows vf  v i  v

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal = seeking the center

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Centripetal Acceleration
Radial Acceleration

2
arad 
r

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Period of Uniform Circular Motion
The period, T, is the time required for one complete revolution.
2 r
  Tangential
Speed
T
 2
  Angular
speed
r T
 2
arad  ac   r 2

r
4 2 r
arad  ac  2
T
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 Test Problem
An object is moving in a horizontal circular path with a
constant speed. What is the direction of the acceleration at
the point shown in the figure?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3 Solution
d) 4
e) 5

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Test Problem
A car travels counter clockwise around a flat circle of radius r = 100 m
at a constant speed of 20 m/s. When the car is at point A as shown;
what is the car’s acceleration and its direction?

a) 1.6 m/s2 South v

N
b) 4.0 m/s2 North A
r W E
c) 5.0 m/s2 East S
d) 4.0 m/s2 West
e) 5.0 m/s2 East
2
arad 
r
Solution 20 2
 arad   4.0 m / s 2 West
100
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 Test problem
A car travels along a circular road of radius r = 15 m at a constant
speed. If the car completes one circle in 10 s, then its central
(radial) acceleration, in m/s2, is:

(a) 3.95
(b) 5.92 Solution
(c) 7.90
4 2 r
(d) 9.87 arad  2
T
4 2  15
 arad  2
10
 arad  5.92 m / s 2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 NONUNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION
• The magnitude of the velocity could
also be changing.
• In this case, there would be a
tangential acceleration.
• The motion would be under the
influence of both tangential and
centripetal accelerations.
– Note the changing acceleration
vectors

a  a a 2
r
2
t

 at 
  tan  
1

 ar 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
The Simple Pendulum

 at 
a  a a
2 2   tan  
1
r t
 ar 

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 The tangential acceleration
causes the change in the speed of
the particle.
The radial acceleration comes
from a change in the direction of
the velocity vector.
2
ar  ac 
r
d
at 
dt

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Total Acceleration
•The tangential acceleration: r

d
at 
dt
 2
•The radial acceleration: ar 
r
•The total acceleration:
– Magnitude: a  a a 2
r
2
t

– Direction:  at 
  tan  
1

 ar 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 Test Problem
A body in a non uniform circular motion has a total acceleration of 8.1
m/ s2 at point (P). If the radial acceleration is 4.1 m/ s2, then what is its
tangential acceleration (in m/ s2 )?
P
a) 3.0
b) 5.0 a  a a 2
r
2
t
c) 6.0
d) 7.0  a 2  ar2  at2
e) 8.0
65.6  16.8  a 2
t

 a  65.6  16.8  48.8

2
t

 a  7.0 m / s
2
t
2

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

Extra Examples
&
Solved Test Problems

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Test problem
A Ferris wheel with radius R = 14 m is rotating at constant speed
 = 7 m/s.
¨ Find the magnitude of
centripetal acceleration.
2
arad 
r
72
 arad   3.5 m / s 2
14
¨ The period of rotation.
2 r
T 

14
T  2  12.6 s
7
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 Test Problem
A particle moving in a circular path with radius r =1 m with
a constant speed making 1 revolution per second. Its
acceleration in m/s2 is:
Solution
(a) 0
4 r 2
(b) 39.5 arad  2
(c) 157.9 T
(d) 355.3
4 1
2
(e) 631.7  arad  2
1
 arad  39.5 m / s 2

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Test Problem
A particle moves in a circular path of radius of 1 m. If the particle
makes 2 revolutions per second, find its centripetal acceleration in m/s2.

(a) 39.5 Solution

(b) 79.0 4 r 2

(c) 157.9 arad  2

T
(d) 355.3
(e) 631.7 4  1
2
 arad  2
0. 5
 arad  157.9 m / s 2

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

 Test Problem
A carnival Ferris wheel with radius r =15 m is turning about a
horizontal axis through its center. The radial acceleration of a
passenger on the rim is constant and equal to ar = 1.34 m/s2. Find the
time it take the wheel to make one revolution (i.e. find the period T).
Solution
a) 21 s 4 2 r
b) 19 s arad  2
T r
c) 16 s 4  15
2
1.34 
d) 13 s T2
e) 10 s 4 2
 15
T 2

1.34
T  442  21 s
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
 Test problem
A car rounding a circular racetrack makes 2 revolutions per
min. (rpm) at constant speed of 30 m/s. Its acceleration is:

a) π/2 Solution
b) 2π 2 revolution s in 60 s
c) 3π T  30 s
d) π 2 r 2
e) 3π/2    30  r
T 30
 r  900 / 2
2 30 2
arad   arad   2 m / s 2
r 900 / 2
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019
Example

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019

Example

a  a a 2
r
2
t
 at 
a  a  a
2 2
r
2
t   tan   1

225  ar2  0.34 ar2  ar  13.0 m / s 2  ar 

 at  ar tan 
2
ar    ar r  5.7 m / s  at  ar tan 30
r
 at  7.5 m / s 2  at  (0.577) ar
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2019