UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

GRADE 10 PHYSICS
Learning outcomes
 Circular Motion
• Circular motion is the motion of a body whose
direction of motion is constantly changing and its
acceleration is directed towards the centre of the
circular path.
• This acceleration is called centripetal acceleration.
• The force that keeps a body in circular motion is
called CENTRIPETAL FORCE.
• The force that tends to push a body away from the
circular path is called CENTRIFUGAL FORCE.
Examples of circular motion are:
Friction and Centripetal force
Centripetal Acceleration and Force
Centripetal Acceleration Centripetal Force
Relationship between s and r
Relationship between v and ω
EXAMPLE SOLUTION
• A stone whirled at the end of a • Given parameters:
rope 30cm long, makes 10
r = 30cm = 0.3m; t = 2s
complete oscillations in 2
seconds. Find: Note that
i. The angular velocity in radians 1 complete oscillation = 360°
per second; or 2ᴫ radians
ii. The linear speed; Hence, 10 complete
iii. The distance covered in 5 oscillations = 10 x 2ᴫ
seconds;
θ = 20ᴫ radians
iv. The centripetal acceleration;
v. The centripetal force.
Angular Speed and Acceleration
Number of Rotations
 Period of Rotation(T)
• This is the time taken
for a body to travel
one complete cycle.
• Its S.I unit is second.
 Frequency of Rotation

• This is the number of

cycles completed by the
body in one second.
• It is the reciprocal of the
period of a body.
• Its S.I unit is hertz (Hz).
 EXAMPLE

• The angular displacement of

a rotating wheel is 50П
radians in 5 seconds. If the
radius of the wheel is 100cm,
Calculate:
i. the number of rotations
made by the wheel;
ii. the period of rotation of
the wheel;
iii. the frequency of rotation
of the wheel.
 Geostationary Satellites
• A geostationary satellite is a satellite placed at
a height over the equator and orbits the earth
in a west to east direction.
• Its period of rotation is 24 hours.
• They are used for telecommunication,
television broadcasting, weather forecasting,
etc.
 EXAMPLE

• A geostationary satellite
moves in an orbit of
6300km above the surface
of the earth. Calculate the
speed with which it moves
in the orbit. [Take П= 22/7
and Radius of the earth=
6400km].
CLASS ACTIVITY
 EXAM STYLED QUESTIONS

1a. Define angular velocity.

b. State the equation that connects linear
velocity with angular velocity.
c. A stone tied to a string is made to revolve in
a horizontal circle of radius 4m with an
angular speed of 2 radians per second. With
what tangential velocity will the stone move
off the circle if the string cuts?
2.
a. What is the name given to the
force needed to make the ball
move in a circle?
b. Copy and complete the
diagram to show where the
ball will travel if the string
breaks when the ball is at
point X.
c. Planets move around the Sun
in approximately circular
orbits. What provides the
force necessary for the orbit?
 3.
• The angular displacement of a
rotating fan is 40 П radians. How
many rotations has the fan made?
 4.
• Assuming a ceiling fan is switched on, and
makes 10 rotations in the first 3 seconds. How
many rotations will it make in the next 3
seconds? [Assume uniform angular
acceleration].
 5.
• Derive the relationship between linear
acceleration and angular acceleration.
 6.
• A geostationary satellite orbits around the earth in
a circular orbit of radius 36000km. Then, the time
period of a spy satellite orbiting a few hundred
kilometers above the earth's surface will
approximately be ….
( Given: Radius of the Earth​=6400 km )