Circular Motion

Angular displacement, ϴ
• For an object moving in a circle of radius, r through and
angle, ϴ, the angular displacement is given by:

• S.I Unit: rad( radians)

• *1 radian = 57.30

• Where s = arc length

• r = radius of circle
• ϴ = angular displacement
 Angular Velocity, ω
• This is the change in the angle per second
• S.I Units: rad/s or rad s-1

• Where ω = angular velocity

• ϴ = angle swept through (in radians)
• t = time taken to move through angle, ϴ
 Tip to note
• To convert rev. per second (r.p.s) to radian per
sec. (rads-1), multiply by 2π
• To convert rev. per minute (r.p.m) to radian
per sec. (rads-1), multiply by 2π/60.
 Velocity, v
• S.I Unit: ms-1
• =
• But
• Thus, v =
• But

• Where r = radius; ω = angular velocity

 Period, T
• The time taken for one complete revolution to
occur is called the period, T of the motion.
• S.I Unit: second (s)

• But ω = v /r
• Thus
• Recall T = 1/frequency
 Frequency, f (Hz)
• This is the number of revolutions per second.

• It is related to the period (T) of the motion in

the following equation,

• Where f = frequency (Hertz, Hz or per

second,s-1)
Centripetal Acceleration
By similar triangles,

Now, = =
But

Therefore,
=
 Centripetal Acceleration, ac
• The centripetal force per unit mass provides
the centripetal acceleration of the body. It is
always directed towards the centre of its
circular path.
• or
• S.I Units: ms-2
Centripetal force
 Centripetal Force, Fc
• In order for an object to move at constant
speed in a circle, an outside force must
constantly turn the object toward the centre
of its circular path. This force is called the
centripetal force.

• S.I Unit: Newton (N).

 Identify the Centripetal force

Friction

Horizontal
component of the
Normal Force

Normal force
of the track
A component of tension in
the string
 Pq1
• A toy car moves in a circular track of radius
5.0m in 10s. What is the car’s centripetal
acceleration?

• (Ans: 1.97m/s2)
Reminder
Vertical Circle
At the top of the circle:
Applying Newton’s 2nd law ∑F = ma
W + T = ma;
Ttop = ma – mg

At the bottom of the circle:

Applying Newton’s 2nd law ∑F = ma
Tbottom – mg = ma;
Tbottom = mg + ma

• The tension is the greatest

(MAXIMUM) at the bottom of the
circle
• The tension is (MINIMUM) at the top
of the circle
 Will the water fall out?

At the top of the path, the water will try and fall vertically out of the
bucket due to the force of gravity but the centripetal force is also
acting on it to keep the water continue in a straight line (tangential to
the path). If the centripetal force (which is provided by the tension in
the string) is greater than the effect of gravity, the water will stay
inside the bucket. If mg > mv2/r then….
 Vertical Circle
• For objects moving in a circular path, the
direction of motion of the body if the
centripetal force becomes zero will be
tangential to the path.
 Pq2
• A mass of 0.4kg is rotated by a string at a constant
speed v in a vertical circle of radius 1m. If the
minimum tension in the string is 3N, calculate:
i) Velocity, v
ii)The maximum tension
iii)The tension when the string is just horizontal
(use g = 10N/kg)
Ans: v =4.2m/s; Tmax =11N; Tmin =3N; Thoriz = 7N
Identify the centripetal force on Charlie
looping the loop
Horizontal Circle
Conical Pendulum
 For the figure shown,

Dividing (1) by (2), we get,

1. The centripetal force is provided by the

horizontal component of the tension in the
string
2. The vertical component of the tension is
equal to the weight of the object in orbit.
 Pq3
• A mass of 0.2kg is whirled in a horizontal circle
of radius 0.5m by a string inclined at 300 to the
vertical. Calculate
i) the tension in the string
ii) The speed of the mass in the horizontal circle
[2.3N; 1.68m/s]
Car on a Banked track
On a banked track the
horizontal component of the
normal force (N) is what
provides the centripetal force

The vertical component of the

normal force is equal to the
weight of the car.

…(1)

… (2)

Dividing (2) by (1) we get,

Aircraft banking
a) The airplane is in level flight and so the
lift force acting up on the plane is equal
to the weight of the plane.
b) When the plane is making a turn, it is a
horizontal component of the lift force
that provides the centripetal force
necessary for the plane to follow a
circular path.

Horizontal component:

Vertical component: …(2)

Dividing (2) by (1) we get,

 Example: Banking
• (a) For a car travelling with speed v around a
curve of radius r, determine a formula for the
angle at which a road should be banked so
that no friction is required.
• (b) what is the angle for an expressway off-
ramp curve of radius 50m at a design speed of
50km/h?
• ans: ϴ = 220
 Example
• A stone of mass 0.6kg, attached to a string of
length 0.5m, is whirled in a horizontal circle at
a constant speed. If the maximum tension in
the string is 30N before it breaks, calculate:
• a) the maximum speed of the stone (5m/s)
• b) the maximum number of revolutions per
second it can make (1.6 rev/s)
 Example: Horizontal circle
• A model aeroplane X has a mass of 0.5kg and has a control wire
OX of length 10m attached to it when it flies in a horizontal circle
with its wings horizontal as shown in the figure. The wire OX is
inclined at 600 to the horizontal and fixed to a point O and X takes
2s to fly once round its circular path [use g = 10N/kg]. Calculate:

• a) the tension in the control wire

• b)The upward force on X due to air
Gravitation
Newton’s Universal law of
gravitation
 Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

• Every particle in the universe attracts every

other particle with a force which is directly
proportional to the product of their masses
and inversely proportional to the square of
their distance apart.
 Note
• F = gravitational force of attraction (N)
• Where, G = Gravitational constant (6.7 x 10-11Nm2kg-2 ).
• m1and m2 are masses of the two objects in orbit (in kg)
• r = the distance between the masses (measured from their
centres (centre of mass, COM) in metres, m)
 Gravitational Field Strength (g)
• The field strength (g) at a point in a
gravitational field is defined as the
gravitational force (F) per unit mass (m)
experienced by a small test mass placed at
that point.
F = gravitational force
of attraction(N)
g = gravitational field
strength (N/kg)
m = mass of object
(kg)
Weightlessness
Weightlessness (Elevator Example)

Case A Case B Case C

 Explanation I
• Case A: Elevator at rest (a = 0ms-2)
- With the elevator at rest, the bag has a
weight, mg, acting vertically downward. At the
same time due to Newton’s 3rd law, the scale
exerts an equal and opposite force, w , on the
bag. By Newton’s 2nd law: ∑F = ma, thus,
- W – mg = ma (but a = 0ms-2)
W = mg (true weight)
 Explanation II
• Case B: Acceleration up (positive, +)
- Now if the elevator accelerates upward with
an acceleration of say a = 1/2g, the scale
reading will now appear to be greater than its
true weight mg. This is the apparent weight of
the bag and is given again by Newton’s 2nd law.
W – mg = ma
W = ma + mg = (1/2mg) + (mg) = 3/2mg
 Explanation II cont…
• In addition, if the elevator was accelerating
downwards at a = -1/2g, the apparent weight
in this case would be less.
• W - mg = ma
• W = ma + mg
• W = (-1/2 mg) + mg
• W = 1/2mg (half true weight)
 Explanation III
• Case C: Weightlessness occurs in free fall
- If the elevator’s cables are cut so that it falls
freely under gravity (a = -g), we find that the
scale gives a zero reading although the bag is still
present. This happens since the elevator and its
occupants are in free fall. This concept is known
as weightlessness.
- W - mg = ma
- W = (-mg) + mg = 0 N
 Tips to Note
• When objects are in free-fall, we say that they
experience weightlessness.

• When astronauts are floating freely in a space shuttle it

does not mean that they are free from the Earth’s
gravitational pull,  Rather, their space shuttle is in orbit
about the Earth, meaning that it is in a perpetual free fall
due to the universal law of gravitation. Because they are
in free fall, the astronauts, like you in your falling
elevator, experience weightlessness.
 Satellite Orbits
• Satellites follow a circular orbit due to the
attraction of the earth’s gravitational pull. This
force (that due to gravity) is the centripetal
force necessary to keep the satellite in its
orbit.
 Circular Orbits
• Fg =
• From which we get,
• ; g at a distance r away from the centre of the earth
• ; velocity of orbit
• ( where T2 is directly proportional to r3)
• Where T = period(s), r = distance between object and
earth(m)
 Tips to note
• The equations for circular motion still apply.
• The centripetal acceleration is due to
acceleration due to gravity.
• The centripetal force is provided by the
gravitational force of attraction between two
bodies.
 Geostationary Satellites
• Used for TV and radio transmission, for
weather forecasting and as communication
relays. These satellites are deliberately
positioned above the equator (00 latitude) so
that it can be easily tracked.
• One disadvantage is that due to its great
distance from the earth, the antenna has to
be very powerful to pick up the satellite.
 Global Positioning System (GPS)
• The global positioning system was developed
by the U.S. military and then opened to
civilian use. It is used today to track planes,
ships, trains, cars or literally anything that
moves. Anyone can buy a receiver and track
their exact location by using a GPS receiver.
 GPS vs Geostationary Satellites
Global Positioning System (GPS) Geostationary Orbits
• Has an orbital period of • Has an orbital period equal
12hrs to that of the earth (24hrs)
• Launched from anywhere • Launched at ~35,500 km
on earth at about above the equator (00) in
~19000km above the order to remain stationary
earth’s surface. as the earth rotates
• Lifetime ~10yrs • Lifetime ~ 10 – 15yrs