SACE Stage 2 Physics

Uniform Circular Motion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_motion
Uniform circular motion is the motion of an
object moving at constant speed, in a circle.
As an object moves in a circle, it is constantly
changing its direction.
At all instances, the object is moving at a
tangent to the circle. Since the direction of
the velocity vector is the same as the
direction of the object's motion, the velocity
vector is directed tangent to the circle as well.
The animation depicts this by means of a
vector arrow.

2
3
Uniform Circular Motion
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia
/circmot/ucm.cfm

An object moving in a circle is accelerating,
because its velocity (vector) is changing. Its
speed is constant but direction is changing.
The direction of the acceleration is inwards.
The net force acting upon such an object is
directed towards the centre of the circle,
directed perpendicularly to the velocity vector.
This is an inward or centripetal force. Without
this force, the object would continue in a
straight line at a tangent to the circle.
4
5
Uniform Circular Motion
The change in velocity can be
found by vector subtraction
Av = vf - vi
= vf + ( - vi)



View Circular motion and Centripetal Acceleration as a limit

r
r
v
i

v
f

Au
Au
-v
I-

v
i

v
f

Av
Au
Uniform circular motion occurs when an object moves in a circle, with constant
speed.
Consider a point mass attached to a string, orbiting in a circle at constant speed
6
Uniform Circular Motion
The direction of Av is inwards, if At was very small, Av would point to the
centre of the circle.

For a small time interval, the angle between v
f
and v
i
is Au.

For a small time interval (At), the arc of the circle (As), is very nearly equal
to the chord. Av tends to point towards the centre of the circle.

The direction of centripetal acceleration is towards the centre of the circle
and is given by,
r
v
a
c
2
=
Note: the acceleration vector is at right angles (perpendicular) to the velocity
vector
7
Uniform Circular Motion
Example: a mass on a string travelling through
half a revolution, with radius 10 cm.
(i) at speed 10 m s
-1
(ii) at speed 20 m s
-1

v
T
= - 10 m s
-1

v
T
= 10 m s
-1

v
T
= - 20 m s
-1

v
T
= 20 m s
-1

8
Circular Motion
Uniform Circular Motion
2
2
2
4000
1 . 0
) 20 (

=
=
=
ms a
a
r
v
a
c
c
c
(1) For mass traveling at 10ms
-1
,
2
2
2
1000
1 . 0
) 10 (

=
=
=
ms a
a
r
v
a
c
c
c
(2) For mass traveling at 20ms
-1
,
Note, If we double the linear velocity, the centripetal acceleration is
quadrupled.
9
Circular Motion
Uniform Circular Motion
Note.
(1) Acceleration is always at right angles to the velocity. Has no
affect on speed.

(2) Consider an object moving in a circle. The acceleration of the
object is constant and dependant upon its speed and the radius
at which it is travelling:
r
v
a
2
c
=
Acts radially towards the centre of the circle.
10
Circular Motion
Period of Revolution
Proof

The period (T) is the time taken (s) for one complete revolution.

1 revolution is equivalent to a displacement equal to the circumference of the
circle ie. As = 2tr.

Hence but since As = 2tr and At=T, then and hence,
t
s
v
A
A
=
T
r
v
t 2
=
v
r
T
t 2
=

11
Circular Motion
Example 1
A car traveling at 30kph is traveling around a bend of radius 100m.
(1) What is its centripetal acceleration?
(2) What will be its centripetal acceleration if,
(i) it travels, at the same speed, around a bend of radius 70m?
(ii) it travels at 60kph around a bend of radius 25m?
12
Circular Motion
Example 1
1
1
1
-1 1
333 . 8
6 . 3
30

30
ms km Convert

=
=
=

ms v
ms v
kmh v
h
(1) What is its centripetal acceleration?
2
2
2
694 . 0
100
) 333 . 8 (

=
=
=
ms

r
v
a
on, accelerati l centripeta of n Calculatio
c
13
Circular Motion
Example 1
2
c
c
992 . 0
7
10
6944 . 0 a . .
1
a
7
10
by multiplied is
10
7
by multiplied been has

=
=
(

ms
e i
r
a
r
c
(2) What will be its centripetal acceleration if,
(i) it travels, at the same speed, around a bend of radius 70m?
(ii) it travels at 60kph around a bend of radius 25m?
(i) (ii)
| |
2
c
c
c
2
c
2
c
1 . 11
4 4 6944 . 0 a Thus
4 by multiplied is a

1
a
4
1
by mulitplied is
a 2 by multiplied is a
2 by mutliplied is

=
=

ms
r
r
v
v
14
Circular Motion
Example 2
The moon orbits the Earth in an approximately circular path with a mean
radius of 384,000km. The moon completes one revolution in 27.3
days. Find,
(1) The orbital speed of the moon.
(2) The centripetal acceleration of the moon.
15
Circular Motion
Example 2
1 3
8
10 02 . 1
60 60 24 3 . 27
10 84 . 3 2

2

=


=
=
ms
T
r
v
t
t
(1) The orbital speed of the moon. (2) The centripetal acceleration of
the moon.

( )
2 3
8
2
3
2
10 72 . 2
10 84 . 3
10 02 . 1

=

=
=
ms

r
v
a
c
16
Circular Motion
Force Causing the Centripetal Acceleration
To cause an acceleration, there must be a net external force acting on an
object. To make an object move in a circle, you need to pull (exert a
force) inwards on the object to .

From Newton's Second Law F
resultant
= ma =

a
c
acts towards the centre of the circle and directed along a radius.

This force is applied on the object towards the centre of the circle to keep
the object moving in a circle.

Check question: What happens if the inward directed force stops
acting?
r
mv
2
17
Circular Motion
Examples of Circular Motion
F
G

Sun
Planet
F (=F
G
)
(a) Planets orbiting the sun:
Planets move in a circular
path due to the gravitational
force acting on the planet,
pulling it towards the centre
of the Sun, while its tangent.
18
Circular Motion
Examples of Circular Motion
proton (+)
F
E

electron (-)
F (=F
E
)
(b) The electrostatic attraction
between the proton and the
electron provides the necessary
force to enable rotation in a circular
orbit.

19
Circular Motion
Example 1
A car is traveling on a flat road around a bend of radius 80m at a speed
of 120kph. If the mass of the car is 1.4t, what is the average force
between each tyre and the road?
20
Circular Motion
Application Banking
of Road Curves
Case (a)

A car stationary on a horizontal road.

The normal force directed perpendicular to the
road surface and upwards.

This normal force is equal and opposite to the
gravitational force acting on the car. (Assuming
the car is at rest and not sinking into the ground)
gravity
F
g
normal
F
F
=
21
Circular Motion
Application Banking of Road Curves
Case (b)
A car travelling on a horizontal road around a circular bend.

Friction provides the inwards directed force enabling the car to travel
around the bend. Since the inward force is given by
r
v
m F
2
=
the faster the car travels, the greater the magnitude of the required force.

The frictional force will have a fixed value, if the speed is high enough
friction will not be sufficient to enable the car to travel around the bend, and
it will slide off the road.
View movie: Forces on a car on level track various views
r
v
m F
2
=
22
Circular Motion
Application Banking of Road Curves
Case (c)
A car travelling on a horizontal road around a banked circular bend.

The normal force is greater than the gravitational force acting on the car. (In
turning around a bend, the car presses into the surface of the road,
increasing the normal force)

The faster the car travels, then the greater the force directed towards the
centre of the turning circle.

The component of the normal force directed in towards the centre of the
circle supplies the force required for rotation in a circle. (Provided the speed
of the car does not become so large that the magnitude of this component is
exceeded.) View Movie: Forces on a car on banked track various views
23
Horizontal component of normal
force, magnitude given by
The normal force,
Horizontal Component

This force is created
when the
car travels around the bend and
presses into the road.


Vertical component
Opposite to that of the weight of the
car.
Circular Motion
Derivation of
R
v
m F
c
2
=
tanu =
v
rg
2
Normal force
on vehicle by
road (90
o
to
road)
Weight = force of
gravity
Vertical component of the
normal force equal &
opposite to weight (mg)
u
u
R
v
m F
c
2
=
mg F =
24
Circular Motion
Derivation of
Rg
v
2
tan = u
Hence from the geometry of the diagram, where u is the banking angle

Rg
v
mg R
mv
mg
R
mv
F
F

c
2
2
2
tan
1
tan
) (
tan
tan
=
=
=
=
u
u
u
u