Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 21

CHAPTER 2
FORCES IN CIRCULAR MOTION
1. According to Newton’s second law, an object that is accelerating must have a net force
acting on it.
2. An object moving in a circle, such as a ball on the end of a string, must have a force
applied to it to keep it moving in the circle.
Centripetal force: The force that enables an object to keep it moving in the circle is known
as the centripetal force.
2.1 FORCE CAUSING CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION
3. For uniform circular motion (speed v = constant), the acceleration is centripetal
acceleration which is directed towards the centre of the circle at any moment.
Centripetal force: According to Newton’s second law, an object in a circular motion
requires a net force directed towards the centre of the circle. This net force is called the
centripetal force.
4. In the absence of the centripetal force, the object would not move along a circle but
move in a straight line, according to Newton’s first law.

C = centre of circular path

FC = centripetal force
aC = centripetal acceleration
C
aC FC
v

Figure 2.1: Direction of centripetal force, centripetal acceleration,

and linear/tangential velocity in uniform circular motion

5. Using Newton’s second law of motion, Fnet = ma

6. The magnitude of the centripetal force is, FC = maC
22 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

v2 v2
7. Using aC  , FC  m (2.1)
r r

8. Using v  r , FC  mr 2 (2.2)

9. For an object to move in a circle, a force is needed to deviate the object from its straight
line path, and to accelerate towards the centre of the circle.
10. To swing a ball on the end of a string in a circle, we pull on the string, and the string
exerts the force (the tension in the string) on the ball.
11. The tension in the string provides the required centripetal force for the ball to keep
moving in circular path.
12. Some examples of the centripetal force are the gravitational force of the earth on the
moon orbiting the earth, the gravitational force of the sun on the planets orbiting the
sun, and the electric force acting on an electron orbiting the nucleus.

v
Earth
v
FC FC
FC
Earth Moon Nucleus Electron
Sun
v
Figure 2.2: Some example of the centripetal forces

Different Forms of [forces that provide] Centripetal Force

13. There are different forms of forces which can provide centripetal force depending on
the motion of the bodies under various conditions
(i) Tension Force (T)
When whirling a body attached to a string, a tension force
is originated. If this tension force is normal to the direction
of the motion of a body moving at constant speed, this force
causes the body to move in a circular path. Thus, the tension
force behaves as a centripetal force.
Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 23

(ii) Gravitational Force (FG)

An attractive force exists between the sun and the
earth in a direction perpendicular to the path of
the earth. This force causes the earth to move a
circular path around the sun. In this case, the
gravitational force provides as a centripetal force.

(iii) Electric Force (Fe) [in an Atom]

The Coulomb attractive force between the
nucleus and the electron acts as the required
centripetal force for the electron to move
around the nucleus.

(iv) Frictional Force (Ff) [on turning body]

When a car turns in a circular path or a curve,
a frictional force exists between the road and
the car tires. This frictional force acts normally
to the direction of the motion of the car,
causing the car to move in a curved path. In
this case, the frictional force behaves as a
centripetal force.

(v) Normal Force (FN)

y FN
When a car moves in a circular path which is inclined to
the horizontal, the reaction force of the road acts FN cos  
normally to the car. Resolving this reaction force (normal
force) into two components, the horizontal component x
FN sin 
acts towards the centre of the circle, and helps the car to

move in a curved path. The horizontal component of the
w=mg
normal force is the required centripetal force.
24 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

(vi) Upward Thrust (Lifting Force) on a Plane (FL)

The upward thrust (the lifting force) acts
normally to an aeroplane body. When the
aeroplane tilts, the horizontal component
acts normally to the motion of the
areoplane, causing the aeroplane to turn in
a curve. This means that the horizontal
component of the lifting force on the aeroplane provides the centripetal force.

FL FL FLy
FL = lift force
FLx w = weight
FLx = centripetal force
w w

Fig (a): Normal flying Fig (b): making a turn

Banking of Road
14. When an automobile drives round a curve, it must have a force exerted towards the
centre of the curve.
15. On a flat road (unbanked road), this force is supplied by friction between the tires and
the road.
16. As a car makes a turn on unbanked road, the frictional force Ff acting upon the tires of
the car provides the required centripetal force for circular motion.

mv 2
17. Hence, Ff 
r
where, m is the mass of the car, v is the speed of the car and r is the radius of the path.
18. If the frictional force is not sufficient, such as under wet and slippery conditions, the
car will skid out of the circular path.
Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 25

19. To prevent this, the road must be banked

to provide the necessary centripetal force
to the automobiles so that they make a
safe turn without skidding.
Banking: Banking of roads is raising the
outer edge of the curved road higher than
the inner edge.
Fig 2.3b: Frictional force provides centripetal
Angle of banking: The angle that the force for a car turning an unbanked curve
inclined track makes with horizontal is called angle of banking.
20. The normal force FN exerted by a banked road is perpendicular to the road.
21. The horizontal component of this normal force provides the required centripetal force.
22. For every banked curve, there is a limiting speed at which the entire centripetal force
is supplied by the horizontal component of the normal force, so that the frictional force
between the tires and the road is not required.
23. In this case, the horizontal component of the normal force, FN sin , towards the centre
mv 2
of the curve of radius r just equals the centripetal force ( FC  )
r
mv 2 y
FN sin   (2.4)
r FN
24. Since there is no vertical motion, the net force on the
car in y direction is zero. FN cos  
FN cos   ( mg )  0
x
FN cos   mg (2.5) FN sin 
2
mv

FN sin 
Dividing Eq (2.4) by Eq (2.5),  r
FN cos  mg w=mg
2
v
tan   (2.6)
rg
25. According to Eq (2.6), the banking angle of a road  is chosen so that this condition
holds for the limiting speed v.
26 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

Chapter 2: Exercise 2.1

R017: (1) What is the banking angle for an expressway off-ramp curve of radius 50 m at
a limiting speed of 50 km h-1?
Ans: r = 50 m
1000 m
v  50 km h -1  50   13.89 m s-1
3600 s

Let  = the angle the wings of the plane must be banked with vertical

v 2 13.89 
2
tan     0.3963
rg 50  9.8

 = 21.49 = 21 29

R017: (2) Choose the correct answer.
A ball attached to a string is whirled around
a vertical circle. At the bottom of the arc,
A. It has no net force.
B. it has a net force acting upward.
C. it has a net force acting downward.

Ans: B

E0201:A jet plane is flying around the airport with a speed of 800 km h-1 along a circular
path with a radius of 2 km. At what angle must the wings of the plane be banked?
Ans: 1000 m
v  800 km h -1  800   222.2 m s-1 , r = 2 km = 2000 m
3600 s

Let  = the angle the wings of the plane must be banked with vertical

tan  
v2

 222.2   2.519
2

rg 2000  9.8

 = 68.35 = 68 21

Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 27

E0202:A 60 cm rope is tied to the handle of a bucket which is then whirled in vertical
circle. The mass of the bucket is 3 kg. If the tension of the rope at the lowest point
in its path is 50 N, find the speed of the bucket at that point.
Ans: mass of the bucket = m = 3 kg, Tension force on the bucket = T = 50 N
length of the rope = the radius of the vertical circle, r = 60 cm = 0.6 m
The weight of bucket, w = mg = 3  9.8 = 29.4 N
The net force, Fnet = T – w = 50 – 29.4 = 20.6 N centre
Fnet provides the centripetal acceleration, Fnet = Fc = 20.6 N
T
mv 2
FC 
r lowest
w point
FC r 20.6  0.6
v   2.03 m s-1
m 3
28 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

2.2 CENTRIPETAL AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCES

1. In circular motion, there are two different forces that are encountered. They are
centripetal force and centrifugal force.
2. Centripetal force is the force acting towards the centre of the circular path around which
the object is moving whereas the centrifugal force appears to act in a direction pointing
away from the centre.
3. Consider a person whirls a ball on the end of a string in a horizontal circle around his
head. The person pulls the string to exert an inward force on the ball. This force is
required centripetal force by the ball to move around the circular path.

Path travelled by the ball

Fig 2.5 Centripetal force on the ball, and its reaction force on the hand

4. According to Newton’s third law, the ball exerts a reaction force on the hand.
5. There is misconception that this reaction force is the outward-directed centrifugal force
acting on the ball.
6. Except centripetal force, there is no other force acting on the ball along the string.
7. Consider a person on a moving car. When the car is moving with constant velocity
along a straight road, there is no net force on the person. Hence, the person feels no
force acting on him. However, when the car moves around a curve, the person feels an
outward force exerted on him. This is the centrifugal force caused by the effect of
inertia.
8. Actually, the centrifugal force is not a real force.
9. The centrifugal force is an apparent or fictitious force which is equal and opposite to
the centripetal force.
Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 29

10. Although the centrifugal force is not a real force, the concept of the centrifugal force
can be applied in rotating devices, such as centrifuges, washing machines, centrifugal
pumps, centrifugal governors and centrifugal clutches.
Centrifuge
A centrifuge is a piece of
equipment that puts an object in
rotation around a fixed axis (spin it
in a circle). In a laboratory
centrifuge that uses sample test
tubes, the radial acceleration causes
denser particles to settle to the
bottom of the tube, while low
density substances rise to the top.
This effect is known as
sedimentation principle.
Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal pump is a hydraulic
machine which converts mechanical
energy into hydraulic energy (i.e.
pressure energy) by the use of
centrifugal force acting on the
fluid. The rotating impeller moves
water or other fluids by using
centrifugal force.
30 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

Washing Machine
The centrifugal action of a washing
machine is used in spin drying the
clothes. When all the clothes are
completely washed, they are spun
very fast and excess water is
removed completely with the help
of centrifugal force.

Centrifugal Governor
The centrifugal governor is a
device used to measure and
regulate the speed of a machine,
such as an engine. The centrifugal
governors consist of two balls of
equal mass, which are attached to
the arms. As the engine is working,
Supply of working fluid
these balls also revolve around the
spindle at a certain speed and
maintain at a position due to the
centrifugal force.
Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 31

Comparison between Centripetal Force and Centrifugal Force

Centripetal Force Centrifugal Force
(i) Centripetal force is the force acting on an Centrifugal force in a circular motion is
object in circular motion which is directed not a real force; it (seems to) act radially
towards the axis of rotation or centre of away from the centre of the circle. It
curvature. results from the effect of inertia.
(ii) If a car is travelling through a curve on a When a car in motion takes a sudden
circular horizontal road, the centripetal turn in a curved path, passengers in the
force provided by the force of friction car experience an outward push. This is
between the tires of the vehicle and the road due to the centrifugal force acting on the
surface allows the car to negotiate the turn. passengers.
(iii) A satellite orbiting a planet is supported by Removing the excess water by spin
the centripetal force. drying clothes in a washing machine is
with the help of centrifugal force.
32 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

Chapter 2: Exercise 2.1

R020: When a skater forms a circle, he has to lean inwards, Explain with a force diagram.
Ans:
FN
FNy

FN = normal force
FNx
centre of path FNx = x component of normal force
FNy = y component of normal force


The x-component of the normal force, FNx , provides the centripetal force.

The y-component of the normal force, FNy , balances the weight.

Q0201: Imagine a car driving over a hillock at a constant speed. Once the car has reached
the apex of the hillock, does it have the acceleration? If so, what is the direction
of the acceleration?
Ans: It has centripetal acceleration. It is directed toward the centre of the hillock.
Q0202: Does the centripetal force and the centrifugal force constitute an action-reaction
pair? Explain.
Ans: No.
The centripetal force is a real force acting on an object.
The centrifugal force in a circular motion is not a real force; it (seems to) act
radially away from the centre of the circle. It results from the effect of inertia.
Q0203: An object is in a uniform circular motion. Which of the following statements
must be true?
A. The net force acting on the object is zero.
B. The velocity of the object is constant.
C. The speed of the object is constant.
D. The acceleration of the object is constant.
Ans: C
Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 33

Q0204: For an object moving in a circle with constant angular velocity, what is the
direction of acceleration of the object?
Ans: The direction of the acceleration of the object is toward the centre of the circular path.
Q0205: When a bob is swinging in the vertical circle,
at which point on the circular part is the tension
in the rope the greatest?
Ans: The lowest point.

E0203: An athlete weighing 790 N is running a curve at a speed of 6 m s-1 in an arc. The
radius of curvature of the arc is 5 m. Find the centripetal force acting on him.
Which force provides the centripetal force? What will happen to him if the radius
of curvature is smaller?
Ans: weight = w = 790 N, speed = v = 6 m s-1, radius = r = 5 m,
centripetal force = FC =?
w 790
m   80.61 kg
g 9.8

mv 2 80.61  62
FC    580.4 N
r 5
Frictional force between the feet and the ground (the boots and the ground)
provides the required centripetal force.
If the radius of curvature is smaller, the centripetal force will become greater.
He will slip since the frictional force is less than the required centripetal force.
34 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

Q0206: A 0.15 kg ball on the end of 1.1 m long cord (negligible mass) is swung in a vertical
circle. (i) Determine the minimum speed the ball must have at the top of its arc so
that the ball continues moving in a circle. (ii) Calculate the tension in the cord at
the bottom of the arc, assuming the ball is moving at twice the speed of part (i).
Ans: mass = m = 0.15 kg, radius = r = 1.1 m
(i) minimum speed = v =?
At the top, FC = T + w
For minimum speed, T = 0
Thus, FC = w

mv 2
 mg
r
v  rg  1.1 9.8 = 3.28 m s-1

(ii) At the bottom , and twice the speed,

v2 = 2  3.28 = 6.56 m s-1
FC2 = T  w
T = FC2 + w

mv22  v2 2   6.562 
T  mg  m   g   0.15    9.8  = 7.34 N
r  r   1.1 
   
Q0207. An 8.3 kg mass is attached to a string that has a breaking strength of 1500 N. If the mass
is whirled in a horizontal circle of radius 80 cm, what maximum speed can it have?
Ans: mass = m = 8.3 kg, radius = r = 80 cm = 0.8 m
Breaking strength = Tmax = 1500 N v
r
Fc = Tmax
FC = Tmax
mv 2
 Tmax
r
r Tmax 0.8  1500
v  = 12.02 m s-1
m 8.3
Dr Vince Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes 35

Q0208. An aeroplane is circling above an airport in a horizontal circle at a speed of 400 km h-1.
The banking angle of the wing is 20. What is the radius of the circular path?
5
Ans: velocity = v = 400 km h-1 = 400  m s-1 = 111.11 m s-1, banking angle =  = 20
18
The radius of the circular path = r = ?
v2
tan  
rg

v2 111.11 2
r  = 3461 m = 3.461 km
g tan  9.8  tan 20

Q0209: What is the tension in a 1 m string that is spinning 0.5 kg stone in a horizontal
circle with 3 rps?
angular velocity =  = 3 rps
= 3 rev s-1 = 3  2 rad s-1 = 6  3.142 rad s-1 = 18.85 rad s-1
radius = r = 1 m, mass = m = 0.5 kg, tension = T = ?
v = r
FC = T

mv 2
FC   mr 2
r

T  mr 2  0.5  1  18.85  = 177.66 N

2

Q0210: A curved roadway has a radius of curvature of 200 m, and a banking angle of 10.
What is the highest speed at which a car can round the curve safely? (Neglect the
friction between the tire and the road.)
Ans: radius = r = 200 m, banking angle =  = 10, highest speed = v =?

v2
tan  
rg

v  r g tan   200  9.8  tan 10 = 18.59 m s-1

36 Grade 12 Physics Detailed Notes APEX

Q0211: In an atom, an electron moves in a circular path around the nucleus. The speed of the
electron is approximately 2.2  106 m s-1. Find the centripetal force acting on the
electron as it revolves in a circular orbit of radius 0.53  1010 m. (m = 9.1  1031 kg)
Ans: velocity = v = 2.2  106 m s-1, radius = r = 0.53  1010 m, mass = m = 9.1  1031 kg
centripetal force = FC =?

 
2
2
mv 9.1  1031  2.2  106
FC   = 8.31  108 N
r 0.53  1010