UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

In this unit, we are going to describe and explain the motion of objects that either move in circles
or can be approximated to be moving in circles.

Uniform circular motion is the motion of an object in a circle with a constant or uniform
speed.

Speed

An object moving in uniform circular motion would cover the same linear distance in a unit time.
When moving in a circle, an object traverses a distance around the perimeter of the circle. The
distance of one complete cycle around the perimeter of a circle is known as the circumference.

The relationship between the circumference of a circle, the time to complete one cycle around
the circle, and the speed of the object is obtained by using the concepts of kinematics.

dis tan ce
Speed=
time

circumference
S peed=
time

circumference= 2 πR
Mathematically,

where R is the radius of the circle.

From here we are going to a new equation relating the speed of an object moving in uniform
circular motion to the radius of the circle and the time to make one cycle around the circle
(called the period T).

2 πR
Speed v=
T (1)

The Direction of the Velocity Vector

An object moving in uniform circular motion will have a constant speed but the velocity is
constantly changing because the direction changes.

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Velocity, being a vector, has both a magnitude and a direction. The magnitude of the velocity is
the speed of the object. The direction of the velocity is directed in the same direction that the
object moves.

Since an object is moving in a circle, its direction is continuously changing.

As the object rounds the circle, the direction of the velocity vector is different than it was the
instant before. So while the magnitude of the velocity vector may be constant, the direction of
the velocity vector is changing.

Fig.1

Fig.1 shows the direction of the velocity vector at four different points for an object moving in a
clockwise direction around a circle.

In general the direction of the velocity vector at any instant is in the direction of a tangent line
drawn to the circle at the object's location.

Angular Speed
Consider an object moving in a circle with a uniform speed round a fixed point 0 as centre, Fig. 2

Fig. 2 Circular motion

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If the object moves from A to B so that the radius OA moves through an angle θ, its angular
ω
speed, about 0 is defined as the change of the angle per unit time.

So if t is the time taken by the object to move from A to B, then the angular speed

θ
ω=
t
(2)

θ
The angle is measured in radians. (1 cycle = 2π radians = 3600)

Angular speed is usually expressed in radians per second (rads-1).

From (1)

θ=ωt

s= vt
(Compare with in linear motion)

It will be noted that the time T to describe the circle once, known as the period of the motion, is
given by

2π
T=
ω
(3)

s
θ=
r
If s is the length of the arc AB, then, by definition of an angle in radians

∴ s=Rθ
(4)

If the time taken to move from A to B is t then the speed

s
v=
t

θ
v= R
t

θ
=ω
t
From equation (2) above

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 v= Rω
Therefore the linear velocity (5)

Example

A model car moves round a circular track of radius 0·3 m making 2 revolutions per second.
Determine

a) the angular speed ω

b) the period T
c) the speed v of the car

Acceleration in a Circle

Since velocity is a vector a change in either the magnitude or the direction means a change in
the velocity. For this reason, we conclude that an object moving in a circle at constant speed is
accelerating because the direction of the velocity vector is changing continuously.

Recall that

change in velocity
Acceleration=
time
v f -v i
a=
t

where vi is the initial velocity and vf is the final velocity after some time t. The process of
subtracting vi from vf is done using vector method as shown in figure below

Figure 3 Change in velocity

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A careful study of the velocity change vector in the above diagram shows that it points the centre
of the circle. The acceleration of the object depends upon this velocity change and is in the same
direction as this velocity change. Therefore the acceleration is directed towards the centre of the
circle C. We call this acceleration centripetal acceleration (centripetal means centre seeking).

By geometrical derivation from the diagram above, it can be easily shown that for an object
moving in a circle of radius R with a constant speed v the magnitude of the centripetal
acceleration

v2
a=
R (6)
Recall eqn. 5 v = Rω

∴ a= Rω 2
Centripetal force
In accordance with Newton's second law of motion, an object which experiences acceleration
must be experiencing a net force. The direction of the net force is the same as the direction of the
acceleration. So for an object moving in a circle, there must be inward force acting upon it in
order to cause its inward acceleration. This is referred to as the centripetal force.

Therefore any object moving in a circle (or along a circular or curved path) experiences
a centripetal force. The centripetal force pushes or pulls the object towards the centre of the
circle.

The centripetal force causes the object to alter its direction from its straight-line path, accelerate
inwards and hence move along a circular path.
nd
From Newton’s 2 law the magnitude of the force F acting on an object of mass m and causing
a F =ma
acceleration is

Therefore centripetal force

v2
F =m
R
(7)

F =mR ω2
(8)

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Its direction is towards the centre of the circle.

Simple daily life examples of centripetal force

As a car makes a turn, the force of friction acting upon As an object is tied to a string and spun in a circle, the
the turned wheels of the car provides centripetal force tension force acting upon the object provides the
required for circular motion. centripetal force required for circular motion.

For an object moving in a horizontal circular path tied to a string the centripetal force is provided
v2
2 T =m
by the tension of the string. Therefore tension T =mR ω or R

If it is a truck moving in a circle then the

centripetal force is provided by the frictional
force between the truck and the ground

Fig. 4 Motion in a Horizontal circle

Motion in a vertical Circle

Consider a particle of mass m is attached to a light and inextensible string. The other end of the
string being fixed at O and the particle moves in a vertical circle of radius R equal to the length
of the string as shown in figure 5.

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Figure 5. Motion in vertical circle

Consider the particle when it is at the point P and the string makes an angle θ with vertical.
Forces acting on the particle are:
T = tension in the string along its length, and
mg = weight of the particle vertically downward.

Hence, resultant radial force on the particle is F r =T −mg cos θ

mv 2
T −mg cos θ=
Therefore R
mv 2
T= +mg cos θ
This gives R (9)
Equation (9) is the general equation giving the tension for any position of the object along the
vertical circle.
As the particle goes up from L the speed decreases (due to gravity), and reaches it minimum
value at the highest position.

At the topmost point

mv
t2
T= +mg cos θ v t is the velocity at the top, andθ =1800.
R , where
cos 180 0=−1
mv
t2
∴T= −mg
R
Tension is lowest compared to any other part of the circle.
The tendency of the string to become slack is maximum.

Minimum value of
v t for circular motion to continue is obtained when T=0

Therefore minimum value of v t =√ gR

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At the lowest point
mv 2
T= +mg cos θ
R
Here θ =00.
cos 00 =1
mv 2
∴T= +mg
R
Tension is highest. Breaking of the string is most likely here

At the horizontal positions (left and right)

mv 2
T= +mg cos θ
R
Here θ =900 or 2700.
cos 900 or 2700 =0
mv 2
∴T=
R
Tension = centripetal force

Conical pendulum

Suppose a small object of mass m is tied to a string OA of length l

and then whirled round in a horizontal circle of radius r, as shown
(Fig. 6). If the speed of the object is constant, string makes a
constant angle θ to the vertical. Such an arrangement is called a
conical pendulum.

Since the object moves with a constant speed v in a circle of radius r.

there must be centripetal force acting towards the centre of the circle.
Fig. 6 Conical pendulum

The centripetal force

mv 2
F c=
r
The horizontal component of the tension T in the string isT sin θ .
This provides the centripetal force.

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 mv 2
T sin θ=
Therefore r

The vertical component of the tension T in the string isT cos θ .

This counterbalances the weight of the objectmg .

Therefore T cos θ=mg

Dividing the two we get
T sin θ mv 2
=
T cos θ rmg
v2
tan θ=
rg (10)
This is the condition for an object to move in a conical pendulum like this.

Motion of Car round Banked Track

Suppose a car (or train) is moving round a banked track in a circular path of horizontal
radius r, Figure 7.

Fig. 7 Road banking

If there is no side slip, forces at the wheels A, B are the normal reaction forces R1 and R2
respectively.

Fforce towards the centre of the track is (R 1+ R2)sin θ where θ is the angle of inclination
of the plane to the horizontal. This provides the centripetal force.
v2
( R1 +R 2 )sin θ=m
Therefore r

The vertical component of the reactions on the wheels is( R1 +R 2 )cos θ .

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This counterbalances the weight of the vehiclemg .

Therefore ( R1 +R 2 )cosθ=mg .
Dividing the two we get

v2
tanθ=
rg (11)
This gives the condition for no side slip at a banked curved track.
This relation is also useful for airplanes when moving in a horizontal circular path.

The wings have to be banked at angle θ according to the velocity and radius of the path.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE

1. An object is moving in a circular path of radius 10 m with a uniform speed of 2 ms -1. Determine
(a)Its angular velocity
(b)Its period of revolution
(c)Its centripetal acceleration
2. The earth whose mass is approximately 5.98x10 24 kg revolves round the sun whose mass is
approximately 2.0x1030 kg in an orbit 1.5x1011 m. Determine the centripetal acceleration and
force on the earth. (Use any other data available elsewhere)
3. A smooth wooden block of mass 0.5 kg attached by a cord 20 cm long to a pin fixed in the
surface revolves uniformly on a horizontal frictionless surface. If the period of revolution is 0.5 s
find the tension in the cord.
4. A ball 5 kg mass is suspended from a hook in a ceiling by a string 1 m long. It is then set into
motion in a horizontal circle with a speed such that the string maintains an angle of 30 0 with the
horizontal (fig. below). Determine the speed of the ball and the tension in the string.

5. A 50 N body swings in a horizontal circle at the end of a string 0.6 m long at a rate of 72
revolutions per minute. Find the angle that the string makes with the horizontal and the tension in
the string. (Refer to figure in question 5 above).

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6. An aircraft of mass 1.0x104 kg is travelling at a constant speed of 200 m s -1 in a horizontal circle
of radius 1.5 km. What is its angular velocity?
7. A metal ball 200 g mass is attached at the end of a string 1 m long and whirled so that it moves in
a vertical circle. The speed of revolution is increased slowly until the string breaks. If the
maximum tension that the string can withstand before breaking is 25 N
(a) At what position of the motion is the string most likely to break?
(b) At what speed does the string break?

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