AH RMA PPT 4.-Central-Force

09/14/2023
Central Force
AH Physics
Experiment: Relationship between F and ω c r
• Hang a 100g mass on a string that runs through a glass tube.

• Place a marker on the string below the tube so that there is a 0.2 m length of
string above the tube.
• Swing the rubber stopper in a circle until the forces are balanced and the
hanging mass is held in a stationary position with the marker at the bottom of
the tube.
• In this state the central force is being provided by the weight of the hanging
mass.
Time 10 revolutions whilst the hanging mass is held in a stationary position.

(i) Calculate the weight of the hanging mass. This is equal to the central force, F w = Fc
(ii) Determine the angular velocity of the rubber stopper, ω, in radians per second.
Repeat 5 times with the 50g hanging mass and hence find the mean and random uncertainty in the mean for ω.
Repeat with masses, 100g, 150g, 200g, 250g.
Plot a graph of F against ω2 From the gradient of the graph, determine the mass of the rubber stopper.
c
Mean Time
Mass (kg) Time for 10 for 10 Mean ω
Central Force Revolutions (s) Revolutions (rad s-1)
(N) (s)
1 2 3 4 5
Central force (N) w (rad s-1) w2 ( rad2 s-2)

Sample Results (with string of radius 0.2m)
Central
mass (kg) force (N) w (rad s-1) w2 ( rad2 s-2)
0.1 1.0 5.5 30.2
0.2 2.0 7.8 60.8
0.3 2.9 9.4 88.4
0.4 3.9 10.9 119
0.5 4.9 12.2 149
Sample Results (with string of radius 0.2m)
Time for 10
Central revolutions
mass (kg) force (N) (s) w (rad s-1) w2 ( rad2 s-2)
0.1 1.0 5.5 30.2
0.2 2.0 7.8 60.8
0.3 2.9 9.4 88.4
0.4 3.9 10.9 119
0.5 4.9 12.2 149
Graph
Relationship between central force and angular velocity2
160
140
f(x) = 29.58 x + 0.740000000000009
120
w2 (rad2 s-2)
100
80
60
40
20
0
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5
Central Force (N)

Analysis Graph is a straight line, therefore F ∝ ω2
(Radius of circle = 0.2 m )
𝐹
2
r 𝜔=
𝑚𝑟
1
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡= Gradient of the line = 30kg-1m-1
𝑚𝑟
1
3 0=
𝑚× 0.6
The LINEST function on Excel will give you the uncertainty in the gradient and hence the
uncertainty in the mass can be determined.
Check it on an electronic balance.
Central Force equations and examples
Central force or centripetal force is the unbalanced force that keeps an
object moving in a circle.
Applications of centripetal force is one area when you are guaranteed a
question in the final exam.
2
𝑚𝑣 𝐹=𝑚𝜔 𝑟 2
𝐹=
𝑟
Horizontal circle
A Renault Clio with 4 passengers has a total mass of 1250 kg. It is
driven at 8.94ms-1 (20mph) round a roundabout.
The roundabout has a radius of 12 m in the outside lane.
a) Calculate the centripetal force required to keep the car moving in a circle
around the roundabout.
b) A passenger in the passenger seat has a mass of 60kg. Calculate the force
required to keep them moving in the same circular path.
c) Explain why you feel thrown out to the side when a car goes round a
roundabout.
d) The maximum friction provided by the tyres is 18500 N . Calculate the
maximum speed the car could go round the roundabout without
skidding.
a) 8330 N b) 400 N c) (Newtons 3rd Law) d) 13.3 ms-1 (30mph)
Motion in a vertical circle
Consider a mass being swung in a vertical circle, i.e. a bucket of water

attached to a rope…
Weight always acts down
mg
Central force always acts towards the centre of the circle. Tt
At the top tension is reduced as weight provides some of the central force.
At the bottom weight is added to the central force. This increases the tension.
At Top: mrw2 = Tt + mg Tt = mrw2 - mg

Tb
At Bottom: mrw2 = Tb - mg Tb = mrw + mg
2 mg
At Sides: mrw2 = T T = mrw2

To keep the bucket moving in a vertical circle, the central force must be greater than or equal
to the weight.
Therefore there is a minimum velocity to keep it moving in a vertical circle.
If the velocity is less than this minimum, weight will be greater than the central force and the
mass no longer moves in a circle.
At Top: mrw2 = Tt + mg Tt = 0 at minimum velocity.
mg
Tt
Humpback bridge
A car of mass 800kg crosses a humpback bridge of constant
radius 15m. The weight of the car provides the centripetal
force to keep it in contact with the bridge.
a) Calculate the weight of the car

b) Calculate the maximum speed of the car that allows it to stay in contact with the road
c) A car of mass 1250 kg now crosses the bridge. State the maximum speed that this car can
cross the bridge and still stay in contact with the road.
d) Show that the maximum speed of a vehicle to remain in contact with the road is given by the
relationship
𝑚𝑣 2 2
a) W =mg = 800 x 9.8 = 7840 N d) 𝑚𝑔= ∴ 𝑔𝑟 =𝑣
𝑟
𝑚 𝑣2 2 𝐹𝑟 (𝑚𝑔) 𝑟
b) 𝐹 = ∴𝑣 = = =147 ∴𝑣 =𝟏𝟐 m s −1
𝑟 𝑚 𝑚
𝑣= √ 𝑔𝑟
c) 12 ms-1
2017 paper – vertical circle
Banking
A banked track produces a component of
the reaction force of the car on the road to
provide the central force to assist the car to
move in a circular path with a greater speed
than a flat track.
Central force provided = R sin θ

Where R is the reaction force and
θ is the angle of the banking of the track
θ
90 - θ
θ
θ
Maximum Banking speed
If we consider the horizontal and vertical components of the reaction
force of the car on a banked track then we can derive an equation for
the maximum speed of a vehicle (assuming no friction)
Horizontal component:
Vertical component:
Combining these 2 components:
Note : mass doesn’t matter!

Banking example
A circular frictionless racetrack has a radius of 50m.
Determine the maximum speed a vehicle travel at without drifting off the
track when the bank angle is:
a) 5˚ b) 10˚ c) 45˚
a) 6.55ms-1 b) 9.3ms-1 c) 22ms-1

Conical pendulum
2010 Q2
Components of force can also be

used to solve problems in situations
involving a conical pendulum.
𝜃
𝑚𝑔
r
𝜃
𝑚𝑔
r
Satellite motion
We shall mention this special case of circular motion when we study
gravity in more detail.
Satellite motion – we will come back to this.
In satellite motion the central force is provided by Gravity

From Higher, Newton’s Universal Law of Gravitation states:
Therefore:
From this we can work out the

necessary height of an orbit to
Radius of place geostationary satellite
Tangential speed
orbit (orbital period = 24 hours)
Period of satellite orbit – Kepler’s 3rd Law
Height of Geostationary Orbit
Gravitational constant: 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2
Mass of Earth: 6.0 x 1024 kg
Geostationary Period: 24 hours
But……..Radius of the Earth is 6.4 x 106 m

So: Height above Earth’s surface = 4.23 x 107 – 6.4 x 106
= 3.6 x 106 m (36,000 km)
Structured Problems, page 9, Qs 48-51.

AH RMA PPT 4.-Central-Force

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09/14/2023

• Hang a 100g mass on a string that runs through a glass tube.

Time 10 revolutions whilst the hanging mass is held in a stationary position.

Central force (N) w (rad s-1) w2 ( rad2 s-2)

Central Force (N)

Consider a mass being swung in a vertical circle, i.e. a bucket of water

At Top: mrw2 = Tt + mg Tt = mrw2 - mg

At Sides: mrw2 = T T = mrw2

Therefore there is a minimum velocity to keep it moving in a vertical circle.

At Top: mrw2 = Tt + mg Tt = 0 at minimum velocity.

a) Calculate the weight of the car

Central force provided = R sin θ

Combining these 2 components:

Note : mass doesn’t matter!

a) 6.55ms-1 b) 9.3ms-1 c) 22ms-1

Components of force can also be

In satellite motion the central force is provided by Gravity

From this we can work out the

But……..Radius of the Earth is 6.4 x 106 m

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