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Circular Motion

The document explains circular motion, detailing concepts such as angular velocity, periodic time, and centripetal force. It highlights the relationship between speed, radius, and acceleration in circular motion, emphasizing that a force directed towards the center is necessary to maintain circular movement. Additionally, it discusses the implications of changing speed and the forces acting on objects like airplanes and roller coasters in circular paths.

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Vimbai Sibanda
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

Circular Motion

The document explains circular motion, detailing concepts such as angular velocity, periodic time, and centripetal force. It highlights the relationship between speed, radius, and acceleration in circular motion, emphasizing that a force directed towards the center is necessary to maintain circular movement. Additionally, it discusses the implications of changing speed and the forces acting on objects like airplanes and roller coasters in circular paths.

Uploaded by

Vimbai Sibanda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CIRCULAR MOTION

Here we are looking at an object that is moving


in a circle.
At any point in time the velocity is a tangent to
the circle around which it is moving
One radian (rad) is defined as the angle
subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc
equal in length to the radius – N.B.
Therefore to obtain the angle in radians we
divide the length of the arc by the radius of the
circle
For one radian s = r
For θ radians we have
θ = length of arc = s
radius of circle r
Consider a full circle
θ= circumference of circle
radius of circle
= 2π r
r
= 2π
Therefore 3600 = 2 π radians
One radian = 57.3o
Periodic time (T)
This is the time taken to complete one
revolution/circle
It is measures in seconds
Frequency(f)
This is the number of revolutions per second –
N.B.
It is measured in Hz
If there are 2 revolutions per second the
periodic time is 0.5 Hz
If the periodic time is 0.1 s there are 10
revolutions per second
If the periodic time is 5 s there are 0.2
revolutions in 1 sec
Therefore T = 1
f
N.B.
Angular velocity/speed
The angular velocity is defined as the angle
swept out by the radius per second or the
rate of change of angle, measured in radians,
per second
N.B.
It is given the symbol ω and can be calculated by
ω = Δθ
Δt

N.B.
The periodic time T is the time taken for the
object to complete one revolution i.e to turn
through an angle of 2π
Therefore ω= 2π
T
Consider an object moving at constant speed v
around a circle of radius r with angular speed, ω
Consider an object moving at constant speed v
around a circle of radius r with angular speed, ω
ω = Δ θ = Δs = 1 Δs
t rt r t
=v
r
The speed v is given by v = rω
N.B.
Because the body is changing direction the
velocity is changing so there is an acceleration
If there is an acceleration there must be a force
If the force acts towards the centre of the circle
it is at right angles to the velocity
It does not change the magnitude of the
velocity but only its direction
A force that always acts at right angles to the
direction of velocity causes the body to move
in a circle – N.B.
This force is known as the centripetal force
Always make sure you know the source of the
force. A centripetal force is not a type of force.
Forces can be gravitational, tension in a string,
friction etc.
If there was no force the body would continue
to move in a straight line i.e if the force
causing circular motion is suddenly removed
the body will just fly off in a straight line.
Sometimes people refer to this as a centrifugal
force but in fact the object flies off because
there is NO force acting so it continues in a
straight line You need a force to keep it moving
in a circle
(In parabolic motion the force is always in the
same direction and there is no force in a
perpendicular direction. The velocity changes
in the direction of the force)
Circular motion with constant speed
Although the speed is constant the velocity is
constantly changing
A changing velocity means there is an
acceleration
The acceleration of a body moving at constant
velocity v round a circle of radius is given by
the formula
a = v2
r
N.B.
But v = rw
Therefore a = (rw)2 = r w2
r
N.B.
N.B. The acceleration of a body performing
circular motion at constant speed is directed
towards the centre of the circle
By Newton's laws of motion if there is an
acceleration there must be a force
For circular motion the force must be directed to
the centre of the circle
It is known as the centripetal force
F = m v2 = m r w 2
r
Before doing any examples let us write down all
the formula for circular motion
Remember when finding the force that causes
circular motion you need to find the resultant
force that acts towards the centre of the circle
Consider a conical pendulum
Consider an aeroplane going around a circle
What makes it turn in a circle
There are 4 forces acting on a plane
F and AR determine the speed of the plane. If
they are equal it is constant
If F is greater than AR the plane speeds up and if
AR is greater than F the plane slows down
We are interested in mg and L.
N.B. Lift is always at right angles to the wings
For the plane to remain at same horizontal level
Lcosθ= mg
But resultant force will be L sinθ
This is at right angles to the velocity which is out
of the page
It will always be at right angles to velocity
So the plane will move in a circle
where L sinθ = ma
= mv2/r
= mrw2
Sometimes the speed is not constant
e.g roller coasters. They give the carriages a lot
of momentum at the bottom and then switch
off. As the carriage rises the momentum gets
less. It must be sufficient to keep it going at
the top of the loop
To do this type of example use
1. Change in kinetic energy = change in potential
energy
2. The fact that the minimum speed that will
keep the carriage on the rails is one where
S=0
i.e where mg = mv2/r
At this speed the weight will just be sufficient to
keep the body moving in a circle
If the speed is faster it will require weight and
the normal reaction force to keep the body
moving in a circle
If the speed is slower some of the weight will
not be required to keep the body moving in a
circle and it will start accelerating downwards

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