Uniform Circular Motion

By the end of this topic the leaner should be able to:

a. Define angular displacement and angular velocity
b. Describe simple experiments to illustrate centripetal force
c. Explain the application of uniform circular motion
d. Solve numerical problems involving uniform circular motion

Definition of Terms
i) Angular Displacement, θ
It is the angle swept through by a line joining to the centre of circular path. It
is measured in radians.

It is calculated as angular displacement ¿

Arc Length
radius
S
θ=
ii)Radian
r

It is defined as an angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc length

equal to the radius of a circle.
Arc Length
Radian=
radius
S
Radian =
r
= 2π
2π r
Radian =

2 π radians = 3600
r

iii)Angular Velocity
It is the rate of change of angular displacement. It is denoted by Greek letter
omega (ω).
θ
ω=

Is measured in radian per second.

t

Example
1. A particle moving in a circular path covers one revolution in ten
seconds. Calculate its angular velocity.
Relationship between angular displacement, θ and angular velocity
………………………………. (i)
ΔS
v=
Δt
ΔS
Δθ= ……………………………. (ii)
For small change in equation (ii)
Δr

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 ΔS
Δθ= ……………………………. (ii i )
Dividing equation (iii) by Δt
r

………………………………. (iii)
Δθ Δ S
=
Δt Δt
v
ω= ⇒ v = ωr………… …………. (ii)

A body in circular motion has both linear velocity in m/s and angular velocity
r

in rads/s
Examples
1. A turn table rotates at the rate of 60 revolutions per minute. What is its
angular velocity in rads/s
2. A model car moves around a circular path of radius 0.6m at 25 Rev/s.
Determine its;
(a) period
(b) Angular velocity(ω)
(c) Speed (v)
3. The car moves with uniform velocity of 3m/s in a circle of radius 0.2m. Find
its angular velocity and frequency.
4. Distinguish between angular and linear velocity.
5. Convert the following in to radians:
a) 800C
b) 1200C
iv)Period/Periodic Time
Is the time taken to complete one revolution.
Angle covered∈ one revolution
Periodic time=
Angular velocity
2π
T=
ω
Frequency, f =
1
T
1 2π
= ⟹ ω=2 π f
f ω

v)Centripetal Acceleration
 An object going through a circular path is said to accelerate.
 If the velocity of such object is constant the object still accelerates
because there is continuous change in velocity as the object
continuously changes direction. From Newton’s second law of motion,
the body experiences a resultant force as it moves rounds path. This
resultant force is directed towards the circular path.
 Acceleration of this body is in the direction of force applied to it i.e. it
accelerates towards the centre of the circular of the circular path. This
acceleration is called centripetal acceleration.
The centripetal acceleration is given by the following equation.

Centripetal acceleration, a=
2
V

But v=ωr
r

a=ω 2 r
2
vi)Centripetal Force
Is a force that is required to keep a body moving in a circular path and is
directed towards the centre of the circular path.
If an object moving through a circular path is released suddenly it flies off
tangentially.
Factors Affecting Centripetal Force.
1. Mass of the object, m- the heavier the object the more the centripetal force
needed to maintain it in circular path.
2. Angular velocity of the object, ω- an increase in centripetal force needed to
maintain the object in circular path.
[Link] of the path, r –the shorter the radius of the path the larger the
centripetal force required to maintain the object in circular path.
The above factors are proofed using a turn table.
The turn table has the following features
 Increase in speed of the turntable increases length of the spring
(increase in centripetal force)
 When using a shorter spring there is more extension of the spring than
using along spring.
 When using a heavier metal bar will produce more extension than using
a lighter ball.
This is a proof to the above factors.
The graph of force against the square of angular velocity is a straight line
through the origin.
2
mv
F∝
r
2
mv
F=k
r
When k = 1, F=
2
mv
r
Hence, F= ,thus, F=mr ω2
2 2
mω r

Example 1
r

The figure below shows the diagram of setup to investigate the variation of
centripetal with the radius, r, of the circle in which a body rotated.

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 Describe how the setup can be used to
carry out the investigation
 Keep angular velocity, ω constant;
 Centripetal force provided by mg;
 Fix the mass m and measure of m;
 Repeat for different values of m;

Examples of Uniform Circular Motion

i)A car rounding a level circular bend
When a car is going round in a circular path on a horizontal road, the
centripetal force required for a circular motion is provided by the frictional
force between the tyres and the road
2
mv
F=
If the road is slippery then frictional force may not be sufficient so to provide
r

centripetal force.
To prevents skidding the car should not exceed certain speed limits referred
to as the critical speed.
This critical speed depends -
Radius of the bend i.e. one may negotiate a bend at higher critical speed when
the radius of the bend is bigger.
Condition of the tyre and the nature of the road surface this will produce the
frictional force need to negotiate the bend.
Banked tracks
Sport cars can negotiate corners at extremely high speeds without
the risk of skidding or [Link] is made possible by gradual
raising of the road from the inner side so that the track attains saucer-
like [Link] is known as road banking.

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 Rsinθ – is the horizontal component which is responsible for providing
centripetal force.


 Rcosθ –Is the vertical component that is responsible for balancing the
weight of the vehicle.
If a vehicle of mass m is travelling along a circular path of radius r at uniform
speed v, then
………………(i)
2
mv
Rsinθ=
Rcosθ=mg ………………(i)
r

Dividing (i) by (ii)

2
R sinθ mv 1
= ×
R cosθ r mg
sinθ
=tanθ
cosθ
Hence tan θ =
2
v

The maximum speed required for a body moving in a circular path whose
rg

angle of banking is θ is given by;

2
v =rgtanθ

Reasons for Banking

v=√ rgtanθ

a) To contribute in providing necessary centripetal force.

b) To reduce frictional wear and tear of tyres.
c) To avoid skidding.
d) To avoid overturning of vehicles.
ii) A cyclist moving round a circular track
Frictional force (Fr) is provided by centripetal force which is directed towards
the car however if frictional force is not sufficient to provided centripetal
force skidding takes place. To avoid skidding the cyclist leg inwards so that

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normal reaction of frictional force produces the turning effect to the clockwise
and anticlockwise directions.
Taking moments about G

iii)Conical pendulum
If a pendulum bob moves in such a way that the string sweeps out a cone,
then the
bob will describe a horizontal circle.

As it can be clearly seen, there are two forces acting on the pendulum bob;
(i) Its weight (mg)
(ii) The tension in the string.
Centripetal force is provided by the horizontal component of the tension
(Fsinθ). Hence from Newton's second law;
Centripetal force is provided by the horizontal component of the tension (F
sinθ). Hence from Newton's second law;
…………………(1)(Where symbols have their usual meaning). Since
2
mv
F sin θ=
there is no vertical acceleration
r

F cosθ = mg…………………..(2)
Again, from the two equations; tanθ=
2
v

Note that this equation is similar to the one we got earlier for banked tracks.
rg

When the angular velocity ω the cork rises hence Q increases. This concept is
applied in merry go round and speed governors.

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Motion in a Horizontal Circe
The tension in the string provides the centripetal force.
T = Fc
2
mv
T=
Where the length of the string = radius of rotation
r

Example:1
(a)The figure below shows an object at the end of a light spring balance
connected to a peg using a string. The object is moving in a circular path on a
smooth horizontal table with a constant speed.

i. What provides the force that keeps the object moving in the circular
path?
ii. Indicate with an arrow on the figure the direction of centripetal force.
iii. The speed of the object is constant, why is there acceleration?
iv. Although there is force acting on the object, NO, work is done on the
object. Explain.
v. Given that the mass of the object is 0.5kg and it is moving at speed of
8m/s at a radius of 2m. Determine the reading on the spring balance.
vi. State what happens to the reading if the speed of rotation is reduced.

Motion in Vertical Path

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Tension on the spring changes its magnitude depending on the position of the
ball.
When the ball is at A, the sum of tension TA and
Weight mg acting in the same direction provide
Centripetal force.
=T A +mg …………………..(i)
2
mv

When the ball is at A it attains minimum speed of TA = 0

r

2
mv
=mg
r
v min= √ rg
At C, tension and weight acts in different direction and hence the resultant
force between the two forces provide the centripetal force
=T C −mg …………………………(ii)
2
mv

−mg………………………….(iii)
r
2
mv
T A=

+mg ………………………….(iii)
r
2
mv
T A=
r

At D, T D =
2
mv

1. A pilot not stripped to his seat in a loop manoeuvre without falling.

r

2. A bucket of water whirled in a vertical without water spilling.

3. A ball bearing‘ looping the loop’ on a rail lying in vertical plane.
Example 1
A car travels over a humpback bridge of radius of curvature 40m. Calculate
maximum speed of the car if its wheels are to staying contact with bridge.
g=10m/s

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 2
mv
=mg−R
r
R=0
2
mv =m g
2
v =r g
v=√ rg
¿ √ 40 ×10

¿ 20 m/s

Examples of Centripetal Force

Cyclist moving along a circular path Frictional force between the tyre and
the road
Car moving along a banked road Horizontal component of reaction
force
Electron orbiting around the nucleus Electrostatic force of attraction
of an atom. between the proton and the electron
Electron moving in a magnetic field Magnetic field

Satellite orbiting around the earth Gravitational force exerted by the

earth.
A string whirled in a horizontal track Tensional force

Application of Circular Motion

1. Centrifuges

Centripetal will be too great according to the equation F = mrω2 and r will
thus be smaller for lighter particles and longer for heavier particles.

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2. Satellites
Two bodies with mass m1 andm2 at a distance r from each other experience a
force of attraction.
G is equal to universal gravitational constant.
Gm1 m2
F= 2
r

Attraction between earth and satellite gives centripetal Force m1 v =

2 Gm1 m2
2
r

Where m1 is mass of satellite and m2 mass of the earth v = 2

2 Gm 2

v=
√ Gm2

The velocity of the satellite increases with decrease in the radius of the orbit.
r

If periodic time of the satellite is equal to that of the earth the satellite appear
stationary as seen from the earth surface such satellite are said to be in
parking orbit and are used in weather forecasting and telecommunication

3. Speed Governors

Principle of conical pendulum is used in operating the speed

[Link] the angular velocity of the drive shaft increases the masses m
rises and moves the collar up as the angle θ increases. The up and down
movement of the collar is transmitted through a system of levers to the device
that controls the fuel intake. Since the angular velocity of the drive shaft
increases with speed of the vehicle, the fuel supply will cut off when the speed
exceeds a certain limit.

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