Chapter 2

Uniform Circular Motion

Specific Objectives
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
Content
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Definition of Terms
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 Definition of Terms
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 Definition of Terms
Relationship between angular displacement, θand angular velocity.
 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
 Definition of Terms
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 Definition of Terms
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 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.
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 Centripetal Force
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.
 Centripetal Force
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.
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 Centripetal Force
Example
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
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
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 Examples of Uniform Circular Motion
To prevents kidding 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
Condition in which a road is raised gradually from the inner side of
the bend.
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.
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 normal reaction of frictional
force produces the turning effect to the clockwise and
anticlockwise directions.
Taking moments about G
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;
Example:
(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
Motion in Vertical Path
Example
A car travels over a humpback bridge of radius of curvature 40m.
Calculate maximum speed of the car if its wt are to staying contact
with bridge. g=10m/
 Examples of Centripetal Force
Cyclist moving along a circular Frictional force between the tyre
path and the road
Car moving along a banked road Horizontal component of reaction
force
Electron orbiting around the Electrostatic force of attraction
nucleus of an atom. between the proton and the
electron
Electron moving in a magnetic Magnetic field
field
Satellite orbiting around the earth Gravitational force exerted by the
earth.
A string whirled in a horizontal 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.
Application of Circular Motion
 Application of Circular Motion
3. Speed Governors
Principle of conical pendulum is used in operating the speed governors.
As 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.