PHYSICS 1: Physics Fundamental 1

CIRCULAR MOTION PERIOD = is the time required for an object to make one
complete revolution.
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
FREQUENCY = the number of revolutions completed by the
object in a given time.
1. Define period and frequency
2. Describe motion of an object moving in a curved path in terms  Using the terms frequency and period, you can
describe the motion of a bicycle wheel. Suppose the
of period or frequency
rear wheel makes 5 revolutions in 1 minute. Therefore
3. Identify the forces acting on an object moving in a circular path frequency f = 5 revolutions per minute or 5rpm.
4. Define centripetal acceleration, centripetal force and
centrifugal force  Period may be expressed in seconds, minutes, hours
or years. Correspondingly the frequency may be
5. Derive the equation for centripetal force from Newton’s second expressed as rev/s, rev/min, rev/hr, rev/year etc.
law of motion
6. Give applications of centripetal force 1
7. Explain why some curved roadways are tilted from the
f=𝑇 A
horizontal

Circular Motion is the motion of a body along a circle. If an object moves in a circular path at constant speed, its motion is said to be
uniform. Uniform Circular Motion is the simplest kind of circular motion.

Consider a ball Or in terms of frequency (see ex. B)

Recall that the speed The distance traveled by the ball in one
whirled about on is defined as the total revolution is equal to the 𝟐𝝅𝒓
a string, the ball 𝐯=
distance traveled circumference of the circle that
moves at constant 𝟏/𝒇 C
divided by the elapsed represents its path: that is c = 2∏r.
speed. The speed Or v = 2∏rf
time. In symbol The elapsed time is equivalent to the
of the ball may be period T.
computed if you FIG. 1 𝑑 The speed computed using equation
know the ball’s
Vs = 𝑡 By substitution of these quantities into
B and C is both the instantaneous
the equation v = d/t, the speed of any
frequency and the and average speeds since the motion
particle in uniform circular motion is
radius is equal to of the object is uniform. If motion is
Use the equation to expressed as
the length of the 2𝜋𝑟 nonuniform, the calculated speed
define the speed of v= B represents only the average speed of
string. 𝑇
the ball the object.

IN WHAT DIRECTION IS THIS FORCE ACTING ON THE BALL?

For an object in CIRCULAR
MOTION the speed is constant, Try whirling a ball a release the string while the ball is moving. You will find out that it
will go flying off in the direction of the velocity it had, at the instant the string was
but this not necessarily mean that
release.
velocity is also constant. The
You will feel that the string prevents the ball from moving in a straight-line
velocity is continuously changing
path by exerting a force on the ball that makes it follow a circular path. This
because the direction of motion is force known as centripetal force (Fc) is directed toward the center of the
also continuously changing. At circular path.
any point in the curved path, the
To keep the speed of the object constant, the magnitude of this force must also be
direction of the velocity is tangent constant. If you release the string while the ball is in motion, you will observe the ball
to the circular path. Since the flying tangentially to the circle. When the string is released the centripetal force is
velocity is changing, the object is removed.
accelerating. According to Newton’s second law of motion, force and acceleration are in the same
direction.

But what are the FIGURE 1 shows that there are two
magnitudes of Applying Newton’s second equal but opposite forces acting on the
the acceleration law F = ma, the centripetal ball and the string. The exerted by the
string on the ball is directed toward the
and the force? force is expressed as
center of the circle and is the centripetal
force Fc. Based on Newton’s third law,
Fc = mac you know that there must be an
The centripetal opposite but equal force. As a reaction
acceleration is to centripetal force, the ball exerts an
𝒎𝒗^𝟐 equal but opposite force on the string. It
𝒗^𝟐 𝑭𝒄 = is directed away from the center and is
𝒂𝒄 =
𝒓
𝒓
called the Centrifugal force.

Outside the car, the road exerts an inward pull (centripetal force) on the car.
This force is supplied by the friction force of tires and the road. Therfore,

Eq. 1 A Centrifuge is another application of

Fc = f = μ FN
centripetal and centrifugal forces. It is a device which
This equation shows that the maximum possible value of the frictional force
separates the lighter and hevier substances in a
is proportional to the normal force FN pushing the surfaces together. This
normal force is related to the mass and weight of the car. That is, mixture. This is usually used in laboratories for chemical

FN = W = mg analysis. Milk, for example, can be separated into

cream and skim milk in a cream separator rotates, the
Equation 1 may now be expressed,
denser watery substance moves toward the outside,
Fc = f = μW = μmg
leaving the less dense (lighter) cream nearer the center.
You can say that
𝒎𝒗^𝟐
μ FN =
𝒓
PHYSICS 1: Physics Fundamental 1