THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR LECTURE NOTES

INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS PH 110

CHAPTER 7
CIRCULAR MOTION
Circular motion is another example of motion in two dimensions. To create circular motion in a
body it must be given some initial velocity and a force must then act on the body which is always
perpendicular to instantaneous velocity. Circular motion may be classified into two types; uniform
circular motion and non-uniform circular motion.

7.1. Variables of circular motion

7.1.1 Displacement and distance
When a particle moves in a circular path describing an angle 𝜃 during time 𝑡 from one point say A
to another point say B, we see that the magnitude of the position vector remains constant, i.e. |𝑟⃗𝑖 | =
|𝑟⃗𝑓 | = 𝑟 ≡ radius of the circle and the direction of position vector changes from time to time.

Figure 7.1 Motion of a particle in a circle

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(a) Displacement
The change of position vector or the displacement ∆𝑟⃗ of the particle from position A to Position B
represents displacement of the particle. It is given by:
∆𝑟⃗ = 𝑟⃗𝑓 − 𝑟⃗𝑖

(b) Distance
The distance covered by the particle during the time t is the length of the arc AB
7.1.2 Angular displacement
Angular displacement 𝜃 of the particle is the angle turned by a body moving in a circle from some
reference line. It is a vector quantity, measured in radians or degrees. Sometimes it is specified in
terms revolutions (revs). It is dimensionless.
The following are the conversions involving angular displacement:
1 𝑟𝑒𝑣 = 2𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 360 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠
7.1.3 Angular velocity
Angular velocity 𝜔 of an object in circular motion is defined as the time rate of change of its
angular displacement. It is given by:
Angle traced
Angular velocity =
Time taken
∆𝜃
𝜔=
∆𝑡
The angular velocity of the particle at any instant is called instantaneous angular velocity, given
by:
∆𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜔 = lim ( )=
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Angular velocity is measured in rad/s or rev/s and its dimensions are 𝑀0 𝐿0 𝑇 −1 .
7.1.4 Time period
In circular motion, the time period T is defined as the time taken t by the object to complete one
revolution on its circular path. It is given by:
Time taken
Period =
Number of revolutions
𝑡
𝑇=
𝑛
Or

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 2𝜋
𝑇=
𝜔
Or
2𝜋𝑟
𝑇=
𝑣
Then, from the two expressions for the time period, we can derive the relationship between linear
velocity 𝑣 and angular velocity 𝜔, i.e.
2𝜋 2𝜋𝑟
= ⟺ 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟
𝜔 𝑣
7.1.5 Frequency
In circular motion, the frequency 𝑓 is defined as the number of revolutions n completed by a
particle on its circular path in unit time t. It is given by:
𝑛
𝑓=
𝑡
Hence:
1
𝑓=
𝑇
Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) or 𝑠 −1
7.1.6 Angular acceleration
Angular acceleration of a particle in circular motion is defined as the time rate of change of its
angular velocity. It is given by:
Δ𝜔
𝛼=
Δ𝑡
We define the instantaneous angular acceleration as:
Δ𝜔 𝑑𝜔 𝑑 2 𝜃
𝛼 = lim ( )= = 2
Δ𝑡→0 Δ𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
The units of angular acceleration are rad/s2 and its dimensions are 𝑀0 𝐿0 𝑇 −2.

8.2. Uniform circular motion

Motion of a particle moving along the circumference of a circle with constant speed is called
uniform circular motion. In this case, the velocity of a particle changes continuously in direction
but not in magnitude.

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8.2.1 Centripetal acceleration
Acceleration acting on a particle undergoing uniform circular motion is called centripetal
acceleration. A particle moving uniformly around a circle experiences an acceleration because the
direction of the velocity changes continuously despite its magnitude remaining constant.
Centripetal acceleration always acts on the object along the radius towards the centre of the circular
path.

Figure 7.2 A particle moving uniformly around a circle experiences an acceleration because the
direction of the velocity changes continuously despite its magnitude remaining constant.
Let us consider a particle moving round a circle with radius r. Let its velocities along the tangent
at A and B be 𝑣⃗𝑖 and 𝑣⃗𝑓 respectively. Let ∆𝜃 be the angular displacement. The angle between the
tangents (velocities) is also ∆𝜃. Let 𝑟⃗𝑖 and 𝑟⃗𝑓 be the position coordinates of A and B, and Δr⃗ is the
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ .
displacement 𝐴𝐵
We define the magnitude of the average acceleration as:
𝑣𝑓 − 𝑣𝑖 ∆𝑣
𝑎̅ = =
𝑡𝑓 − 𝑡𝑖 ∆𝑡

where ∆𝑣 can be accomplished graphically as shown in Figure 7.2 (c).

The triangle in Figure 7.2 (b), which has sides ∆𝑟 and 𝑟, is similar to the triangle of figure 7.2 (b),
which has sides ∆𝑣 and 𝑣. This similarity enables us to write the following relationship:
∆𝑣 ∆𝑟 𝑣
= ⟺ ∆𝑣 = ∆𝑟
𝑣 𝑟 𝑟
Substituting the above equation into the equation for the average acceleration, we get:
∆𝑣 𝑣 ∆𝑟
𝑎̅ = =
∆𝑡 𝑟 ∆𝑡
When ∆𝑡 is very small, the two points A and B of figure 7.2 (b) becomes extremely close, and
hence ∆𝑟 and ∆𝜃 are very small too. In this limit, ∆𝑣⃗ would point toward the centre of the circular
path, and because the acceleration is in the direction of ∆𝑣⃗ ,it will also be toward the center.

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Consequently, in this limit the arc AB (𝐴𝐵 = 𝑟∆𝜃) will be equal to ∆𝑟 and the ratio ∆𝑟⁄∆𝑡
approaches the speed v. Thus, when Δ𝑡 → 0,the magnitude of the centripetal (radial) acceleration
will be:
𝒗𝟐
𝒂𝒄 =
𝒓
Thus, in uniform circular motion the acceleration is directed inward toward the center of the circle.
7.2.2 Centripetal force
When a particle moves in a circular path, there is centripetal acceleration. Therefore, there must
be a force acting on a particle that gives this acceleration. Centripetal force is that force which is
required to move a particle in a circular path with uniform speed. This force acts on the body along
the radius and towards the centre. Hence, it is called centre-seeking force. If we apply Newton’s
second law along the radial direction, we find that the net force causing the centripetal acceleration
can be evaluated:
𝒗𝟐
∑ 𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂𝒄 =
𝒓

This is the expression for the centripetal force acting on a particle moving in a circular path.

7.2.3 Centrifugal force

It is an imaginary force due to incorporated effects of inertia. Centrifugal force is a fictious force
which has significance only in a rotating frame of reference. It is always equal and opposite to
centripetal force.

7.3. Non-uniform circular motion

A particle that moves in a circular path or curved path with variable speed, is said to execute a
non-uniform circular motion. In this case, the total acceleration 𝑎⃗ can be resolved into two
components: Tangential acceleration vector 𝑎⃗𝑡 and a radial acceleration vector 𝑎⃗𝑟 . That is;
𝑎⃗ = 𝑎⃗𝑡 + 𝑎⃗𝑟
The tangential acceleration at a particular point arises from the time rate of change of the speed of
the particle and it is given by:
𝑑𝑣
𝑎𝑡 =
𝑑𝑡
The radial acceleration at a particular point arises from the time rate of change in direction of the
velocity vector and has a magnitude given by:

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 𝑣2
𝑎𝑟 =
𝑟

Figure 7.3 The acceleration of a particle moving in a circle with a tangential component 𝑎𝑡 and
a radial component 𝑎𝑟 directed toward the center of the circle.

7.4. Equations of uniformly accelerated angular motion

Equations of uniformly accelerated angular motion are analogous to those of uniformly accelerated
linear motion. Table 7.1 shows the analogy between these two types of motion.
Linear Angular
1 1
𝑣̅ = (𝑣𝑖 + 𝑣𝑓 ) 𝜔
̅ = (𝜔𝑖 + 𝜔𝑓 )
2 2
𝑠 = 𝑣̅ 𝑡 𝜃=𝜔 ̅𝑡

𝑣 = 𝑣𝑖 + 𝑎𝑡 𝜔 = 𝜔𝑖 + 𝛼𝑡

𝑣𝑓 2 = 𝑣𝑖 2 + 2𝑎𝑠 𝜔𝑓 2 = 𝜔𝑖 2 + 2𝛼𝜃

1 1
𝑠 = 𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2 𝜃 = 𝜔𝑖 𝑡 + 𝛼𝑡 2
2 2

Table 7.1 The analogy between uniformly accelerated linear and angular motions

7.5. Relationship between linear and angular quantities

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To conclude this chapter, we now look at the relationship between linear (tangential) and angular
quantities.

 Linear displacement (𝑠) and angular displacement (𝜃)

𝒔 = 𝒓𝜽

 Linear velocity (𝑣) and angular velocity (𝜔)

𝒗 = 𝒓𝝎

 Linear acceleration (𝑎) and angular acceleration (𝛼)

𝒂 = 𝒓𝜶

EXERCISES
1. A wheel accelerates uniformly from rest to an angular speed of 25 rad/s in 10 s.
(a) Find the angular acceleration of the wheel.
(b) Find the tangential and radial acceleration of a point 10cm from the wheel’s center.
(c) How many revolutions has the wheel turned during this time interval?
(d) Then, find the wheel’s angular deceleration if it comes to a full stop after 5 rev. [(a)2.5
rad/s2 (b) 0.25 m/s2; 62.5m/s2 (c) 20 rev (d) −9.95 rad/s2]
2. A race car travels around circle with a radius 200 m. It does a complete lap every 25 s. What
is the car’s centripetal acceleration? [12.6 m/s2]
3. A block of wood is attached to a rope and placed on a frictionless table. The rope is attached
to a stake at the centre of the table. The block is then given a speed of 3.5m/s. If the rope has a
tension of 35 N and a length 0.5 m, what is the block’s mass? [1.43kg]
4. A boy attaches a stone to the end of a rope of length r =0.25 m, and rotates the stone at a
constant speed in a circular fashion. Find the stone’s radial acceleration when the period T is
2 s. [2.47 m/s2]
5. A body of mass 10 g is set to rotate in a circular path by means of a string 200 cm long. If it
makes 3 complete revolutions in 2 s, find the tension in the string? [1.77 N]
6. A stone of mass 0.25 kg tied to the end of a string is whirled round a circle of radius 1.5 m
with a speed of 40 rev/min in a horizontal plane. What is the tension in the string? What is the
maximum speed with which the stone can be whirled around if the string can withstand a
maximum tension of 200 N? [6.57 N; 34.64 m/s]
7. A stone tied to the end of a string 80 cm long is whirled in a horizontal circle with constant
speed. If the stone makes 14 revolutions in 25 seconds, what is the magnitude and direction of
acceleration of the stone? [9.9 m/s2]
8. A cyclist is riding with a speed of 27 km/h. As he approaches a circular turn on the road of
radius 80 m, he applies brakes and reduces his speed at the rate of 0.5 m/s2. What is the
magnitude and direction of the resultant acceleration of the cyclist on the circular turn? [0.86
m/s2; 54.50]

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9. Earth revolves around the sun with a speed of 30 km/s in an approximate circular path. How
much acceleration does it have directed towards the sun? Orbital radius of the earth is 1.5×108
km. [6×10-3 ms-2]
10. An aircraft executes a horizontal loop at a speed of 720 km/h with its wings banked at 150.
What is the radius of the loop? [15.2 km]
11. A car is driving on a frictionless, circular road of 120 m. If the car is travelling at 72 km/h,
what angle the road need to be banked? [18.80]
12. A disc revolves in a horizontal plane at a steady rate of 3 revs/s. A coin will remain on the disc
if it is kept a distance of 2 cm from the axis of rotation. What is the coefficient of friction
between the coin and the disc? [0.724]
13. A particle has a non-uniform motion on a circular path of radius r =2m. At a given instant of
time, the magnitude of its total acceleration a is 10m/s2 (see figure 7.4). At this instant, find:
(a) the magnitude of both the centripetal and tangential accelerations.
(b) the speed v of the particle. [(a) 8.66 m/s2, 5m/s2, (b) 4.16m/s]

Figure 7.4 See exercise 13

14. A motorist is making a vertical loop inside a ‘death well’. What is the minimum speed required
to perform a vertical loop if the radius of the chamber is 25 m? [15.7 m/s]
15. A 70 kg man stands in contact against the wall of a cylindrical drum of radius 3m rotating
about its vertical axis. The coefficient of friction between the wall and his clothing is 0.15.
What is the minimum rotational speed of the cylinder to enable the man to remain stuck to the
wall, when the floor is suddenly removed? [4.7 rad/s]
16. A 3.5 kg mass is allowed to spin. The rope it is attached to is 2 m long and makes an angle of
25 degrees with the vertical.
(a) What is the tension in the rope?
(b) What is the mass’s speed? [(a) 37.8 N; (b)1.97 m/s]
17. A circular race track of radius 500 m is banked at an angle of 200. Find maximum permissible
speed to avoid slipping if
(a) there is no friction between the tires and the road.
(b) coefficient of friction between the tires and the road is 0.15. [(a)42 m/s; (b)52 m/s]
18. A 3216 kg wrecking ball is released from rest. When the ball is at the bottom of its path, it has
a speed of 3.5 m/s. If the supporting rope has a length of 10 metres, what is the tension in the
rope? [35440 N]
19. A small body is tied to the end of string of length 1 m and whirled in a vertical circle.

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 (a) What is the minimum speed that it must have at the highest point so that the string does not
slacken?
(b) What is its speed at the lowest point if it has the above minimum speed at the highest point?
[(a)3.13 m/s; (b)7 m/s]
20. As an approximation, assume the moon revolves about the Earth in a perfectly circular orbit
with a radius r =3.85 × 108m and takes 27.3 days to make a complete revolution (see figure
7.5).
(a) What is the speed of the moon?
(b) What is the magnitude of the radial acceleration of the moon toward the Earth’s center?
[(a)1025 m/s (b)2.73×10-3 m/s2]

Figure 7.5 See exercise 20

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