Chapter 5 Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion

Chapter 5

DYNAMICS OF UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

An object which is moving in a circular path with a constant speed is said to be in

uniform circular motion. For an object to move in a circular path, there must be a force
exerted on the object which is directed toward the center of the circular path called the
centripetal force. This centripetal force gives rise to centripetal acceleration. This
centripetal force can be provided by tension in string, friction acting between tires and the
road, or the gravitational force holding a satellite in orbit around a planet or star.

The content contained in sections 1 – 4 and 5 – 8 of chapter 5 of the textbook is included

on the AP Physics B exam.

QUICK REFERENCE

Important Terms

centripetal acceleration
the acceleration of an object moving in circular motion which is directed toward
the center of the circular path
centripetal force
the central force causing an object to move in a circular path
period
the time for one complete cycle or revolution
satellite motion
the motion of a satellite orbiting under the influence of gravity in a circular or
elliptical path around a larger mass
tangential velocity
the velocity tangent to the path of an object moving in a curved path
uniform circular motion
motion in a circular path of constant radius at a constant speed

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 Chapter 5 Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion

Equations and Symbols

2r where
v=
T
v = velocity or speed of an object in
v2
ac = circular motion or orbiting satellite
r r = radius of circular motion or orbit
mv 2 T = period of revolution
Fc =
r ac = centripetal acceleration
GM E Fc = centripetal force
v= m = mass
r G = gravitational constant = 6.67 x 10-11
N m2 / kg2
ME = mass of the earth = 5.98 x 1024 kg

DISCUSSION OF SELECTED SECTIONS

5.1 – 5.3 Uniform Circular Motion, Centripetal Acceleration and

Centripetal Force

The law of inertia states that if an object is moving it will continue moving in a straight
line at a constant velocity until a net force causes it to speed up, slow down, or change
direction. If a force on an object is constantly applied toward a central point, the object
will be pulled away from its straight-line path, and will follow a circular path.
As long as the string is pulled toward this central point, the ball will continue moving in a
circle at a constant speed. An object moving in a circle at a constant speed is said to be in
uniform circular motion (UCM). Notice that even though the speed is constant, the
velocity vector is not constant, since it is always changing direction due to the central
force that the string applies to the ball, which we will call the centripetal force Fc.
Centripetal means “center-seeking”. The three vectors associated with uniform circular
motion are velocity v, centripetal force Fc, and centripetal acceleration ac. These
vectors are drawn in the diagram of a ball on the end of a string shown below.

Fc ac

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 Chapter 5 Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion

Notice that the velocity vector is tangent to the path of the ball, and points in the direction
the ball would move if the string were to break at that instant. The centripetal force and
acceleration are both pointing toward the center. Although the centripetal force does not
change the speed of the ball, it accelerates the ball toward the center of the circle,
constantly changing its direction. The time it takes for the ball to complete one revolution
is called the period T. Since period is a time, we will measure it in seconds, minutes,
hours, or even years. On the other hand, frequency f is the number of revolutions the ball
makes per unit time. Units for frequency would include
revolutions revolutions
, , or any time unit divided into revolutions or cycles. Another
sec ond hour
name for rev/s is hertz. The relationships between period, frequency, speed, centripetal
force, and centripetal acceleration are listed in the Equations and Symbols list above.

Some other examples of centripetal force is the gravitational force keeping a satellite in
orbit, and friction between a car’s tires and the road which causes the car to turn in a
circle.

5.5 Satellites in Circular Orbits

As a satellite orbits the earth, it is pulled toward the earth with a gravitational force which
is acting as a centripetal force. The inertia of the satellite causes it to tend to follow a
straight-line path, but the centripetal gravitational force pulls it toward the center of the
orbit.
m
v
FG= FC

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 Chapter 5 Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion

If a satellite of mass m moves in a circular orbit around a planet of mass M, we can set
the centripetal force equal to the gravitational force and solve for the speed of the satellite
orbiting at a particular distance r:

Fc = FG
mv 2 GmM
=
r r2
GM
v=
r
Example 1 Venus orbits the sun at a radius of 1.08 x 1011 m with an orbital period of
228 days. Find the mass of the sun in kg.

Solution:
For consistency, let’s convert days to seconds:
(228 days ) 24 hr  3600 s  = 1.97 x10 7 s
 day  hr 

GM 2 r
v= =
r T
GM 4 r 2 2
=
r T2

M =
4 2 r 3
=
(
4 2 1.08 x1011 m )3

= 1.92 x 10 30 kg
 Nm 2 
GT 2
 6.67 x10 −11 2 
(
 1.97 x10 7 s )
2

 kg 

The table of constants in the front of your textbook lists the mass of the sun as
1.99 x 1030 kg.

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 Chapter 5 Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion

5.7 Vertical Circular Motion

Consider a ball attached to the end of a string and swung in a vertical circle. Because of
the gravitational force acting on the ball, it will increase its speed slightly as it falls from
point A to point B, and decreases its speed slightly as it rises from point B to point A.
This also implies that the tension in the string increases as the ball falls and decreases as
the ball rises.
A

In this case, the centripetal force is not merely the tension force in the string. Since
centripetal force is always the net force acting on an object following a circular path, the
centripetal force in this case is a combination of the tension force in the string and the
weight of the ball. Notice that the tension force and weight vectors at point A (top) are in
the same direction and their magnitudes can be added to find the centripetal force at point
A, and the tension force and weight vectors at point B (bottom) are in the opposite
direction and their magnitudes can be subtracted to find the centripetal force at point B.
This implies that the tension force must be greater at the bottom of the circle than at the
top. Try working the free response question below, and check your answer for an
illustration of the forces involved in a vertical circle.

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