PY105 (C1)

1. Assignment 5 on circular motion and impulse

will be due next Monday. Uniform Circular
2. Lecture notes can be downloaded from the Motion
following URL:
http://physics.bu.edu/~okctsui/PY105.html

Note that it is case-sensitive. You can also

access this website through WebCT.

1 2

DEFINITION OF UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

Four common ways to express the speed
Uniform circular motion is the motion of an object traveling at a of a uniform circular motion
constant speed on a circular path.
1. Specify the (uniform) speed, v.
2. Specify the period, τ , to complete one revolution.
3. Specify the angular speed, ω.
r 4. Specify the number of revolutions per unit time.

Notice that assumed in this definition is the circular path (with a r

v
given radius, r) that defines the trajectory of the motion.
Also notice that the velocity, v, at any time is along the tangent
of the circular path at where the object is. 3 4

Four common ways to express the speed Example 1: A Tire-Balancing Machine

of a uniform circular motion
The wheel of a car has a radius of 0.29m, and is rotating
(1) speed, v, (2) period, τ , (3) angular speed, ω at 830 revolutions per minute on a tire-balancing
and (4) number of revolutions per unit time machine. Determine the speed at which the outer edge
We can relate v and τ by the following reasoning: of the wheel is moving.
Distance traveled in one revolution = 2πr 1
= 1.2 ×10 −3 min revolution
Hence, vτ = 2πr 830 revolutions min

⇒ τ = 2πr/v or v = 2πr/τ r τ = 1.2 × 10 −3 min = 0.072 s

v
Secondly, ω = 2π/τ = v/r or v = rω 2π r 2π (0.29 m )
v= = = 25 m s
τ 0.072 s
Lastly, number of revolutions per unit time = 1/τ 5 6

1
 Centripetal Acceleration v(t0)
∆v(t0)= v(t0+∆t)+(−v(t0))
The fact that the direction of motion of an object in a circular (180ο − θ)/2
motion changes continuously with time suggests that the = 90ο − θ/2
90ο − θ/2
velocity vector of the object varies continuously with time. θ θ
Hence the motion must have an acceleration, a. We call −v(t0) v(t0+∆t)
θ
accelerations giving rise to circular motions centripetal Drawing from
accelerations. last page:

o o ∆v(t0) v(t0)
r What is the centripetal r at t0 θ 90ο − θ/2
v at t0 acceleration, a at a v at t0 θ
c θ p given time, t0? c θ p c θ
θ/2
r at t0+∆t
v(t0+∆t)
v at t+∆t v at t0+∆t

n.b. |v(t0+∆t)|=|v(t0)|
Note that v, being tangential to the circular path, is
perpendicular to the radial direction. 7 8
See appendix I for a more detailed explanation.

Centripetal Acceleration ∆v B
(a) (b)
A
r(t0) θ v(t0+∆t)
v(t0) rθ
∆v(t0) −v(t0)
c θ
θ r(t0+∆t)
90ο − θ/2
c θ θ
θ/2 Circle drawn by using v as the
radius and the tail of –v(t0) as
v(t0+∆t) the center.

From (a), v∆t = rθ ⇒ ∆t = rθ/v

n.b. |v(t0+∆t)|=|v(t0)|=v In the limit ∆t → 0, θ → 0.

From (b), when θ → 0, ∆v = vθ
Acceleration, a = lim∆t →0∆v/∆t. This drawing shows vθ v2
that ∆v and hence a points towards the center. a = lim∆t →0∆v/∆t = =
9
rθ/v r 10

Example 2: The Effect of Radius on Centripetal Acceleration

Centripetal Force
The racing track contains turns with radii of 33
m and 24 m. Find the centripetal acceleration In circular motions, the object is subject to the
at each turn for a speed of 34 m/s. Express centripetal acceleration, ac. So, a net force must act
answers as multiples of g = 9.8 m/s2.
on an object to produce a circular motion. We call
Solution: the component of the net force that produces the
circular motion the centripetal force, FC. Accordingly,
Use ac = v r
2
FC = mac. Notice that the magnitude of Fc is
(34 m s )2 determined entirely by mac = mv2/r.
r = 33 m: ac = = 35 m s 2 = 3.6 g r r r r
∑ F = ma = ma
33 m
c + maother
(34 m s ) 2

r = 24 m: ac = = 48 m s 2 = 4.9 g
24 m Fc This term is non-zero
if the net force is
Note that the centripetal acceleration required to make
a turn is bigger the sharper the turn is.
11
bigger than Fc 12

2
 Centripetal Force (Conceptual) Exercise 3 Object on a turntable
Object
For an object placed on top of ω
In Example 3, the centripetal a rotating turntable, what is
forces, Fc, required by the fS the source of the centripetal vr
r
racing car in making the turns fS force on the object if it rotates
are provided by the static with the turntable?
fS
frictional forces between the Ans. Static friction
road and the tires of the wheels. Turntable
fS’ If the radial position, r, of the object
What will happen if the static on the turntable is doubled, how
friction is not large enough to fS’ much does the centripetal force
provide the centripetal force change?
needed for making the turn? fS’
Ans. Fc = mv2/r = m(2πr/τ)2/r = 4π2mr/τ2
13
Hence, if r is doubled, Fc will be doubled. 14

Example 4: Centripetal Force Caused by a Tension

(Conceptual) Exercise 3 Object on a turntable (cont’d)
The model airplane has a mass of 0.90
kg and moves at a constant speed of 19
If static friction is not enough to provide the m/s on a circle that is parallel to the
centripetal force required by the object to ground. The path of the airplane and the
rotate with the turntable, which way will the guideline lie in the same horizontal plane
object go? because the weight of the plane is balanced by
Object the lift generated by its wings. Find the tension
Ans. It will follow the straight ω in the 17 m guideline.
path along which the velocity vr Solution: FBD at an instant:
vector, vr, is pointed. r
v2 L (Lift from
Fc = T = m a the wings)
r T
Turntable T = (0.90 kg )
(19 m s )2 = 19 N
15 17 m mg 16

Example 5: Centripetal Force by a Banked Curve Example 5: Centripetal Force by a Banked Curve (cont’d)
On a banked curve that makes an angle θ with the horizontal,
the centripetal force is mostly provided by the horizontal
component of the normal force. The vertical component of the
normal force balances the car’s weight. Ignore friction, what is
the relation between θ and v?

From the above, we deduce that the car remains

v2
in the circular path if = tan θ ⇒ v = rg tan θ .
rg
Solution:
v2 What will happen if the driver increases the speed
FN sinθ = ma = m v2 of the car from v = (rgtanθ)1/2?
r tan θ =
FN cos θ − mg = 0 rg 17 18

3
Example 5: Centripetal Force by a Banked Curve (cont’d) Vertical Circular Motions

fsinθ f
Motions confined to a circular
fcosθ path but under gravitational
acceleration, g. At different
points of the circular path, mg
But if friction is not negligible and the condition, tanθ = v2/rg
contributes to the centripetal
is not satisfied (i.e., v2 ≠ rgtanθ), static friction comes into force, Fc, differently, so the
play to make the net force equal to the required centripetal normal force, FN, which
force = mv2/r. provides the difference
v2 Note that if v2 > rgtanθ, between Fc and mg varies
x: FN sinθ − f cos θ = m
r f < 0 meaning that f with position.
y: FN cos θ + f sinθ − mg = 0 points towards the
mg v 2 center to help provide
⇒ f = (tan θ − ) the centripetal force.19 20
sinθ tan θ + cos θ rg

Consider the vertical circular motion

If the speed is uniform,
as shown.
FN3<FN2=FN4<FN1.
Contribution
of mg to ac: If FN = 0, the cyclist loses contact
with the track. Amongst all positions it
2
v Maximum happens most probably at 3 .
1 FN 1 − mg = m 1
negative
r v2
contribution FN 3 + mg = m
v22 r
2 FN 2 = m No
FN3 = 0 ⇒ v = (rg)1/2
r contribut-
v42 ion
If v is less than (rg)1/2, FN = 0 and part of mg would
4 FN 4 =m cause the object to fall at 3 :
r
Maximum mg = mv2/r + may,fall
v2
3 FN 3 + mg = m 3 positive
ΣF may,total
r contribution 21 22

Another example of vertical circular motions

Consider an object tied to a string v3

and being maneuvered into a
vertical circular motion as shown at T
mg
right. The criterion for the object to ac
remain in the circular trajectory is
r
that the tension in the string
remains non-zero throughout the
motion. As before, if speed v3 at the highest point is
such that mv32/r < mg, tension T will be zero and
the difference, mg – mv2/r, will cause the object to
fall vertically and leave the circular path.
23