Circular Motion Notes

Uniform circular motion is the motion of

an object in a circle at a constant speed.
• As an object moves in a
circle, it is constantly changing
its direction.
• In all instances, the object is
moving tangent to the circle.

* constantly accelerating

a =    v
Δ and    v = 
Δ    d
Δ so
  t      t
a change in direction OR a change in speed will result in
acceleration
Circular Motion Notes

Rotation: object
is turning around
an internal axis

Revolution: object is
moving around an
external axis

Finding Radians:

As a general rule, when doing 
these calculations you should 
NOT leave any answers in
terms of π!
(Multiply it out!)

A full circle has exactly 2π radians.

To calculate radians, multiply the degrees by π/180.
(Example: 120° = 2π/3 radians)
Circular Motion Notes

150 degrees = ____________ radians?

150 degrees  x    π = 2.62 radians = 2.62 rad

            180

3.14 ≠ π
π
You are expected to use the      (pi) button
on your calculator for all of these problems!

1 revolution = 1 full turn of the circle

1) 310° =  ?   radians

2) 7 radians =  ?   degrees

3) A bicycle tire travels 4.5 revolutions.
a) How many radians is this?
b) How many degrees did it roll?
Circular Motion Notes

Linear (tangential) Velocity

In one full rotation, the wheel has turned th e distance
of the circumference.
Position on the circular path will determine
the linear velocity of an object.

Linear velocity is calculated by multiplying the angular

velocity by the radius:

v = ω x radius

B
Two objects A and B are located on a spinning 
disk.  Object A sits at a radius of 2 meters from 
the center, while object B sits 4 meters from the 
A center.  If the angular speed for the disk (ω ) is 
200 rad/s, what are the linear speeds for 
objects A and B, respectively?
Circular Motion Notes

Angular vs. Linear Velocity

Linear velocity = tangential velocity

Every point on a rotating body has the same

angular velocity even though every point does
not have the same linear velocity.

This is what makes angular velocity a useful

measure of the rate of rotation.

The blade of a lawn mower is rotating at an angular  speed of 
17 rev/s.  The tangential speed of the outer edge of the blade 
is 32 m/s.  What is the radius of the blade?
Circular Motion Notes

Centripetal Motion

The word "centripetal" means "center- seeking."

Since the acceleration for circular motion points
toward the center of the circle, we call it
centripetal acceleration.

The force for circular motion is called centripetal

force since it is toward the center of the circle.

Centripetal Force
The mass of the object
times the square of its
velocity, divided by the
radius of the orbit or
rotation.

The force toward the center may be caused

by gravity, friction, or another force.
Circular Motion Notes

Centripetal force holds an object in a circular path. 

Three properties govern the amount of  centripetal 
force on an object:
1.  The smaller the mass, the smaller the 
centripetal force needed.

Fc Fc

2.  The smaller the velocity of the object, the 
less centripetal force needed. 
v
v
Fc Fc

Smaller Fc needed to  Larger Fc is needed to 
force the object into orbit. counteract the greater 
velocity (v).
Circular Motion Notes

3. The smaller the radius of the path, the more 
centripetal force you will have to  apply. 

Fc
Fc

More force is  Less force is 
needed here needed

A 45 kg child riding a Ferris wheel has a tangential speed of 8.5 m/s.  
Find the magnitude of the centripetal force on the child if the distance 
from the child to the axis of the wheel is 18 m.
Circular Motion Notes

Circular Motion The blue object is moving 

with uniform circular motion 
around the red center.  

The object has a velocity 
that is tangent to the 
circular path.

The object has an acceleration 
toward the center, called 
centripetal acceleration.

Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal acceleration accelerates 
the object toward the center of the 
ac = 
v2 circular path
r

ac = centripetal acceleration (m/s 2)
v = velocity (m/s)
r = radius of the circle (m)
Attachments

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