UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION - Form 4 Physics Notes

Introduction

Circular motion is the motion of bodies travelling in circular paths.
Uniform circular motion occurs when the speed of a body moving in a circular path is constant. This can be defined as motion of an object at a constant speed along a curved path of constant radius.
When acceleration (variation of velocities) is directed towards the centre of the path of motion it is known as centripetal acceleration and the force producing this centripetal acceleration which is also directed towards the centre of the path is called centripetal force.

This motion can be described as the motion of a body moving along a circular path by giving the angle covered in a certain time along the path of motion.
The angle covered in a certain time is proportional to the distance covered along the path of motion.

If a body moving in a circular path turns through an angle θ radians in time ‘t’, we define angular velocity omega (ω), as the rate of change of the angular displacement ω = ^θ/_t,
The SI unit of angular velocity is radians per second (rads^-1). Since the radian measure is a ratio we can write it as second^-1 (s^-1).

Relation between linear velocity and angular velocity
Let us consider a body P moving along the circumference of a circle of radius r with linear velocity v and angular velocity ω as shown in the figure below
Let it move from P to Q in time dt and dθ be the angle swept by the radius vector.
Let PQ = ds, be the arc length covered by the particle moving along the circle, then the angular displacement dθ is expressed as dθ =^ds/_r. But ds = vdt. ^dθ/_dt= ^v/_r (i.e) Angular velocity ω = ^v/_r or v = ωr

If the angular velocity of a body changes from ω₁ to ω₂ in time t, then the angular acceleration, α can be expressed as;
α = ^{(ω₂–ω₁)}/_t
Units for angular acceleration are radians per second squared (rad s^-2 ) or second^-2 (s^-2).
When α is constant with time, we say the body is moving with uniform angular acceleration.
Note: In uniform circular motion α is equal to zero.

Relationship Between Angular Acceleration and Linear Acceleration

This is a force which acts on a body by directing the body towards its centre. Since the direction is continuously changing, the velocity therefore cannot be constant.
Applying Newton’s second law of motion(F=ma), centripetal force F_c is given by;
F_c = ma = mv²/_r. Since v = rω,
F_c = mr²ω²/_r = mω²r
The centripetal acceleration in relation to angular velocity ‘a’, is given by a=rω²,

Consider a mass ‘m’ tied to a string of length ‘r’ and moving in a vertical circle as shown below
At position 1 –both weight (mg) and tension T are in the same direction and the centripetal force is provided by both, hence T₁ + mg = mv²/_r.
T₁ = mv²/_r – mg (The velocity decreases as T₁ decreases since mg is constant).
T₁ will be zero when mv²/_r = mg and thus v = √rg – this is the value of minimum speed at position 1 which keeps the body in a circle and at this time when T = 0 the string begins to slacken.
At position 2 – the ‘mg’ has no component towards the centre thus playing no part in providing the centripetal force but is provided by the string alone. T₂ = mv²/_r
At position 3 – ‘mg’ and T arein opposite directions, therefore; T₃ – mg = mv²/_r; T₃ = mv²/_r + mg – indicates that the greatest value of tension is at T₃ or at the bottom of the circular path.

Examples

A ball of mass 2.5 × 10^-2 kg is tied to a string and whirled in a horizontal circular path at a speed of 5.0 ms^-2. If the string is 2.0 m long, what centripetal force does the string exert on the ball?
Solution
F_c = mv²/r = [(2.5 × 10^-2 ) × 5²]/_2.0 = 0.31 N.
A car of mass 6.0 × 10³ kg is driven around a horizontal curve of radius 250 m. if the force of friction between the tyres and the road is 21,000 N. What is the maximum speed that the car can be driven at on a bend without going off the road?
Solution
F_c = force of friction = 21,000, also F_c = mv²/_r, hence 21,000 = [(6.0 × 10³ ) × v²]/₂₅₀, v² = ^{(21,000 × 250)}/_{6.0 × 10³}
A stone attached to one end of a string is whirled in space in in a vertical plane. If the length of the string is 80 cm, determine the minimum speed at which the stone will describe a vertical circle. (Take g = 10 m/s² ).
Solution
Minimum speed v = √rg = √(0.8 × 10) = 2.83 m/s.

It consists of a small massive object tied to the end of a thin string tied to affixed rigid support.
The object is then pulled at an angle then made to whirl in a horizontal circle.
When speed of the object is constant the angle becomes θ constant also. If the speed is increased the angle increases, θ that is the object rises and describes a circle of bigger radius. Therefore as the angular velocity increases ‘r’ also increases.

It consists of a small metal container tubes which can be electrically or manually rotated in a circle.
If we consider two particles of different masses m₁ and m₂ each of them requires a centripetal force to keep it in circular motion, the more massive particle require a greater force and so a greater radius and therefore it moves to the bottom of the tube.
This method is used to separate solids and liquids faster than using a filter paper.

As a vehicle moves round a bend, the centripetal force is provided by the sideways friction between the tyres and the surface, that is;
Centripetal force = mv²/_r = frictional force
To enable a vehicle to turn along a bend at high speed the road is raised on the outer edge to attain a saucer-like shape and this is known as banking, where part of the centripetal force necessary to keep the vehicle on track is provided by the weight of the vehicle. This allows cars to negotiate bends at critical speeds.

Centrifuges - they are used to separate liquids of different densities i.e. cream and milk
Drying clothes in spin dryer - clothes are placed in a perforated drum rotated at high speed, water is expelled through the holes and this makes the clothes dry.
Road banking – especially for racing cars which enables them to move at critical speed along bends without going off the tracks.
Speed governor – the principle of conical pendulum is used here to regulate the speed by controlling the fuel intake in the combustion chamber. As the collar moves up and down through a system of levers it thereby connects to a device which controls the fuel intake.