Tutorial 7 : Motion in a circle

1. A satellite moves at constant speed in a circular orbit around the Earth. State and explain
whether the following physical quantities of the satellite is constant or varying.
(a) angular velocity
(b) linear velocity
(c) linear momentum
(d) acceleration
(e) force
(f) kinetic energy
(a) angular velocity (constant)
Since the satellite is moving at a constant speed thus for a revolution around Earth the
time taken should be the same i.e. angular velocity should be constant (same magnitude
and direction)
(b) linear velocity (varying)
Since the direction of velocity is always changing the linear velocity is varying.
(c) linear momentum (varying)
Since linear momentum is the product of mass and linear velocity the linear momentum
is varying (with constant mass and varying linear velocity)
(d) acceleration (varying)
Since the centripetal acceleration is always pointing towards the centre of circle the
direction of (centripetal) acceleration will be varying at different points of the circular path.
!hus acceleration is varying.
(e) force (varying)
Since centripetal acceleration is varying at different points of the circular path the
centripetal force is varying too.
(f) kinetic energy (constant)
Since kinetic energy only depends on the mass and the speed the kinetic energy of a
constant mass satellite with constant speed will be constant.
2. !he Singapore "lyer is #$% metres in diameter and makes one complete revolution in
&% min. !here are '( capsules traveling with constant angular velocity.
(a) "ind the angle (in degrees and radian) subtended at the centre by two neighboring
capsules.
(b) "ind the angular velocity for the wheel.
(c) "ind the linear velocity for the capsule.
(d) "ind the centripetal acceleration on one capsule.
(a) ) &*%
o
+ '( ) #'.,- ) %.''. rad
(b)
& /#
' '
&.$ #% rad s
&% *% T

= = =

(c)
& /#
0$ &.., #% %.'*' m s v r

= = =
(d)
' '
. /'
%.'*'
,.#. #% m s
0$
c
v
a
r

= = =
3. 1n the movie 22001: A Space Odyssey a rotating spacecraft pro/vides artificial gravity.
!he people would be walking inside the circle3 their feet toward the exterior and their
head toward the center3 the floor and ceiling would curve upwards.
!he radius of the outer rim of the space 4wheel5 is #.% km.
(i) 6alculate the angular velocity for the spacecraft to generate an artificial g equals to
,.(# m s
/'
.
(ii) 7hat is its equivalent no. of revolutions per min8
(i) a
c
= r
2
= g
(#%%%)
'
) ,.(#

) %.%,,% rad s
/#
(ii) = 2f
%.%,,% = 2f
f ) %.%#$( s
/#
f ) %.%#$( 9 *% ) %.,.* r.p.m.

4. :;(*+1+$<
A straight length of tape winds on to a roll rotating about a
fixed axis with constant angular velocity the radius of the roll
increasing at a steady rate.
7hich one of the graphs below correctly shows how the speed v
at which the tape moves towards the roll varies with time8
Ans = D

is constant and r+t is constant
Since v = r
v+t is constant. !herefore linear graph.
5. :;%*+>#+,<
Singapore is on the Equator. 6ambridge is at a latitude $'
o
; as shown in the diagram.
A student in Singapore has a centripetal acceleration a
s
because of the Earth5s rotation about
its axis. !he centripetal acceleration of another student at 6ambridge is a
c
.
7hat are the magnitudes of the centripetal acceleration for each student8
?adius of Earth ) *.. #%
*
m
Angular velocity of Earth about its own axis ) 0.& #%
/$
rad s
/#
(i) at Equator
.
c
a R

= =

2
2 6
2
64 10
24 3600
= %.%&&( m s
/'
(ii) at 6ambridge
a
c
) Rcos
'

. cos

=

2
6
2
6 4 10 52
24 3600

= %.%'%( m s
/'
6. !he diagram represents a cyclist making a left turn on a rough road
surface at a constant speed v as viewed from behind. !he total mass of the
bicycle and rider is m and their combined centre of gravity is at @.
1f R is the resultant force on the normal reaction and frictional force which
vector diagram represents the directions of the forces acting on the bicycle
and its rider8
Ans = A
6ambridge
Equator
$'
o
6ambridge
Equator
$'
o
R
Rcos$'
o
@
mg
R
B
r
mv
2
@
mg
R
D
r
mv
2
@
mg
R
C
r
mv
2
r
mv
2
@
mg
R
A
"AB only show the real forces. 1t does not include the centripetal force.
!he centripetal force comes from the horiContal component of R the force exerted on the
bicycle by the ground.
7. :D($+11+( (part)<
An aircraft is traveling at a constant speed of #(% m s
/#
in a horiContal circle of radius '% km.
A plumbline attached to the roof of the cabin settles at an angle to the true vertical while
the aircraft is turning.
(a) "ind the centripetal acceleration of the aircraft.
(b) ;ame the forces which act on the bob of the plumbline and draw a labeled diagram to
show the directions of these forces and of their resultant (1ndicate the centre of circle on
your sketch)
(c) "ind the angle .
(d) Shows by means of a simple sketch of the cross/section of the aircraft and its cabin how
the plumbline is oriented with respect to the aircraft.
(a) a
c
)
v
r
2
)
( )

2
3
180
20 10
) #.*' m s
/'
(b)
(c) Since the bob is undergoing a circular motion a centripetal force must be acting on the
bob causing it to move in a circle.
?esolving forces in x/direction
!
c
= ma
c
T sin = m " #.*' /// (#)
Another thing to note is the circular motion is a horiContal circular motion i.e. the
centripetal acceleration must be acting horiContal. !hus there is no acceleration in the
vertical direction i.e. no resultant force in the vertical direction.
?esolving forces in y/direction
E "
y
) %
T cos F (/mg) ) %
T cos ) mg /// (')
(')+(#)=
. .
tan
. g
= =
1 62 1 62
9 81
) ,.&0-
(d)
!he plumbline would appear vertical wrt to the passengers in the cabin.
8. :;%*+>&+&(part)<
T
W

! = !ension
7 = 7eight
6entre of circle
6entre of circle

(a) A theme park ride is illustrated in the figure below. !he carriages accelerate down the
slope and then loop the loop on a circular section of the track. !he radius of the circular
section of track is (.* m.
(i) "ind the minimum speed of the carriages at the top of the circular track so that the
carriages remain in contact with the track.
(ii) 1n practice it is essential for designers to build in a considerable safety margin. Each
carriage and its passengers has a total mass (%% kg. At the top of the loop the carriage
travels at #0 m s
/#
. 6alculate the force that the track exerts on the carriage at the top of
the loop.
(b) "or the carriage in (a) to have a speed of #0 m s
/#
at the top of the loop it must have
fallen from a height of at least #.
(i) Beduce a value for #.
(ii) State an assumption that you made in making this deduction.
(a) (i) At the top of the circular track
!
c
= ma
c
mv
$ %
r
+ =
2
"or the car to Gust remain in contact with track % H %

mv
mg
r
+ =
2
0
.
.
v
=
2
9 81
8 6
v = &'1& m s
/#
(ii) 7ith a considerable safety margin ; I %.
( ) .
.
%

+ =
2
800 17
800 9 81
8 6
% = 1'&0 " 10
(
%
(b) (i) Jsing the >rinciple of 6onservation of Kechanical Energy.
LE
x
F >E
x
F 7 ) LE
top
F >E
top
% F mg # F % ) M m v
'
F mg('R)
(,.(#)# ) M (#0.%)
'
F (,.(# 9 ' (.*)
# ) &#., m
(ii) !here is no energy lost from the system due to resistive forces such as air/resistance
nor friction.
More challenging prole!.
$ %
". A skier starts at rest at the top of a large hemispherical hill. ;eglecting friction show that
the skier will leave the hill below and become airborne at a distance d ) R+& below the
top of the hill. :Serway<
?esolving forces along the radius
!
c
= ma
c
( ) cos
mv
$ %
R
+ =
2
!he skier Gust leaves the hill (ie becomes airborne) when ; ) %
cos
mv
mg
R
+ =
2
0
cos mgR mv =
2
))) (#)
Jsing the >rinciple of 6.N.K.E.
LE
top
F >E
top
F 7 ) LE
x
F >E
x
% F mgR ) M m v
'
F mg (Rcos)
Sub Eqn (#)
mgR ) M mgRcos F mg (Rcos)
# ) M cos F cos
) &+' cos
cos ) '+&
Bistance dropped d
) R ) Rcos
) R (#/cos)
) R *#/'+&) ) R+& (shown)
N
W

R
Rcos