Physics I

Class 07

Uniform Circular Motion

12-1

Rotation
There are two types of physical systems that are not easy to
analyze using x, y, z coordinates:
1) Rotation of matter around the center-of-mass of an object.
2) Rotation of matter around a fixed point.
Item 2) is the easiest place to start so lets consider the special
case of motion with constant speed.

12-2

Newtons Second Law

Newtons Second Law:

Fnet
F Fnet m a or a m
The net force and acceleration are always in the same direction because
m is a positive number.
Acceleration is the rate of any change in the velocity vector either
magnitude (speed) or direction, or both.
Uniform circular motion is a special case having constant | v |.

12-3

Uniform Circular Motion

Uniform circular motion means that the object
moves in a circle at a constant speed.
Previous definitions:
T period time for one revolution
r radius of circle
v speed (scalar, not vector)
v

circumference 2 r

period
T

2 r
v
12-4

Uniform Circular Motion

To find the relationship between a and v we previously used the definitions of
a and arc length s:
v
v
acent lim lim

t 0 t
t 0 t
R v
s v
acent lim
lim

t 0
t R t 0 t R
v2
acent
R

Acceleration is always directed toward the center of rotation, so there must be a

net force on the object that causes this to happen.
12-5

Standardize the Language

Centripetal force is the net force on an object in uniform circular
motion.
Centrifugal force is a fictitious (inertial) force that arises when one
uses accelerating coordinate systems.
Preferred usage:
1) Centripetal acceleration.
2) Centripetal force (confusing because it doesn't refer to a
specific force, such as gravity).
3) Centrifugal force (Don't use this one!).

12-6

Ex) Rock on a String

A 1-kg rock attached to a string rotates in a vertical circle with
1-meter radius. The speed is 4 m/sec.
What forces act on the rock and what are their directions?
Note: To produce uniform circular motion I need an external
force.

12-7

Using Newtons Second Law to

Solve Problems - Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Identify all forces acting on the object.

Pushes or Pulls
Friction (if specified)
Gravity
Normal (Surface) Forces
Choose a coordinate system.
If you know the direction of acceleration, one
coordinate axis should be in that direction.
Draw a Free-Body Diagram.
We know how to do this now.
Express the force vectors in components.
This may require trigonometry.
Use Newtons Second Law to write one
equation for each direction considered.
We will only consider vertical forces today.
Solve the equation(s).
12-8

Case A: Rock at the Top

The center of the circle is below the rock, so acceleration is down.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Forces: Weight (magnitude W) down and

Tension (magnitude T) down.
Coordinates: let's pick +X down.
Free-body diagram:
X Components: +W and +T.
Second Law: W T ma .
v2

Solve: T m a W m a m g m g
r

T = 1 (16/19.8) = 6.2 N

What does a positive result mean in this case?

W = mg

W=9.8N
12-9

Case B: Rock at the Bottom

The center of the circle is above the rock, so acceleration is up.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Forces: Weight (magnitude W) down and Tension

(magnitude T) up.
Coordinates: let's pick +X up.
Free-body diagram:
X Components: W and +T.
Second Law: W T ma .
v2

Solve: T m a W m a m g m g
r

T = 1 (16/1+9.8) = 25.8 N

What does a positive result mean in this case?

Why is the magnitude of T bigger in Case B?

a
T

W = mg

W=9.8N
12-10

Normal Force

Floor

The force on an object due to its contact with a surface is

often labeled "Normal Force." The name implies that the
force is directed perpendicular to the surface (i.e. no friction
force).
The normal force on an object is equal in magnitude to the
force the object exerts on the surface (Newton's 3rd Law).

Elevator Cab

Consider an elevator. How does the normal force on the rider

compare to his weight if the cab is,
i) moving with constant velocity?
ii) accelerating upward?
iii) accelerating downward?
12-11

Physics Demonstration
Swing a bucket with water in it over your head.
What will the water do if you swing it quickly?
What will the water do if you swing it slowly?
Why?

12-12

Take-Away Concepts
1.

Acceleration (and net force) perpendicular to velocity causes a change in the

direction of motion, but not a change in speed.

2.

When an object moves in a circle at a constant speed, it accelerates toward

the center with magnitude,
v2
acentripetal
r

3.

The force that causes this motion is,

Fnet macentripetal

3.

Use centripetal acceleration and Newtons 2nd Law to solve problems.

12-13

Problems of the Day

___ 1.

Imagine you are riding on a train going around a horizontal

curve of radius r at speed v. You are holding an object, of
mass m, stationary (relative to the train) in your hand.
Let g be the acceleration constant of gravity and a = v2/r.
The net force exerted on the object is:
A) mg upward + ma horizontal toward center
B) mg downward + ma horizontal toward center
C) ma horizontal toward center
D) mg upward + ma horizontal away from center
E) mg downward + ma horizontal away from center
F) ma horizontal away from center
G) zero
H) more information is needed to answer this question

12-14

Problems of the Day

2. The space shuttle Atlantis is in a circular orbit 100. km (1.00 x 105 m)
above the surface of the earth. (This is an example of uniform circular
motion.) At this height, the constant of gravity is g = 9.53 N/kg. The
radius of the earth is 6.37 x 106 m. How long (in minutes) does it take for
the shuttle Atlantis to complete one orbit?

12-15

Optional Material

Turn this way.

Feel a force
this way.

Centrifugal is from Latin for to flee from the center.

Is centrifugal force a real force?

12-16

Accelerated Frames of
Reference
Newtons Second Law applies to an inertial reference frame, meaning a
reference system for measuring position and time that is not accelerating.
If we wish to use Newtons Second Law in an accelerating reference frame,
we need to add extra terms to the equation that can be considered as forces
operating on every object that we track using the accelerating reference
frame. These are commonly called inertial forces.
Why would we do a crazy thing like using an accelerated reference frame
instead of an inertial reference frame? In a way, it is built into human
nature to view ourselves as sitting still while the rest of the universe zips by.

12-17