CIRCULAR MOTION

IIT-JEE Syllabus
1.

Kinematics in two dimension

2. Circular motion

Total No. of questions in Circular motion are:

Solved examples......15
Exercise # 1 ..20
Exercise # 2 ..29
Exercise # 3 ..31
Exercise # 4 ..07
Exercise # 5 ..12
Total No. of questions..114

*** Students are advised to solve the questions of exercises in the same sequence or as
directed by the faculty members.

Index : Preparing your own list of Important/Difficult Questions

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CIRCULAR MOTION

Instruction to fill
(A) Write down the Question Number you are unable to solve in column A below, by Pen.
(B) After discussing the Questions written in column A with faculties, strike off them in the
manner so that you can see at the time of Revision also, to solve these questions again.
(C) Write down the Question Number you feel are important or good in the column B.

EXERCIS
E NO.

COLUMN :A

COLUMN :B

Questions i am unable
to solve in first attempt

Good/Important questions

Advantages
1. It is advised to the students that they should prepare a question bank for the revision as it is
very difficult to solve all the questions at the time of revision.
2. Using above index you can prepare and maintain the questions for your revision.

KEY CONCEPT
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CIRCULAR MOTION

1.1 Angular Displacement

Introduction : Angle substended by the
position vector of a particle moving along any
arbitrary path w.r.t. some fixed point is called
angular displacement.

v r

v=

ds
= linear velocity
dt

and =

d
dt

In vector form, v r
Note :
(i)

angle

arc
linear displacement

radius
radius

Note : 1 radian =

360
radian = 180
2

If a body makes n revolutions, its angular

displacement = 2n radians
1.2 Angular Velocity
It is defined as the rate of change of angular
displacement of a body or particle moving in
circular path.
Its direction is same as that of angular
displacement

normal to plane of paper.

Outward
O

(direction of )

(ii) When a particle moves along a curved path,

its linear velocity at a point is along the
tangent drawn at that point
(iii) When a particle moves along curved path, its
velocity has two components. One along the
radius, which increases or decreases the
radius and another one perpendicular to the
radius, which makes the particle to revolve
about the point of observation.

i.e. perpendicular to plane of rotation

Note : If the particle is revolving in the
clockwise direction then the direction of
angular velocity is perpendicular to the plane
downwards. Whereas in case of anticlockwise
direction the direction will be upwards.
(i) Average Angular Velocity :
av

Total angular displacement

Total time taken

(i) The rate of change of angular velocity is

defined as angular acceleration.

d
lim

t 0 t
dt

(ii) Its direction is that of change in angular

velocity

(ii) Instantaneous Angular velocity :

d
=
t 0 t
dt

= lim

0 t

0 t

1 2
t
2

2 = 02 + 2

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CIRCULAR MOTION

S.N.

Linear Motion

Rotational Motion

(i)

With constant velocity

a = 0, s = ut

= 0 , = t

(ii)

With constant acceleration

(i) Average velocity

(i) Average angular velocity

vu
2

vav =

(ii) Average acceleration

vu
t

aav =

(ii)Average angular acceleration

av =

(iii) s = vav t =

vu
t
2

(iv) v = u + at

2 1
t

(iii) = av. t =

1 2
t
2

(iv) = 0 + t

1 2
(v) s = ut +
at
2
(vi) s = ut

1 2
2

av =

(v) = 0t +

1 2
at
2

1 2
t
2

(vi) = 0t

(vii) v2 = u2 + 2as
(viii) Sn = u + 1 (2n 1)a
2
displacement in nth sec.

1 2
t
2

(vi) 2 = 02 + 2
(viii) n = 0 +

1
(2n1)
2

Angular displacement in nth sec

(iii)

With variable acceleration

(i) v =
(ii)

(iii) a =

ds =

(ii)
vdt

dv
dv
=v
dt
ds

dv =

vdv =

(iv)

(i) = d/dt

ds
dt

a dt; if a

a ds; if a

= f(t)
(v)

(iii) =

d =

dt

d
d
=
dt
d

(iv)

d =

(v)

d =

dt ; if = f(t)
d; if = f()

= f(s)

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CIRCULAR MOTION

 r : unit vector along the outward radius

e

(iii) Expression for centripetal acceleration:

t : unit vector along the tangent in the direction

e
of increasing .

ac =

v2
r

= r2

r = i (cos ) j(sin ) and

e
t = i (sin ) j(cos )
e

where
i and j are the unit vectors along x and
y axes respectively.
This is the magnitude of centripetal
acceleration of particle. It is a vector quantity.
In vector form

velocity of particle

dr

v =
, where r = r (i cos j sin )
dt
r is the radius of circle

ac

acceleration of particle :

dv

a =
dt

dv
2
et
a = ( r )e r
dt

a = ac at

r )
where a c (centripetal acceleration) = 2r( e

dv
a t (tangential acceleration) =
(e t )
and
dt

Tangential Acceleration (a t )

(iv) The direction of

a c would be the same as
that of
v (change in velocity vector)
(v) Expression for Centripetal force :
If

v = velocity of particle ,
r = radius of curvature of path

Then necessary centripetal force

Fc = mass acceleration
2
Fc = m v
r

It is defined as the rate of change of speed.

d| v |
| at | =
dt
Its direction is along the tangent to the path.

at = r

where =

d
dt

(i) The velocity of the particle changes while

moving on the circular path, this change in
velocity is brought by a force known as
centripetal force and the acceleration so
produced in the body is known as centripetal
acceleration.
(ii) The direction of centripetal force or
acceleration is always towards the centre of
circular path.
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Note :

Centripetal force is not a real force. It is only

the requirement for circular motion.

It is not a new kind of force. Any of the forces

found in nature such as gravitational force,
electrostatic force friction force, tension in
string, reaction force etc may act as
centripetal force.

It is a sufficient pseudo force, only if we are

anlaysing the particles at rest in a uniformly
rotating frame.
CIRCULAR MOTION

(iii) Tangential force Ft = 0

In the given figure, the block of mass 'm' is at
rest with respect to the rotating platform (as
observed by the observer O on the rotating
platform).
2
(iv) Total acceleration a = a 2 a 2 = ac= v
c
t
r
(towards the centre)

centrifugal force = m r2
centrifugal force acts (or is assumed to act)
because we describe the particle from a
rotating frame which is non-inertial and still
use Newton's laws.

9.1 Uniform circular motion

9.2 Non Uniform Circular Motion :
9.1 Uniform Circular Motion :
If m = mass of body ,
r = radius of circular orbit,
v = magnitude of velocity
ac = centripetal acceleration,
at = tangential acceleration
In uniform circular motion :

(i) |
v1 | = | v 2 | = | v 3 | = constant

i.e. speed is constant

(v) In uniform circular motion Ft =0, as at = 0, so

work done will be zero by tangential force.
But in non-uniform circular motion Ft 0,
thus there will be a work done by tangential
force in this case.
Rate of work done by net force in nonuniform circular motion = rate of work done
by tangential force
P=

dW

= Ft .
v
dt

Note:
Because Fc is always perpendicular to
velocity or displacement, hence the work
done by this force will always be zero.
There is an important difference between the
projectile motion and circular motion.
In projectile motion, both the magnitude and
the direction of acceleration (g) remain
constant, while in circular motion the
magnitude remains constant but the direction
continuously changes.
9.1.1 Motion In Horizontal Circle : Conical
pendulum

(ii) As |
v | is constt.
so tangential acceleration at = 0
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CIRCULAR MOTION

10

mv 2
r

T sin=

and T cos = mg

From these equation

T = mg

v4
r 2g 2

....(i)

v2
rg

and tan =

....(ii)

When the body rises from the bottom to the

height h, a part of its kinetic energy converts
into potential energy

9.2 Non-uniform Circular Motion :

(a) Velocity at a point P :

(i) In non-uniform circular motion :

Total

mechanical energy remains conserved

at point A and point P.

|
v | constant constant
i.e. speed constant

0+

i.e. angular velocity constant

(ii) Tangential acceleration : at =

9.2.1 Motion in Vertical Circle : Motion of a

body suspended by string

dv
,
dt

ds
where v =
and s = arc length
dt
(iii) Tangential force : Ft = mat

1
1
mu2 = mgh +
mv2
2
2
v

u 2 2gh

u 2 2g(1 cos )

as h = cos
[Where is length of the string]

2
(iv) Centripetal force : Fc = mv = m2r
r

(v) Net force on the particle :

F Fc Ft

tan =

F=

Fc2 Ft 2

Ft
Fc

(b) Tension at a point P :

At point P required centripetal force
mv 2
=

(vi) Net acceleration,

a=

a c2 a 2t =

Fnet
m

The angle made by 'a' with ac,

tan =

at
Ft
=
ac
Fc

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Net force towards the centre = T mg cos

This net force provides required centripetal force.
T mg cos =

mv 2

CIRCULAR MOTION

11

T = m [g cos +
T=

v2
]

m
[u2 gl (23cos)]

...(1)

(c) Tangential force for the motion

Ft = mgsin
(iv)Condition of oscillation :

This force retards the motion.

0<u

(d) Different cases :

(i) If u >

5g

(a) If u =

In this case tension in the string will not be

zero at any of the point, which implies that
the particle will continue the circular motion.
(ii) Condition of looping the loop : u =

5g

In this case the tension at the top most point

(B) will be zero, which implies that the
particle will just complete the circular
motion.
Critical Velocity : The minimum velocity at
which the circular motion is possible

2g
2g

In this case both velocity and tension in

the string becomes zero at point C and D
and the particle will oscillate along semicircular path.
(b) If u <

2g

The velocity of particle will become zero

between A and C but tension will not be
zero and the particle will oscillate about
the point A.

Maximum speed of vehicle for safe turning on

rough horizontal circular turn
vmax =

s Rg

where

The critical velocity at A =

5g

The critical velocity at B =

The critical velocity at C =

3g

R radius of curvature of circular turn

s Coefficient of static friction

Also TA = 6mg, TB = 0 , TC = 3mg

(iii) Condition of leaving the circular path
2g

<u<

5g

In this case particle will not follow circular

motion. Tension in string becomes zero
somewhere between points C & B whereas
velocity remain positive. Particle leaves
circular path and follow parabolic trajectory

fs smg
fs =

mv 2
R

Static friction provides the required

centripetal force.

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CIRCULAR MOTION

12

tan =
v=

v2
Rg

Rg tan

v safe speed on banked road.

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CIRCULAR MOTION

13

SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex.1

Sol.

The magnitude of the linear acceleration of

the particle moving in a circle of radius of
10cm with uniform speed completing the
circle in 4s, will be The distance covered in completing the circle
is 2r = 2 10cm
The linear speed is
2r
2 10
v=
=
= 5 cm/s
t
4
The linear acceleration is,

(5) 2
v2
a=
=
= 2.52 cm/s2
r
10
This acceleration is directed towards the
centre of the circle
Ex.2

Sol.

The length of second's hand in a watch is

1cm. The change in velocity of its tip in
15 seconds is Velocity
=

acceleration a =

= 4 2 r n2
Substituting the given values, we have
a = 4 (3. 14)2 (5.3 1011) (6.6 1015)2
= 9.1 1022 m/s2 towards the nucleus.
The centripetal force is
FC = ma = (9.1 1031) (9.1 1022)
Ex.4

Sol.

Circumference
Time of revolution

2r
60

2 1
60

= 8.3 108 N towards the nucleus.

An air craft executes a horizontal loop of
radius 1km with a steady speed of 900km/h.
The ratio of centripetal acceleration to that
gravitational acceleration will beGiven that radius of horizontal loop
r = 1 km = 1000 m
900 5
Speed v = 900 km/h =
=
18
250 m/s
Centripetal acceleration
2
ac = v =
r
m/s2

cm/s
30

Change in velocity
v =

30

=
30

Ex.3

30

2 cm/s

Sol.

= 62.5

Centripetal acceleration
gravitational acceleration

ac
62.5
=
g
9.8

Ex.5

Write an expression for the position vector r

for a particle describing uniform circular
motion, using rectangular coordinates and the
unit vectors i and j. The vector expressions
for the velocity v and acceleration a will be -

Sol.

radius 5.3 1011 metre around the atomic

mass of the electron is 9.1 1031kg.)

Let the radius of the orbit be r and the number
of revolutions per second be n. Then the
velocity of electron is given by
v = 2nr,

250 250
1000

= 6.38 : 1

An electron is moving in a circular orbit of

nucleus at a rate of 6.6 10 15 revolutions per
second. The acceleration of the electron and
centripetal force acting on it. will be - (The

v2
4 2 r 2 n 2
=
r
r

r = i x + j y, x = r cos, y = r sin

where = t

r = i ( r cos t) + j (r sin t)

v = d r /dt =
i (r sin t) +
t)

(r cos

a = d2 r /dt2 = 2 r
Ex.6

Sol.

The vertical section of a road over a canal

bridge in the direction of its length is in the
form of circle of radius 8.9 metre. Find the
greatest speed at which the car can cross this
bridge without losing contact with the road at
its highest point, the center of gravity of the
car being at a height h = 1.1 metre from the

Ex.8

A man whirls a stone round his head on the

end of a string 4.0metre long. Can the string
be in a horizontal, plane? If the stone has a
mass of 0.4kg and the string will break, if the
tension in it exceeds 8N. The smallest angle
the string can make with the horizontal and
the speed of the stone will respectively be
(Take g = 10m/sec2.)

Sol.

Form figure

ground. (Take g = 10m/sec2)

Let R be the normal reaction exerted by the
road on the car. At the highest point, we have
mv 2
= mg R, R should not be
(r h )

negative.
Therefore v2 (r + h)g = (8.9 + 1.1) 10

Ex.7

Sol.

or

v2 10 10 v 10

T cos = mg

vmax = 10 m/sec

T sin =

The angular speed with which the earth

would have to rotate on it axis so that a
person on the equator would weigh (3/5) th as
much as present will be (Take the equatorial
radius as 6400km)
Let v be the speed of earth's rotation.
We know that W = mg
Hence

3
mv 2
W=mg
5
r
3
mv 2
mg=mg
5
r

or

2
mv 2
m g =
5
r

or

v2 =

2gr
5

v2

2 9.8 (6400 10 3 )
5
Solving, we get v = 5 109 m/sec,
=

mv
sin

...... (B)

mg
cos
When the string is horizontal, must be 90
i.e.,cos 90 = 0
mg

T=
=
0
Thus the tension must be infinite which is
impossible, so the string can not be in
horizontal plane.
The maximum angle is given by the
breaking tension of the string in the equation
T cos = m.g.
Here T (Maximum) = 8N and m = 0.4 Kg.

8 cos = 0.4 g = 0.4 10 = 4

Form eq. (A) T =

1
, = 60
2
The angle with horizontal = 90 60 = 30
From equation (B), 8 sin 60 =
cos = (4/8) =

Now

2g

5r

mv
r

...... (A)
2

= 7.8

104

radian/sec.

0.4 v 2
4 sin 60 o

32 sin 2 60
v2 =
= 80 sin2 60
0.4
v=

80

sin 60 = 7.7 m/sec.

Ex.9

Sol.

A smooth table is placed horizontally and a

spring of unstreched length l0 and force
constant k has one end fixed to its centre. To the
other end of the spring is attached a mass m
which is making n revolutions per second
around the centre. Tension in the spring will be.
Let T be the tension produced in the stretched
string. The centripetal force required for the
mass m to move in a circle is provided by the
tension T. The stretched length of the spring
is r (radius of the circle). Now,
Elongation produced in the spring = (r l0)
Tension produced in the spring,
T = k (r l0)

Sol.

(a) From figure h = l (cos cos0)

and v2 = 2 g h = 2 g l (cos cos 0) .... (A)
Again T mg cos = mv2/l

........(A)

.... (B)

Where k is the force constant

Linear velocity of the motion v = 2r n.

Substituting the value of v2 from eq. (A) in

eq. (B) we get

m( 2rn ) 2
mv 2
Centripetal force =
=
r
r

or T = m g cos + 2 mg (cos cos 0)

= 42 r n2 m

T m g cos = m {2 g l (cos cos 0)/l}

or T = 40 g (3cos 2 cos 0) newton

........(B)

Equating equation. (A) and (B), we get

or T = 40 (3cos 2 cos 0) kg f.

k (r l0) = 42 r n2 m ( T = mv2/r)

(b) Let 0 be the maximum amplitude. The

maximum tension T will be at mean position
where = 0

kr k l0 = 4 2 r n2 m
r (k 42 n2 m) = k l0
r=

k 0
( k 4 2 n 2 m )

Tmax = 40 (3 2 cos 0),

But Tmax = 80 kgf

........(C)

Solving we get = 60

Substituting the value of r in eqn. (A) we

have

k 0

T=k

( k 4 n m )

or T =

Ex.11

4 2 n 2 m0 k
( k 4 2 n 2 m )
........ (D)

Ex.10

amplitude with which the mass can oscillate

without the rope breaking?
The situation is shown in fig

Sol.

An aircraft loops the loop of radius R = 500

m with a constant velocity v = 360 km/hour.
The weight of the flyer of mass m = 70 kg in
the lower, upper and middle points of the loop
will respectively beSee fig, Here v = 360 km/hr = 100 m/sec.

A 40 kg mass, hanging at the end of a rope of

length l, oscillates in a vertical plane with an
angular amplitude of 0. What is the tension
in the rope, when it makes an angle with the
vertical? If the breaking strength of the rope
is 80 kgf, what is the maximum angular

At lower point, N mg =

mv 2
,
R

N = weight of the flyer = mg +

N = 70 10 +

mv 2
.
R

70 (10000)
500

Sol.
=

hence with respect to sun the difference in

their angular displacement per unit time will
be

2100N
At upper point, N + mg =
N=

Ex.12

Sol.

mv 2
,
R

(E p). So they will be at same position

with respect to the sun again for the first time
when their relative angular displacement
becomes 2. So if T is the required time

mv 2
mg = 1400 700 = 700N
R

At middle point, N =

mv 2
= 1400N
R

(E p) T = 2

A spot light S rotates in a horizontal plane

with a constant angular velocity of 0.1 rad/s.
The spot of light P moves along, the wall at a
distance 3 m. What is the velocity of the spot

[as = t]

2 2

TP
TE

or

or

If x is the distance of point P from O then

from fig.

1
1
1
=

,
TE
TP
T

i.e., T =

TP TE
TP TE

So

T=

tan = (x/h)

or
i.e.

x = h tan
dx
d
= h (sec2 )
dt
dt

v = h sec2
[as (dx/dt) = v and (d/dt) = ]

Here h = 3 m, = 180 (45 + 90) = 45

and = 0.1 rad/s.
So v = 3 (2)2 0.1 = 0.6 m/s.
A planet P revolves around the sun in a
circular orbit, with the sun at the centre,
which is coplanar and concentric to the
circular orbit of earth E around the sun. P and
E revolve in the same direction. The time
required for the revolution of P and E around
the sun are 3 years and 1 year respectively.

2
T

2
as T

P when = 45 -

or

Ex.14

Ex.13

What is the time required for P to make one

revolution around the sun relative to E As TP > TE and T = 2/ so p < E and

Sol.

3 1
= 1.5 year
3 1

A small object loops a vertical loop from

which a symmetrical section of angle 2 has
been removed as shown in fig. Find the
maximum and the minimum heights from
which the object, after losing contact with the
loop at point A and flying through air, will
reach point B. Find the corresponding angles
of the section removed for which this is
possible
In order that the particle may fly off from A
and land at B, the range of the particle must
be

AB = 2R sin =

v 02
g

sin 2 v 02 =

gR
cos
Applying the law of conservation of energy
1
mgH = mg R (1 + cos ) +
m v 02
2
1
gR
mgH = mgR (1 + cos ) +
m
2
cos
2 cos2 2 (k 1) cos + 1 = 0
H
where k =
R
cos =

2(k 1)

4(k 1) 2 8
2 2

1
1
=
(k1)
( k 1) 2 2
2
2
Since cos is real
(k 1)2 2 k 1 + 2

Sol.

without slipping along the x-axis. Find the

instantaneous velocity and acceleration when
the particle is at its maximum & minimum
value of y.
dx
dy
= R cost and
= R sint
dt
dt
ymin = 0, when t =
Now

dx
dy
= R and
= 0,
dt
dt

v = R
ymax = 2R, when t = 2

dx
dy
= R and
=0
dt
dt
Now v =

dx

dt

ax =

dy

dt

= R

d 2 y = R2 sin t
dt 2

0 < cos 1,
1
1
( k 1) 2 2 1
(k 1)
2
2
(k 1)2 2 (3 k) 2 k 2.5
Thus 1 + 2 k 2.5
(1 + 2 ) R H 2.5 R
Hmax = 2.5 R and
Since

Hmin = (1 +
When

H = Hmin

and cos =
When

2 ) R = 2.4 R

1
2

k=1+ 2
= 45

H = Hmax

k= 5
2

1
= 0,60
2
The solution = 0 is not acceptable as that
will mean no cut,

= 60 for Hmax.
and cos = 1,

Ex.15

A particle moves in a plane according to

X = R sin t + Rand
y = R cos t + R
Where and R are constant. This curve,
called a cycloid, is the path traced out by a
point on the rim of a wheel which rolls

d 2 y = R 2 cos t
dt 2

and

ay =

For

y = ymin, when t = .

then

d2x
=0
dt 2

and

d2y
= R2 .
dt 2

a = R2
y = ymax' when t = 2,

then

d2x
= 0 and
dt 2
a = R2

d2y
= R2 .
dt 2