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Understanding Uniform Circular Motion

This document describes the dynamics of uniform circular motion. It explains that an object moving in a circular path at constant speed has a velocity vector that constantly changes direction, even though the speed remains constant. This means the object is accelerating, with an acceleration directed radially inward called centripetal acceleration. The centripetal acceleration implies a centripetal force, which provides the necessary force for the object to travel in a circular path. The document also provides examples of calculating the maximum speed of a car around a curved road before skidding occurs, for both a flat curve and a banked curve.

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sandeep
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203 views10 pages

Understanding Uniform Circular Motion

This document describes the dynamics of uniform circular motion. It explains that an object moving in a circular path at constant speed has a velocity vector that constantly changes direction, even though the speed remains constant. This means the object is accelerating, with an acceleration directed radially inward called centripetal acceleration. The centripetal acceleration implies a centripetal force, which provides the necessary force for the object to travel in a circular path. The document also provides examples of calculating the maximum speed of a car around a curved road before skidding occurs, for both a flat curve and a banked curve.

Uploaded by

sandeep
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Dynamics of Uniform Circular

Motion
An object moving on a circular path of radius r at
a constant speed v
As motion is not on a straight line, the direction
of the velocity vector is not constant
The motion is circular
Compare to:
1D straight line
2D parabola

Velocity vector is always


tangent to the circle

Velocity direction constantly


changing, but magnitude remains
constant

Vectors r and v are always perpendicular


Since the velocity direction always
changes, this means that the velocity is not
constant (though speed is constant),
therefore the object is accelerating
The acceleration ar
points radially inward. Like

ar v
velocity its direction
changes, therefore the
acceleration is not
constant
Vectors(though
ar and vitsare also perpendicular
magnitude is)
The speed does not change, since ar
acceleration has no component along the

Why is the acceleration direction radially


inward?

Since
v1

ar

v1

2
1
v 2 ar a

v2
t 2 t1

This radial acceleration is called the


2
centripetal acceleration
v

acp

2
This acceleration
a ``force force
mv implies
The ``centripetal
Fcp macp
(is not a force)

The centripetal force is the net force


required to keep an object moving on a
circular path
Consider a motorized model airplane on a
wire which flies in a horizontal circle, if we
neglect gravity, there are only two forces, the
force provided by the airplane motor which
tends to cause the plane to travel in a
straight line and the tension force in the wire,
which forces the plane to travel in a circle
Consider forces in radial
the tension is the
force
F ``centripetal
direction (positive to

motor

center)

mv
Fr mar T r

Time to complete a full


orbit

D 2r circumference
circumference 2r
T

Period (not Tension)


speed
v
The Period T is the time (in seconds) for
the object to make one complete orbit or
cycle
Find some useful relations for v and ar in
2

r
terms vofT

T
2
v
2r
acp

r T

1 4 r
2 acp
r
T
2

Example
A car travels around a curve which has a
radius of 316 m. The curve is flat, not
banked, and the coefficient of static friction
between the tires and the road is 0.780. At
what speed can the car travel around the
y
curve without skidding?

FN

FN

fs

mg

fs
mg

ma y

FN mg 0

mar

FN mg

mv
fs
r

Now, the car will not skid as long as Fcp is


less than the maximum static frictional force
2

mv
mv
max
f s s FN
s mg
r
r
v s gr (0.780)(9.80 sm2 )(316 m) 49.1 ms
3600 s
49.1

1 hr
m
s

1 mi

110
1609 m

mi
hr

Example
To reduce skidding, use a banked curve.
Consider same conditions as previous
example, but for a curve banked at the
y
angle

FN

mg

fs

ma y

FN cos f s sin mg 0

FN

fs
mg Choose this
coordinate
system since ar
is radial
Since
acceleration is

Since we want to know at what velocity


the car will skid, this corresponds to the
centripetal force being equal to the
maximum static
frictionalSubstitute
force
max
into

fs fs

s FN

previous equation

FN cos s FN sin mg
mg
FN (cos s sin ) mg FN
cos s sin
Fr mar
2
mv
FN sin f s cos
r 2
Substitute for FN
mv
FN (sin s cos )
and solve for v
r

mg
mv 2

(sin s cos )
r
cos s sin
(sin s cos )
v rg
(cos s sin )
Adopt r = 316 m and = 31, and
s=0.780 from earlier
m
mi

v 89.7

200

hr

Compare to example 6-9 where s=0

(sin )
v rg
rg tan 43.1 ms 96.5 mi
hr
(cos )

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