 UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

 
 
o Uniform circular motion refers to the motion of an object in a circular path at a constant
speed.
 
o Consider an object moving at a constant speed in a horizontal circle. The object is
accelerating even though speed is constant, because the direction of velocity is constantly
changing.
 

2 πr
speed , v=
T
 
where;
v → speed
r → radius
T → period
 

 
 
o The objects acceleration which acts toward the center of the circle is also known as
centripetal acceleration;
 
v2
centripetal acceleration ,a c =
r
 
o The net force acting upon such an object is also directed towards the center of the circle.
The net force is known as centripetal force.
mv 2
centripetal force , F c =m ac =
r
 
o Without centripetal force, an object would continue in a straight line, never deviating from
its direction.
 
  TYPES OF UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION
1. An object being twirled around with a piece of string attached to it in a horizontal
circle.
 
 

 
 Forces acting on the object are its weight, W and tension, T in the string.
 However, only the tension is directed towards the center of the circle. Hence
Centripetal Force, F c =Tension ,T
 
 
 
2. Conical Pendulum
 An object being twirled around with a string (length, l) attached to it.
 

 
 Object is in horizontal circular motion and the string makes an angle of θ to the vertical.
With components of Tension, T;
F c =T sin θ __________________(1)
W =T cos θ __________________(2)
 
2
(1) ÷ (2) → v =rg tan θ
 where;
r =radius of ¿˚
 v=speed of rotation g=9.8 m s−2
 
3. Car takes a circular bend (Unbanked Curve)

 
 External forces acting are its weight, reaction force provided by road and friction between
the tires and the road.
 Only the friction force provides a source for the centripetal force since the other two forces
are perpendicular to the circular path. Hence
Centripetal Force, F c =Frictional Force , F r