PHYSICS – Forces 4(Circular Motion)

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.5.4 Circular motion
• Describe, qualitatively, motion in a circular
path due to a force perpendicular to the
motion as:
(a) speed increases if force increases, with
mass and radius constant
(b) radius decreases if force increases, with
mass and speed constant
(c) An increased mass requires an increased
force to keep speed and radius constant
 Motion in a circular path

Any object moving in a circle or circular path must be speeding towards

the center of the circle.

What is causing this?

What equation do you know that connects force and acceleration?

F=m X a
Force and acceleration, unlike mass, are both vector quantities, hence their
directions must be equal according to this equation.

All circular motion must thus be generated by a force acting towards the circle's
center.

This type of force is known as a centripetal force.

 Motion in a circular path

Centripetal force is the force that acts on an object moving in a circular

path, directed toward the center of the circle.

It is responsible for continuously changing the direction of the object's

motion, keeping it in its circular path.
Without a centripetal force acting on an object, it would continue moving
in a straight line tangent to its circular path, rather than following the
curved trajectory.
 Motion in a circular path

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object

moving in a circular path. It is always directed toward the center of the
circle and is responsible for continuously changing the direction of the
object's velocity

Velocity is a vector quantity. Which means it has both direction and magnitude.
In this case, as the direction of the motion is continuously changing, even though
the speed of the object remains constant, its velocity is changing.
The direction of this acceleration is towards the center and is known as
centripetal acceleration.
 Motion in a circular path due to a force
perpendicular to the motion

When a force perpendicular to the motion acts on an object moving in a

circular path, with mass and radius held constant, an increase in force will
cause an increase in speed.

This is because the force acts as the centripetal force, which is

required to keep the object moving in a circular path.

When the force increases, it provides a stronger inward pull,

enabling the object to overcome inertia and move faster along the
circular path.
 Motion in a circular path due to a force
perpendicular to the motion

If the force acting perpendicular to the motion increases, with mass and
speed held constant, the radius of the circular path decreases.

This means that the object moves in a tighter or smaller circular

path. As the force increases, it provides a stronger centripetal force,
resulting in a greater inward pull on the object.

This increased force allows the object to turn more sharply, leading
to a decrease in the radius of the circular path.
 Motion in a circular path due to a force
perpendicular to the motion

When the mass of the object increases while the speed and radius remain
constant, a greater force is required to maintain the object's motion along
the circular path.

This is because an object with greater mass exhibits greater inertia

and requires a larger force to overcome that inertia and keep it
moving in a circular path.
The force acting as the centripetal force needs to increase to
balance the increased inertia of the object and maintain a constant
speed and radius of the circular motion.
 Summary point

In summary, an increase in force leads to an increase in

speed (with mass and radius constant), a decrease in
radius (with mass and speed constant), and an increased
mass requires an increased force to keep the speed and
radius constant in circular motion.
End of Presentation