Circular motion 2

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CIE A Level Physics Your notes
12.2 Centripetal Acceleration

Contents
Centripetal Acceleration
Calculating Centripetal Acceleration
Calculating Centripetal Force
Page 1 of 10
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Your notes
What Causes Centripetal Acceleration?
Velocity and acceleration are both vector quantities
An object in uniform circular motion is continuously changing direction, and therefore is constantly
changing velocity
The object must therefore be accelerating
This is called the centripetal acceleration and is perpendicular to the direction of the linear speed
Centripetal means it acts towards the centre of the circular path
Centripetal Force and Acceleration
Centripetal force and acceleration are always directed towards the centre of the circle
Page 2 of 10
The centripetal acceleration is caused by a centripetal force of constant magnitude that also acts
perpendicular to the direction of motion (towards the centre) Your notes
Therefore, the centripetal acceleration and force act in the same direction
Exam Tip
The linear speed is sometimes referred to as the ‘tangential’ speed
A tangent is a straight line which touches a circle or curve at exactly one point
The key feature of a tangent of a circle is that it always acts perpendicular to its radius
You can find out more in the A Level Maths revision notes on Tangents
Relating Centripetal Acceleration & Angular Speed

An object travelling in uniform circular motion has centripetal acceleration, yet its angular speed (⍵) is
constant
This is because speed is a scalar quantity, whilst velocity is a vector quantity
Therefore, angular speed is the magnitude (size) component of angular velocity
Key ideas to remember:

Angular speed (magnitude) stays constant, angular velocity (direction) is constantly changing
Angular speed does not change with radius, but linear speed does
The object’s centripetal acceleration is always directed toward the centre of the circle, and is
perpendicular to the object’s velocity at any one time
Velocity and acceleration are both defined by a change in direction, not just a change in the
magnitude
Exam Tip
We are used to the idea of acceleration meaning something is speeding up. So, it might sound
counterintuitive to say an object travelling in a circle is accelerating, yet it also has constant speed. This
is where the idea of scalars and vectors would be useful to revisit if you are not confident with this
concept.
Page 3 of 10

Your notes
Centripetal acceleration is defined as:
The acceleration of an object towards the centre of a circle when an object is in motion
(rotating) around a circle at a constant speed
It can be defined using the radius r and linear speed v:
v2
a=
r
Where:
a = centripetal acceleration (m s–2)
v = linear speed (m s–1)
r = radius of the circular orbit (m)
Using the equation relating angular speed ω and linear speed v:
v = rω
Where:
ω = angular speed (rad s–1)
These equations can be combined to give another form of the centripetal acceleration equation:
( rω ) 2
a=
r
a = rω 2
This equation shows that centripetal acceleration is equal to the radius times the square of the angular
speed
Alternatively, rearrange for r:
v
r=
ω
This equation can be combined with the first one to give us another form of the centripetal acceleration
equation:
Page 4 of 10
v2
a=
⎛⎜ v ⎞⎟ Your notes
⎜ ⎟
⎝ω⎠
a = vω
This equation shows how the centripetal acceleration relates to the linear speed and the angular speed
Centripetal acceleration is always directed toward the centre of the circle, and is perpendicular to the
object’s velocity
Where:
a = centripetal acceleration (m s−2)
v = linear speed (m s−1)
⍵ = angular speed (rad s−1)
r = radius of the orbit (m)
Page 5 of 10
Worked example
Your notes
A ball tied to a string is rotating in a horizontal circle with a radius of 1.5 m and an angular speed of 3.5
rad s−1.
Calculate its centripetal acceleration if the radius was twice as large and angular speed was twice as
fast.
Answer:
Step 1: State acceleration in terms of angular speed
a = rω 2
Step 2: Increase angular acceleration with twice the radius and twice the angular speed
a = (2r ) × (2 ω ) 2 = 2r × 4 ω 2 = 8rω 2
The centripetal acceleration will be 8× bigger
Step 3: Substitute in the known values to calculate
a = 8rω 2 = 8 × 1 . 5 × 3 . 52 = 147 m s−2
Page 6 of 10

Your notes
An object moving in a circle is not in equilibrium, it has a resultant force acting upon it
This is known as the centripetal force and is what keeps the object moving in a circle
The centripetal force (F) is defined as:
The resultant force towards the centre of the circle required to keep a body in uniform
circular motion. It is always directed towards the centre of the body's rotation.
Centripetal force can be calculated using:
mv 2
F= = mrω 2 = mvω
r
Centripetal Force
Centripetal force is always perpendicular to the direction of travel

Where:
F = centripetal force (N)
v = linear velocity (m s-1)
⍵ = angular speed (rad s-1)
r = radius of the orbit (m)
Note: centripetal force and centripetal acceleration act in the same direction
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This is due to Newton’s Second Law

The centripetal force is not a separate force of its own
It can be any type of force, depending on the situation, which keeps an object moving in a circular Your notes
path
Examples of Centripetal Force
Situation Centripetal Force
Car travelling around a roundabout Moving objects have energy in their kinetic store
Ball attached to a rope moving in a Objects gain energy in their gravitational potential store when they
circle are lifted above ground
Objects have energy in their elastic potential store if they are

Earth orbiting the Sun
stretched
Page 8 of 10
Worked example
Your notes
A bucket of mass 8.0 kg is filled with water is attached to a string of length 0.5 m.
What is the minimum speed the bucket must have at the top of the circle so no water spills out?
Answer:
Step 1: Draw the forces on the bucket at the top
Step 2: Calculate the centripetal force

The weight of the bucket = mg
This is equal to the centripetal force since it is directed towards the centre of the circle
mv 2
mg =
r
Step 3: Rearrange for velocity v
m cancels from both sides
Page 9 of 10
v= gr
Step 4: Substitute in values Your notes
v= 9 . 81 × 0 . 5 = 2 . 21 m s−1
Page 10 of 10

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CIE A Level Physics Your notes

12.2 Centripetal Acceleration

Centripetal Force and Acceleration

Relating Centripetal Acceleration & Angular Speed

Key ideas to remember:

Calculating Centripetal Acceleration

a = 8rω 2 = 8 × 1 . 5 × 3 . 52 = 147 m s−2

Calculating Centripetal Force

Centripetal force is always perpendicular to the direction of travel

This is due to Newton’s Second Law

Situation Centripetal Force

Objects have energy in their elastic potential store if they are

Step 2: Calculate the centripetal force

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