Housekeeping

• David Hearle
• Summer Work completed?
• Please hand in now submission
• Ask for booklet if lost – absolute deadline 13th Sept
• Text Books?
• Teams - please check that you are a member of the second year groups - let me know if
not
• Isaac Physics - new groups for you to sign up to
• Folder review over next 4 weeks
• Make sure you have all your first year notes
• Practicals printed out with comments included 
• Practicals to be completed – review next lesson
Periodic Motion – Circular Motion and Simple Harmonic Motion

Specification
• 3.6.1.1 Circular motion (A-level only)
• Motion in a circular path at constant speed implies there is an acceleration and requires a
centripetal force.
• Magnitude of angular speed ω= = 2πf
• Radian measure of angle.
• Direction of angular velocity will not be considered.
• Centripetal acceleration a = = ω2r
• The derivation of the centripetal acceleration formula will not be examined.
• Centripetal force F = = mω2r
Skills
• Estimate the acceleration and centripetal force in situations that involve rotation.
Circular Motion-Why study rotating objects
and the forces involved?

• Planetary motion
• Satellites
• Wheels
• Centrifuges
• Amusement park rides
• Particle accelerators
• Aeroplanes
• Road/Rail design
 Describing Angles - Radians
• Degree measurement is purely arbitrary based on the (Babylonian) base 60
number system (we also have remnants of this in our units of time keeping)
• We are really used to describing angles in degrees but this system obscures
more fundamental relationships
• Radians is an objective way of expressing angles and reveals more about
measurements arc length = radius
• Definition of 1 Radian - the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an
arc equal in length to the radius.
Θ = 1 rad
• Radian, θ, =
• Since θ = it follows that = radius
• Angle subtended by rotation through one complete circle (circumference)
and a distance ( arc length) = 2πr
• An object rotating through one complete circle has moved through an angle
360 or 2π radians
• Angles measured in radians are given the symbol  (theta); unit symbol rad
• Thus an object rotating through 360 would be said to have rotated 2 rad
Converting Degrees to Radians
• Always remember to check your Degrees Radians

calculator mode! 30
45
• Degrees x 60
90
180
• It is worth remembering the
360
common angles used in Physics
problems
Converting Degrees to Radians
• Always remember to check your Degrees Radians

calculator mode! 30 π/6

45 π/4
• Degrees x 60 π/3
90 π/2
180
• It is worth remembering the
360 2π
common angles used in Physics
problems
 10/09/2023
Radians
Calculate the following angles in radians:
15cm
1) 2)
1.5cm
2cm

6cm

3) 2.05cm 4)
50.24m

5mm 8m
 10/09/2023
Radians
Calculate the following angles in radians:
15cm
1) 2)
1.5cm
2cm

0.75 rad 6cm 2.5 rad

3) 2.05cm 4)
50.24m

6.28 rad
4.1 rad 5mm 8m or
2π rad
 How is angular speed, ω, related to linear speed?

• Definition of angular speed: ω • speed =

(omega) (rads-1)
The angle swept out, θ, in a given
time, t
• Remember θ in radians
• For a rotating object the distance
travelled is the arc length, rθ
• v=
• By definition, = ω
• v=r
Period and Frequency of Rotation
• Period, T, of rotation is the time • Angular speed is related to
taken for an object to complete period and frequency
one revolution (s) • = = 2πf
• Frequency, f, is the number of
revolutions each second (s-1 or
Hz)

•f=
Questions page 22
Centripetal Acceleration
• Velocity is a vector quantity
• An object rotating at constant linear speed has a constantly changing
velocity
• Acceleration is defined as rate of change of velocity – objects
travelling in a circular path experience an acceleration directed
towards the centre of the rotation
Centripetal Force

• What direction does the ball travel

in when the string breaks?
• The ball is constrained to move in a
circle by the person pulling on the
string
• When the string breaks the ball
continues in a straight line
• Major misconception: Centrifugal
force – does not exist!!
 10/09/2023 10/09/2023
Circular Motion
1) Is this car travelling at constant speed?

2) Is this car travelling at constant velocity?

 10/09/2023
Centripetal Acceleration
Consider a circle:
v1
v1 θ
θ=
v2 Δv
v= v2
r
If we make θ infinitesimally
small then v1 = v2 = v
θ θ = Δv/v (small angle approximation)
But v = distance/time = θ
= vΔt/r
Therefore θ =Δv/v = vΔt/r
Δv/Δt = v2/r

a = v2/r
 10/09/2023
Summary of Exciting Equations
Let’s start with this equation: a = v2/r

From the last slide a = v2/r but ∑F=ma so centripetal ∑F = mv2/r

force ∑F = mv2/r

The “angular speed” is the “angular distance” divided by ω = θ/t

time, or ω = θ/t
The total time period T for one revolution must
therefore be the time taken to complete 2π revolutions, ω = 2π/T
or ω = 2π/T
“Frequency” is how often something happens every
second, so T = 1/f. Therefore ω = 2πf ω = 2πf

For a circle, v = 2πr/T. However, T = 2π/ω. Therefore: v = rω

Acceleration a = v2/r, therefore a = rω2 a = rω2

Finally, this must mean that F = mrω2 ∑F = mrω2

Centripetal force
• Newton 1
• an object will remain at rest or in
uniform motion in a straight line unless
acted upon by an external force.
• Newton 2
• the acceleration of an object is
dependent upon the resultant force
acting upon the object and the mass of
the object.
• ∑F = ma
• We know that objects moving in
circular motion are accelerating
• The acceleration indicates there
is a resultant force
• This resultant force is called the
centripetal force
• ∑F = = mω2r
 Circular Motion:On the Road
How would you write the resultant force here?
Remember the vehicle is in motion so there is
How would you write the resultant force acceleration into the centre of the bridge
for a plane accelerating to take-off? N, normal reaction
force

T, thrust force D, drag force

F = T- D
W

F = ma
F=W-N
ma = T-D
F=
D = T- ma
=W-
Circular Motion:On the Road
R

• A vehicle of mass 1200kg passes over

a bridge radius of curvature 15m at a
speed of 10 ms-1
A) What is the centripetal
W
acceleration?
B) what is the normal reaction force on
the vehicle at the top of the bridge?
C) How fast would the vehicle have to
travel to lose contact with the bridge?
 Circular Motion:On the Road
R

• A vehicle of mass 1200kg passes over a

bridge radius of curvature 15m at a
speed of 10 ms-1
A) What is the centripetal acceleration?
W
a = v /r
2

V= 10 ms-1
r = 15 m
A = 102/15 = 6.66…ms-2 = 6.7 ms-2 (2sf)
 5000 N Drag 40000 N Thrust F=T-D

Circular Motion:On the Road F=ma

• A vehicle of mass 1200kg passes over a bridge radius of

curvature 15m at a speed of 10 ms-1
B) what is the normal reaction force on the vehicle at the
top of the bridge?
By convention, forces acting in to the centre +ve
Resultant force (Centripetal Force)= Weight +(- Reaction) W
R = W- F
R = mg - = m(g - )
R = 1200(9.81-6.67)
R = 3768 N
R = 3800 N (2sf)
 Circular Motion:On the Road
R

• A vehicle of mass 1200kg passes over a

bridge radius of curvature 15m at a speed
of 10 ms-1
C) How fast would the vehicle have to travel
to lose contact with the bridge? W
To just lose contact, R = 0
Resultant force, F = W
= mg
v = (gr) = (9.81 x 15) = 12.13 ms-1
v =12ms-1 (2sf)
 10/09/2023
An example question
Q. When you stand on scales, what are they really measuring?
Here’s a man standing on some scales on the equator:

1) If the man’s mass is 70kg, what is his weight?

2) What is his period of oscillation?

3) What is the centripetal

force acting on him?

4) Therefore, what will

the scales read?

5) What is the difference between what the

scales will read and what his weight should be?
 10/09/2023
An example question
Q. When you stand on scales, what are they really measuring?
Here’s a man standing on some scales on the equator:

1) If the man’s mass is 70kg, what is his weight?

2) What is his period of oscillation?

3) What is the centripetal

force acting on him?

4) Therefore, what will

the scales read?

5) What is the difference between what the

scales will read and what his weight should be?
Circular Motion: Conical pendulum

A) Copy the diagram and mark in the

forces acting on the mass
B) Identify the force or forces causing
the circular motion length, l

C) If a 2 kg mass suspended on a 1 m
long string is moved in a circle of mass, m radius , r
angular speed. ω
radius 0.25 m how fast would it be
travelling
D) If the string broke which direction
would the mass move in first
Circular Motion: Conical pendulum

A) Copy the diagram and mark in the

forces acting on the mass
B) Identify the force or forces causing
the circular motion length, l

C) If a 2 kg mass suspended on a 1 m
long string is moved in a circle of mass, m radius , r
angular speed. ω
radius 0.25 m how fast would it be
travelling
D) If the string broke which direction
would the mass move in first