Circular motion is when an object moves in a circle around a central point at a constant speed and distance. A good example of this is when you swing a rock tied to a string. The time it takes for the object to complete one full circle is always the same, as long as the speed and radius stay constant. The force that keeps this circular motion going is called centripetal force. This force acts along the radius and is directed towards the center of the circle. Understanding circular motion and centripetal force is important in physics and can help explain many different types of motion. So, next time you swing a rock on a string, you'll know exactly what's happening! Remember to search for keywords like "circular motion" when learning more about physics.
Circular motion is motion at a constant speed in a circular path around a central point and in a constant radius, and an example of circular motion would be a rock tied to a string being swung in a circle. The time period during which the object completes one full orbit is also constant. Centripetal force is the name given to the force that maintains circular motion and acts along the radius and is directed towards the center of the orbit.
Centripetal force is a net force that acts on an object to keep it moving along a circular path. According to Newton’s second law of motion, net force is mass times acceleration: F net = m a. To calculate the centripetal force for an object traveling in a circular motion, you should find the square of its linear velocity, v², multiply value by,, and the circle's radius, r
Linear speed differs from angular speed. Linear speed is simply the distance that an object in motion has travelled divided by time. To calculate linear speed v, we need to calculate the circumference of a circle with radius r and divide it by the time T it takes to complete one cycle (one orbit).
The constant change of direction of an object means that the velocity is constantly changing (remember that velocity is a vector, while speed is a scalar), which means that acceleration, too, is constantly changing. However, we can derive an equation for the acceleration of an object in circular motion, beginning with the equation that describes circular motion where: F represents the centripetal force in Newtons. m is the mass of the orbiting object in kilograms. v is the velocity of the object in metres over seconds. r is the radius of the object’s orbit in metres.
Equating this to F = m⋅a, we get:
This shows that angular acceleration in metres over square seconds is related to velocity and radius.
Given this relationship, we can determine the acceleration of an object in a circular motion if we know values, such as the centripetal force, the radius of the orbit, and the mass and velocity of the object. Let’s take a look at the following example.
A ball connected to a bar by a chord follows a circular motion around the bar at constant velocity. The ball has a mass of 300g and moves at a velocity of 3.2m/s. Calculate the centripetal force if the chord has a length of 1.5m. Then calculate the acceleration of the ball around the bar.
First, calculate the centripetal force with m = 300g, v = 3.2m/s, and r = 1.5m. Convert 300g to kg and then calculate F.
The result is 2,048 Newtons. We know from Newton’s laws that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration:
As we know the mass m of the object, we can divide F by m to determine a.
The centripetal force is a key concept in circular motion. It is not to be confused with the similarly named centrifugal force. The centripetal force maintains the angular acceleration, while the centrifugal force is a pseudo force. It is felt only by the object describing the circular path. The centrifugal force acts in the opposite direction to the centripetal force, which is to say in the outwards direction.
There are many real-life examples of circular motion. Consider the following:
A car turning a corner In this case, the frictional force is the centripetal force:
This may include velodromes for track cycling or oval NASCAR style speedways. This is a more complex example of circular motion, which allows vehicles to travel at higher speeds compared to paths with zero gradients. The weight of the car provides the centripetal force. It must be resolved as the normal reaction force.
The normal force is the component of the weight vector that is perpendicular to the slope. The normal force is equal to the mass per square velocity divided by the radius of the curve.
The system for these forces can be seen below in figure 3.
Here, r is the radius of the imaginary circle into which the curve fits (see figure 4).
A swing A swing works like a pendulum. Applying Newton’s Second Law F=ma, the centripetal force is the sum of the forces in the axis along the string that supports the swing. The forces, in this case, are the gravity force F=mg and the tension force ‘T’. When the swing passes through its lowest point, both forces are acting against each other (see figure 5).
Circular Motion - Key takeaways The defining characteristics of circular motion are uniform speed, radius, and time period.The equation for circular motion is .There is a difference between linear vectors and their angular counterparts. It’s important to use angular scalars or the magnitudes of angular vectors.Circular motion can be applied to real-life situations.
Is angular velocity constant in uniform circular motion?
The angular velocity of an object in uniform circular motion is constant as the same circular distance is travelled per unit of time.
What is circular motion?
An object moving about a point in a path with a constant radius and at a constant speed is an example of uniform circular motion.
Is circular motion a motion with acceleration?
An object in a regular circular path is constantly accelerating as acceleration is a vector, and the direction of linear acceleration is constantly changing.
How do you calculate circular motion?
The main equation for circular motion is: F = (m ⋅ v2) / r.
