Uniform Circular Motion

An object moving in a circle (or part

of a circle) with constant speed is
said to be undergoing Uniform
Circular Motion (UCM).

v = speed
= constant
r = radius
= constant

C = circumference = 2r
T = period = time for one revolution
C 2r
T = =
v
v

f = frequency
= revolutions per unit time
= cycles per unit time
1
v
f = =
T 2r

Centripetal Acceleration (ac)

(Radial Acceleration)
Even though the object has constant
speed, it is accelerating as its velocity
is constantly changing in direction.
Its acceleration is always heading
towards the center of the circle and
has a magnitude of:

v2
ac =
r
Though constantly changing in
direction, the velocity is always
perpendicular to the radius.

Centripetal Force (Fc)

The force producing the centripetal
acceleration experienced by the
object is the Centripetal Force.

Fc = mac
mv 2
Fc = mac =
r
It is the centripetal force that is
ultimately responsible for the uniform
circular motion.

Fnet = Fc = F

Fcf = Fc = mac
mv 2
Fcf = mac =
r
The centrifugal force is the partner
of the centripetal force. It cancels out
the other forces applied or
experienced by the object and ensures
that the centripetal force is the only
force left.
Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + Fi
0 = Fcf + Fi
i

Centrifugal Force (Fcf)

Whenever an object moves in a
circular path, it always experiences
an outward-seeking force called
Centrifugal Force.

m = 0.80kg
r = 0.9m
A stone with a mass of 0.80kg is
attached to one end of a string 0.90m Tmax = 600 N
long. The string will break if its
Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + T + W + N
tension exceeds 600N. The stone is 0 = F + T + W + N
cf
whirled in a horizontal circle on a
frictionless table top; the other end of x : 0 = Fcf T
Fcf = T
the string is kept fixed. Find the
maximum speed the stone can attain
mv 2

=T
without breaking the string.
r

Example 1

In side view:

r
m

rT
v=
m
vmax

FBD: (stone)
T

Fc

Fcf
W

vmax

rTmax
=

[0.9m][600 N ]

=
0.8kg

vmax = 25.981m/s

Example 2

r = 220m
v = 25m / s
Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + N + W + f s

A flat (unbanked) curve on a

highway has a radius of 220m. An
ambulance rounds the curve at a
0 = Fcf + N + W + f s
speed of 25.0m/s. What is the
x : 0 = Fcf f s
minimum coefficient of static friction
Fcf = f s
that will prevent sliding?

mv 2

= s N
r
mv 2
s =
rN
y : 0 = N W
N = W = mg
2
(
25m / s )
mv 2
v2
s =
=
=
r (mg ) rg (220m ) 9.8m / s 2

FBD: (ambulance)

N
fs

Fc

Fcf
W

s = 0.290

Example 3
Suppose it is raining in Example 2
such that the road is very slippery
(i.e. almost frictionless). The road
must be banked in order to prevent
slipping. What should be the banking
angle of the road?
r

FBD: (ambulance)
N

Fc
W

r = 220m
v = 25m / s
Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + N + W
0 = Fcf + N + W
x : 0 = Fcf N sin
Fcf = N sin
y : 0 = N cos W
N cos = W = mg
mg
N=
cos
mv 2 mg sin

=
= mg tan
r
cos
2
(
v2
25m / s )
tan =
=
rg (220m ) 9.8m / s 2
tan = 0.289889

Fcf

= 16.17

d = 0.32m r1 = 0.16m
r2 = 0.15m
A small button placed on a horizontal
f1 = 40revs/min = 0.666667 revs / s
rotating platform with diameter
f1 = f 2
0.320m will revolve with the
v = 2r2 f 2
platform when the platform is
brought up to a speed of 40.0rev/min, Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + N + W + f s
provided the button is no more than
0 = Fcf + N + W + f s
0.150m from the axis. What is the
x : 0 = Fcf f s
coefficient of static friction between
the button and the rotating platform? Fcf = f s
mv 2
r1

= s N
r2
r2
2
m
mv 2 m(2r2 f 2 )
4m 2 r2 f 22
s =
=
=
r2 N
r2 N
N
y : 0 = N W
N
FBD: (button)
N = W = mg
fs Fc
Fcf
s = 0.269
4 2 r2 f 2
s =
W
g

Example 4

Example 5
A statue of a cow is being lifted from
the back of a truck to be mounted on
a fountain in a park. A steel cable,
10m long, has been attached to the
statue. In transferring the statue, it is
swung around such that the steel
cable makes a 10 vertical axis. What
is the speed of the statue?

FBD: (cow statue)

= 10

Fcf

Fc
L = 10m
W
r = L sin = 1.736482m
Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + T + W
0 = Fcf + T + W
x : 0 = Fcf T sin
Fcf = T sin

mv 2

= T sin
r
y : 0 = T cos W
W
mg
T=
=
cos cos
mv 2 mg sin
=
= mg tan
r
cos
1
v = (rg tan ) 2
v = 1.732m/s

Example 6
A bowl of stewed vegetables and
meat is swung in a vertical circle
using a 1-m long rope. What should
be the speed of a the bucket if none
of the stew is to be spilled?
FBD: (bowl of stew)
Fcf
W
r

Fc
T

r = 1m
Fnet = Fc = Fc + Fcf + T + W
0 = Fcf + T + W

0 = Fcf T W
Fcf = T + W
mv 2

= T + mg
r
Since weight is constant, tension must
increase if the speed is increased. At
the very minimum, Fcf must be equal
to the weight, which means minimum
tension is zero.
mv 2
= mg
r
1
1
2
2
v = (rg ) = [1m] 9.8m / s 2

( [

v = 3.130m/s

])