Circular Motion

AP Physics C
Mrs. Coyle

Circular Motion
Uniform circular motion (constant
centripetal acceleration)
Motion with a tangential and radial
(centripetal)acceleration

Uniform Circular Motion

Object has a circular path, constant
speed.

The velocity is always tangent to the path

of the object.

Why is there acceleration in

uniform circular motion?

Dv = vf vi
a= Dv/ Dt

Centripetal Acceleration
Vector

v
aC
r

Always perpendicular to the path of

the motion.

Points toward the center of the

circle.

Characteristics of
UniformCircular Motion
Tangential (linear) Velocity
Frequency
Period
Centripetal Acceleration

Frequency, f :
#revolutions per unit time
f = # rev / time
Units:
(1/sec)=sec-1=Hertz (Hz)
rpm (#rev/min)
rps (#rev/sec)

Period
Period T

: time for 1 revolution

Unit: sec, min, h

Relating Frequency and period

f= 1

Tangential Speed in terms

of T or f
v=2pr/T
v=2prf

Example 1
A boy whirls a stone in a horizontal
circle of r=1.5m, 2m above the
ground. The string breaks and the
stone strikes 10m away. What was
the centripetal acceleration during
the circular motion?

Answer: 160m/s2

Tangential Acceleration
When v varies.
Motion is not uniform circular motion.

Total Acceleration
Tangential
acceleration (vector)
Plus
Radial acceleration
(vector)

Total Acceleration
Tangential acceleration:
Radial acceleration:
Total acceleration:

v
ar aC
r

a a a
2
r

d v
at
dt

2
t

Total Acceleration
2

d v v
a at a r
q r
dt
r
r, radius vector
q , tangent to the
circle

Example 2 (#34)
An automobile whose speed is
increasing at a rate of 0.6m/s2 travels on
a circular road of radius 20m. When the
instantaneous speed of the car is 4m/s
find: a)the tangential acceleration, b)the
centripetal acceleration, c)the magnitude
and direction of the total acceleration.

Ans: a)0.6m/s2,b)0.8m/s2, c)1m/s2,53.1o