Chapter 5

Dynamics of Uniform
Circular Motion
Uniform Circular Motion
DEFINITION OF UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION

Uniform circular motion is the motion of an object
traveling at a constant speed on a circular path.
v
r
T

2
Let T be the time it takes for the object to
travel once around the circle.
Centripetal Acceleration
The direction of the centripetal acceleration is towards the
center of the circle; in the same direction as the change in
velocity.
r
v
a
c
2

Centripetal Acceleration
Example: The Effect of Radius on Centripetal Acceleration

The bobsled track contains turns
with radii of 33 m and 24 m.
Find the centripetal acceleration
at each turn for a speed of
34 m/s. Express answers as
multiples of
. s m 8 . 9
2
g
g a
c
6 . 3
g a
c
9 . 4
Centripetal Force
The centripetal force is the name given to the net force
required to keep an object moving on a circular path.

The direction of the centripetal force always points toward
the center of the circle and continually changes direction
as the object moves.
r
v
m ma F
c c
2

Centripetal Force
The Effect of Speed on Centripetal Force
Centripetal Force
A Trapeze Act
In a circus, a man hangs upside down from a trapeze, legs
bent over and arms downward, holding his partner. Is it harder
for the man to hold his partner when the partner hangs
straight down and is stationary or when the partner is swinging
through the straight-down position?
Satellites in Circular Orbits
There is only one speed that a satellite can have if the
satellite is to remain in an orbit with a fixed radius.
Satellites in Circular Orbits
Global Positioning System
Satellites in Circular Orbits
Apparent Weightlessness and Artificial Gravity
Apparent Weightlessness and Free Fall

In each case, what is the weight recorded by the scale?
Apparent Weightlessness and Artificial Gravity
Artificial Gravity

At what speed must the surface of the space station move
so that the astronaut experiences a push on his feet equal to
his weight on earth? The radius is 1700 m.
Sample problems for uniform circular motion
Example 1 A car has a lateral acceleration of
0.87g. This represents the maximum
centripetal acceleration that can be attained
without skidding out of the circular path. If a
car is travelling at a constant 40m/s, what is
the minimum radius of curve it can
negotiate?
Answer: R=190m
Sample problems for uniform circular motion
Example 2 In a carnival ride, the passengers
travel at a constant speed in a circle of
radius 5.0m. They make one complete circle
in 4.0s. What is their acceleration?
Answer: a
rad
=12m/s
2
Sample problems for uniform circular motion
Example 3 A sled with a mass of 25.0kg rests on a horizontal
sheet of frictionless ice. It is attached by a 5.00-m rope to a
post set in the ice. Once given a push, the sled revolves
uniformly in a circle around the post. If a sled makes one
complete revolution in 12.0s, find the force F exerted on it
by the cord.
Answer: F=34.3 N