Circular Motion (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics): Revision Note

Circular motion

Extended tier only

• Velocity is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction

• Therefore, the velocity of an object is its speed in a given direction

• When an object travels in circular motion, its direction is always changing

  • Therefore, the velocity of an object in circular motion is always changing, even if its speed is constant

• This means that an object in circular motion is always accelerating because acceleration is a change in velocity (opens in a new tab)

The International Space Station’s velocity is always changing. It orbits the Earth at a constant speed of about 7660 m/s, but its direction is constantly changing

Force in circular motion

• When a resultant force acts perpendicularly to an object’s direction of travel, the resultant force will cause that object to change direction

• If the resultant force continues to act at 90 degrees to the motion, the object will keep changing its direction (whilst remaining at a constant speed) and travel in a circle

• This is what happens when a ball tied to a string is swung in a circle, or when a planet orbits a starfor example

Circular motion of the Moon around the Earth

The Moon is pulled towards the Earth by the gravitational force acting on it, at 90 degrees to its direction of travel. This causes it to travel in a circular path

• Therefore, for an object in circular motion, the resultant force is always directed towards the centre of the circle (or towards the inside of the bend)
  

• The resultant force needed to make something follow a circular path depends on a number of factors:

  • The mass of the object
    

    • A greater mass requires a greater resultant force when the speed and radius are constant

  • The speed of the object
    

    • A faster-moving object requires a greater resultant force when the mass and radius are constant

  • The radius of the circle
    

    • A smaller radius requires a greater resultant force when the mass and speed are constant