CIRCULAR MOTION

We all experience motion along a curved path in our daily life. The motion is not exactly a circular
motion. However, we can think of curved path as a sequence of circular motions of different radii. As
such, motion of vehicles like that of car, truck etc, on a curved road can be analyzed in terms of the
dynamics of circular motion. Clearly, analysis is done for the circular segment with the smallest radius as
it represents the maximum curvature. It must be noted that "curvature" and "radius of curvature" are
inverse to each other.

Motion along a curved path

Figure 1

One common experience, in this respect, is the experience of a car drive, which is negotiating a sharp
turn. If a person is sitting in the middle of the back seat, she/he holds on the fixed prop to keep the
posture steady and move along with the motion of the car. If the person is close to the farther side (from
the center of motion) of the car, then she/he leans to the side of the car to become part of the motion of
the car.

In either of the two situations, the requirement of centripetal force for circular motion is fulfilled. The
bottom of the body is in contact with the car and moves with it, whereas the upper part of the body is
not. When she/he leans on the side of the car away from the center of motion, the side of the car applies
normal force, which meets the requirement of centripetal force. Finally, once the requirement of
centripetal force is met, the complete body is in motion with the car.
 Motion Along a curved Path

Figure 2: The person presses by side of the car.

The direction in which the body responds to curved motion is easy to find by just thinking what would be
the natural direction of motion of the free part of the body. In the example discussed above, the body
seeks to move straight, but the lower part in contact with car moves along curved path having side way
component of motion (towards center). The result is that the upper part is away from the center of
curvature of the curved path. In order to keep the body upright an external force in the radial direction is
required to be applied on the body.
Negotiating a level curve

Let us concentrate on what is done to turn a car to negotiate a sharp turn. We realize that the driver of a
car simply guides the steering of the car to move it along the turn. Intuitively, we think that the car
engine must be responsible for meeting the requirement of centripetal force. This is right. However,
engine does not directly apply force to meet the requirement of centripetal force. It is actually the
friction, resulting from the motion caused by engine, which acts towards the center of circular path and
meets the requirement of centripetal force.

The body of the car tends to move straight in accordance with its natural tendency? Now, as wheel is
made to move side way (by the change in direction), the wheel has the tendency to have relative motion
with respect to the road in the direction away from the center of path. In turn, road applies friction,
which is directed towards the center.

Negotiating a level curve

Figure 3: The friction meets the requirement of

Important to note here is that we are not considering friction in the forward or actual direction of motion,
but perpendicular to actual direction (side way). There is no motion in the side way direction, if there is
no side way skidding of the car. In that case, the friction is static friction ( fs ) and has not exceeded
maximum or limiting friction (Fs ). Thus,

fs≤Fs
⇒fs≤μs
N

There is no motion in vertical direction. Hence,

N=m
g
Combining two equations, we have :

⇒fs≤μsm
g

where “m” is the combined mass of the car and the passengers.

In the limiting situation, when the car is about to skid away, the friction force is equal to the maximum
static friction, meeting the requirement of centripetal force required for circular motion,

⇒
mv2

r
 =μsmg
⇒v=√(μsrg)

We note following points about the condition as put on the speed of the car :

 There is a limiting or maximum speed of car to ensure that the car moves along curved path
without skidding.

 If the limiting condition with regard to velocity is not met ( v≤√(μsrg)), then the car will skid
away.

 The limiting condition is independent of the mass of the car.

 If friction between tires and the road is more, then we can negotiate a curved path with higher
speed and vice-versa. This explains why we drive slow on slippery road.

 Smaller the radius of curvature, smaller is the limiting speed. This explains why sharper turn
(smaller radius of curvature) is negotiated with smaller speed.
Banking of roads

There are three additional aspects of negotiating a curve. First, what if, we want to negotiate curve at a
higher speed. Second, how to make driving safer without attracting limiting conditions as tires may have
been flattened (whose grooves have flattened), or friction may decrease due to any other reasons like
rain or mud. Third, we want to avoid sideway friction to prolong life of the tires. The answer to these lie
in banking of the curved road.

For banking, one side of the road is elevated from horizontal like an incline or wedge. In this case, the
component of normal force in horizontal direction provides the centripetal force as required for the
motion along the curved path. On the other hand, component of normal force in vertical direction
balances the weight of the vehicle. It is clear that magnitude of normal reaction between road and
vehicle is greater than the weight of the vehicle.

Banking of roads

Figure 4: The horizontal component of normal force

Here, we compute the relation between the angle of banking (which is equal to the angle of incline) for a
given speed and radius of curvature as :

Ncosθ=m
g

and

Nsinθ=
mv2
 r

Taking ratio,

⇒tanθ=
v2

r
g

⇒v=√(rgtanθ)

This expression represents the speed at which the vehicle does not skid (up or down) along the banked
road for the given angle of inclination (θ). It means that centripetal force is equal to the resultant of the
system of forces acting on the vehicle. Importantly, there is no friction involved in this consideration for
the circular motion of the vehicle.

EXAMPLE 1
Problem : An aircraft hovers over a city awaiting clearnace to land. The aricraft circles with its wings
banked at an angle tan−1(0.2) at a speed of 200 m/s. Find the radius of the loop.
Solution : The aircraft is banked at an angle with horizontal. Since aircraft is executing uniform circular
motion, a net force on the aircraft should act normal to its body. The component of this normal force in
the radial direction meets the requirement of centripetal force, whereas vertical component balances the
weight of aircraft. Thus, this situation is analogous to the banking of road.

⇒tanθ=
v2

r
g

⇒r=
v2

gtan
θ

⇒r=
2002

10x0.2
 =20000
m
Role of friction in banking

The moot question is whether banking of road achieves the objectives of banking? Can we negotiate the
curve with higher speed than when the road is not banked? In fact, the expression of speed as derived in
earlier section gives the angle of banking for a particular speed. It is the speed for which the component
of normal towards the center of circle matches the requirement of centripetal force.

If speed is less than that specified by the expression, then vehicle will skid "down" (slip or slide) across
the incline as there is net force along the incline of the bank. This reduces the radius of curvature i.e. "r"
is reduced - such that the relation of banking is held true :

⇒v=√(rgtanθ)
Banking of road

Figure 5: The vehicle has tendency to skid down.

In reality, however, the interacting surfaces are not smooth. We can see that if friction, acting "up"
across the bank, is sufficient to hold the vehicle from sliding down, then vehicle will move along the
circular path without skidding "down".

What would happen if the vehicle exceeds the specified speed for a given angle of banking? Clearly, the
requirement of centripetal force exceeds the component of normal force in the radial direction. As such
the vehicle will have tendency to skid "up" across the bank.

Again friction prevents skidding "up" of the vehicle across the bank. This time, however, the friction acts
downward across the bank as shown in the figure.
 Banking of road

Figure 6: The vehicle has tendency to skid up.

In the nutshell, we see that banking helps to prevent skidding "up" across the bank due to the
requirement of centripetal force. The banking enables component of normal force in the horizontal
direction to provide for the requirement of centripetal force up to a certain limiting (maximum) speed.
Simultaneously, the banking induces a tendency for the vehicle to skid "down" across the bank.

On the other hand, friction prevents skidding "down" as well as skidding "up" across the bank. This is
possible as friction changes direction opposite to the tendency of skidding either "up" or "down" across
the bank. The state of friction is summarized here :

1: v=0;fS=mgsinθ,acting up across the bank

2: v=\rgtanθ;fS=0

3: v<\rgtanθ;fS>0,acting up across the bank

4: v>\rgtanθ;fS>0,acting down across the bank

Friction, therefore, changes its direction depending upon whether the vehicle has tendency to skid
"down" or "up" across the bank. Starting from zero speed, we can characterize friction in following
segments (i) friction is equal to the component of weight along the bank," \mgsinθ ", when vehicle is
stationary (ii) friction decreases as the speed increases (iii) friction becomes zero as speed equals
" \rgtanθ " (iv) friction changes direction as speed becomes greater than " \rgtanθ " (v) friction increases
till the friction is equal to limiting friction as speed further increases and (vi) friction becomes equal to
kinetic friction when skidding takes place.
Skidding down the bank
In this case, the velocity of the vehicle is less than threshold speed " \rgtanθ ". Friction acts "up" across
the bank. There are three forces acting on the vehicle (i) its weight "mg" (ii) normal force (N) due to the
bank surface and (iii) static friction " fs ", acting up the bank. The free body diagram is as shown here.

Banking of road

Figure 7: The speed is less than the threshold speed.

∑Fx⇒Nsinθ−fScosθ=

mv2

∑Fy⇒Ncosθ+fSsinθ=mg
Skidding up the bank

In this case, the velocity of the vehicle is greater than threshold speed. Friction acts "down" across the
bank. There are three forces acting on the vehicle (i) its weight "mg" (ii) normal force (N) due to the
bank surface and (iii) static friction " fs ", acting down the bank. The free body diagram is as shown here.

Banking of road

Figure 8: The speed is greater than the threshold speed.

∑Fx⇒Nsinθ+fScosθ=

mv2

∑Fy⇒Ncosθ−fSsinθ=mg
Maximum speed along the banked road

In previous section, we discussed various aspects of banking. In this section, we seek to find the
maximum speed with which a banked curve can be negotiated. We have seen that banking, while
preventing upward skidding, creates situation in which the vehicle can skid downward at lower speed.

The design of bank, therefore, needs to consider both these aspects. Actually, roads are banked with a
small angle of inclination only. It is important as greater angle will induce tendency for the vehicle to
overturn. For small inclination of the bank, the tendency of the vehicle to slide down is ruled out as
friction between tyres and road is usually much greater to prevent downward skidding across the road.

In practice, it is the skidding "up" across the road that is the prime concern as threshold speed limit can
be breached easily. The banking supplements the provision of centripetal force, which is otherwise
provided by the friction on a flat road. As such, banking can be seen as a mechanism either (i) to
increase the threshold speed limit or (ii) as a safety mechanism to cover the risk involved due to any
eventuality like flattening of tyres or wet roads etc. In fact, it is the latter concern that prevails.

In the following paragraph, we set out to determine the maximum speed with which a banked road can
be negotiated. It is obvious that maximum speed corresponds to limiting friction that acts in the
downward direction as shown in the figure.
 Banking of roads

Figure 9: The horizontal component of normal force

Force analysis in the vertical direction :

Ncosθ−μsNsinθ=mg
⇒N(cosθ−μssinθ)=m
g

Force analysis in the horizontal direction :

Nsinθ+μsNcosθ=
mv2

⇒N(sinθ+μscosθ)=
mv2

Taking ratio of two equations, we have :

⇒
g(sinθ+μscosθ)

(cosθ−μssinθ)
 =
v2
 r

⇒v2=rg
(sinθ+μscosθ)

(cosθ−μssinθ)

⇒v=√{rg
(tanθ+μs)

(1−μstanθ)
 {

Bending by a cyclist

We have seen that a cyclist bends towards the center in order to move along a circular path. Like in the
case of car, he could have depended on the friction between tires and the road. But then he would be
limited by the speed. Further, friction may not be sufficient as contact surface is small. We can also see
"bending" of cyclist at greater speed as an alternative to banking used for four wheeled vehicles, which
can not be bent.

The cyclist increases speed without skidding by leaning towards the center of circular path. The sole
objective of bending here is to change the direction and magnitude of normal force such that horizontal
component of the normal force provides for the centripetal force, whereas vertical component balances
the "cycle and cyclist" body system.
 Banking of roads

Figure 10: The horizontal component of normal force

Taking ratio,

⇒tanθ=
v2

r
g

⇒v=√(rgtanθ)
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