Practice portal › Laws of Motion › Dynamics of Circular Motion

For a particle in uniform circular motion, the acceleration a⃗ at any point P(R,θ) on the circular path of radius R is (when θ is measured from the positive x-axis and v is uniform speed)

Asked in JEE Main 25th June 2nd Shift 2022 · Centripetal force and uniform circular motion

Answer: (3) -(v²)/R cos θ î-(v²)/R sin θ ĵ

Step-by-step solution

Idea: in uniform circular motion the acceleration points straight at the centre with magnitude (v²)/R. So write down the inward unit vector and scale it.

The point P is at

r⃗=R cos θ î+R sin θ ĵ,

so the outward unit vector is r̂=cos θ î+sin θ ĵ and the inward one is -r̂.

a⃗=(v²)/R(-r̂)=-(v²)/R cos θ î-(v²)/R sin θ ĵ.

A quick check at θ=0: the particle is at (R,0) and the acceleration should point in the -î direction, back towards the origin. Only this option does that.

Why the other options are wrong

More Dynamics of Circular Motion questionsAll Dynamics of Circular Motion questions →

Reading this solution needs no sign-in. You only sign in to practise against the clock and keep your progress.

Practise this with a timer