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What are radians?

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Converting from radians
The circumference of a circle is 2r. Since a radian is based
on an arc with length r, there are 2 radians in a full circle.

degrees radians
1 rad r
360 2
180 r
90 /2

2
To convert from degrees into radians, multiply by .
360

360
To convert from radians into degrees, multiply by .
2

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Degrees and radians in a circle

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Consequences of using radians

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Angular displacement and velocity
Angular displacement and angular velocity, like linear
displacement and linear velocity, are vector quantities, i.e.
quantities with a direction.

Displacement, x, is a distance with a direction. Linear

velocity, v, is a speed with direction. It is the rate of change of
displacement with time. x
v=
t

Angular displacement, , is the angle moved through

relative to a specific axis.

Angular velocity, , is the rate of change of angular

displacement with time. The units of are rad s1
.
=
t
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Period of circular motion

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An equation for v
The distance covered by an object moving in a circle in
one period is the circumference of the circle, 2r.

distance
speed =
time r

2r
therefore v=
T

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An equation for
The angle an object moving in a circle moves through in
one period is 2 rad.

2

=
t

2
therefore =
T

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Equation linking v and

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Frequency
Frequency, f, is the number of rotations per second.

i.e. number of rotations

frequency =
time taken

Because time taken

period =
number of rotations

1 1
T= and f=
f T

2
Using = , this gives = 2f
T

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Matching equations

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Can you calculate v and ?

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Centripetal acceleration
Any object moving in a circle has a changing velocity, even if
it is moving at a constant speed, because its direction is
changing. It is always moving along a tangent to the circle.
v
v

time

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. v

a=
Therefore any object moving in a circle is t
accelerating. This is called the centripetal acceleration.

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Deriving equations for a

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Centripetal force

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F = ma and direction of acceleration
According to Newtons second law, force = mass acceleration
(F = ma). v

Acceleration and
force therefore act in a
the same direction as
one another.

It can therefore now

be seen that the
direction of centripetal
acceleration, a, is
towards the centre of
the circle. This is perpendicular to the direction of the velocity, v.

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Deriving equations for F

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Matching centripetal forces

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Centripetal force and acceleration

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More advanced calculations

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Effect of m, v and r on F

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Glossary

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Whats the keyword?

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Multiple-choice quiz

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