(aE W aos 5 CIRCULAR MOTION Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter the students will be able to: Lescnbe angular motion. Define angular displacement, angular velocity and angular acceleration. Define radian ard corvertan angle from radian measure to degree and vice versa. : Use the equation S=roand v= re, Describe qualitatively motion in a curved path due to a perpendicular force and understand the centripetal acceleration in case of uniform motion in a circle. 5 Derive the equation a. = ro” = v'/r and F. = mo = my Understand and describe moment of inertia of a body. 3 Understand the concept of angular momentum. Describe examples of conservation of angular momentum. Understand and express rotational kinetic energy of a disc and a hoop on an inclined plane. Describe the motion of artificial satellites. Understand thal the objects in satellites appear to be weightless. Understand that how and why artificial gravity is produced. Calculate the radius of geo-stationary orbits and orbital velocity of satellites. Describe Newton's and Einstein's views of gravitation. s W © have: studied velocity, acceleration and the laws of motion, mostly as they are involved in rectilinear motion, However, many objects move in circular paths and their direction is continually changing. Since velocity is a vector quantity, this change of direction means that their velocities are not constant. Astone whirled around by a string, a car turning around a comer and satellites in orbits around the Earth are all examples of this kind of motion. 99Be P Fig. Stay n=-am Fig 5.100) Fig. S.1jo) In this chapter we will study, circular motion, rotational motion, moment of inertia, angular momentum and the related topics. Consider the motion of a single particle P of mass m in a circular path af radius r. Suppose this motion is taking place by attaching the particle P at the end of a massless rigid rod of length r whose other end is pivoted at the centre O of the circular path, as shown in Fig. 5.1 (a). As the particle is moving on the circular path, the rod OP rotates in the plane of the circle. The axis of rotation Passes through the pivot O and is normal to the plane of rotation. Consider a system of axes as shown in Fig. 5.1 (b). The z-axis is taken along the axis of rotation with the pivot O as origin of coordinates , Axes x and y are taken in the plane of rotation. While OP is rotating, suppose at any instant 1, its position is OP,, making angle @ with x-axis. At later time ¢ + At, let Its position be OP, making angie 8+ AO with x-axis (Fig. §.1¢).. The angular displacement 40 is assigned a positive sign when the sense of rotation of OP is counter clock wise. The direction associated with Ad is along the axis of rotation and is given by right hand rule which states that Grasp the axis of rotation in right hand with fingers curling in the direction of rotation; ‘the thumb points in the direction of angular displacement, a shown in Fig 5.1 (d). Three: units are generally used to express angular displacement, namely degrees, revolution and radian. We 100are already familiar with the first two. As regards radian which is SI unit, consider an arc of length $ of a circle of radius r (Fig 5.2) which subtends an angle 0) at the centre of the circle. Its value in radians (rad) is given as or “Sr (wheredisinradian) .... (6.1) If OP is rotating, the point P covers a distance s = 2 arin ‘one revolution of P. in radian it would be 82m on ce So 1 revolution = 27 rad = 360° Or Very often we are interested in knowing how fast or how slow a body is rotating. It is determined by its angular velocity which is defined as the rate at which the angular displacement is changing with time. Referring to Fig. 5.1(c), if AQ is the angular displacement during the time interval At, the average angular velocity way during this interval is given by a) aaa The instantaneous angular velocity « is the limit of the ratio AG/At as At, following instant t, approaches to zero. (6.2) Thus = Lim 44 arp oAt In the limit when At approaches zero, the angular displacement would be infinitesimally small, So it would be a_ yector quantity and the angular velocity as defined by 101 Fig. 82Eq.5.3 would also be a vector. lis direction is along the axis of rotation and is given by right hand rule as described earlier Angular velocity is measured In radians per second which is its Si unit. Sometimes it is also given in terms of revolution per minute. 5.3 ANGULAR ACCELERATION When we switch on an electric fan, we notice that its angular velocity goes on increasing. We say that it has an angular acceleration. We define angular acceleration as the rate of change of angular velocity. tf «, and « are the values of instantaneous velocity of a rotating body at instanis f; and f, the average angular acceleration curing the interval 4 — tis given by Gg Spr Oe 5 Aw te ar (5.4) The instantaneous angular acceleration is the limit of the ratio eas At approaches zero. Therefore, instantancous angular acceleration is given by @ = Lim 40. (55) eae a ‘The angular acceleration is also a vector quantity whose magnitude is given by Eq. 5.5 and whose direction is along the axis of rotation. Angular acceleration is expressed in units of rads? Bill now we have been considering the motion of a particle P on a circuler path. The point P was fixed at the end of a rotating massless rigid rod. Now we consider the rolation of a rigid body as shown in Fig. 5,3. Imagine a point P on the rigid body: Lino OP is the perpendicular dropped trom P on the axis of rotation. It is usually referred as references line. As the body rotates, line OP also rotates with it with the same angular velocity and angular acceleretion. Thus the rotation of a rigid body can be described by the rotation Of the reference line OP and all the terms that we defines with the help of rotating line OP are also valid for the ‘olational motion of a rigid body. In future while dealing 102with rotation of rigid body, we will replace it oy its reference line OP. Consider a rigid body rotating about z-axis with an angular velocity @ as shown in Fig. 5.4 (a). imagine @ point P in the rigid body at a perpendicular distance r from the axis of rotation. OP represents the reference line of the rigid body. As the body rotates, the point P moves along a circle of radius r with a linear velocity v whereas the line OP rotates with angular velocity as shown in Fig. 5.4 (b). We are interested in finding out the relation between © and v. As the axis of rolation is fixed, so the direction of w always remains the saine and ® can be manipulated as a scalar. As regards the linear velocity of the point P, we consider its magnitude only which can also be treated as a scalar. Suppose during the course of its motion, the point P moves through a distance P,P; = \g ina time interval At during which reference line OP has an angular displacement A0 radian during this interval. As and Aé are related by Eq. 5.1. AS= rae Dividing both sides by At (66) In the limit when Af -> 0 the ratio AS/At represents v, the magnitude of the velocity with which point P_is moving on the circumference of the circle. Similarly A8/At represents the angular velocity w of the reference line OP. So equation 5.6 becomes vero i (6.7) In Fig 5.4 (b), it can be seen that the point P is. moving along the arc P,P;. In the limit when At > 0, the length of arc P:P, becomes very small and its direction represents {he direction of tangent to the circle at point P,. Thus the velocity with which point P is moving on the circumference 103 Fig. 5A(0)‘You may foo! scared at the lop of roller coaster ride in the As the whes! tums through an angie, i Jays out a tangential detence Simpy, ofthe circlehas a magnitude v and its diractionis always along the tangent to the circle at that point. That is why the linear velocity of the point Ps also known as tangential velocity Similarly Eq 5.7 shows that if the reference line OP is rotating with an angular acceleration «, the point P will also have a linear or tangential acceleration a,. Using Eg 57 it can be shown that the two accalerations are related by (5.8) Eqs 5.7 and 5.8 show that on a rotating body, points that are at different distances from the axis do not have the Same speed or acceleration, but all paints on a rigid body rotating about a fixed axis do have the same angular displacement, angular speed and angular acceleration at any instant. Thus by the use of angular variables we can describe the motion of the entire body in a simple way aso Equations Of Angular Motion The equations (5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5) of angular motion are exactly analogous to those in linear motion except that 0, © and a have replaced 5, v and a. respectively, As the other equations of linear motion were obtained by algebraic manipulation of these equations, it follows that analogous equations will also apply to angular motion, Given below are angular equations together with their linear counterparts. Linear Angular wei tat ©; 50) + at . 69) 2aS=vP-yF | 2ab=0F -o? . (5.10) To PSs S=yt+2 Sot te at (514 Wits at 0 ott at. (6.11) The angular equations 5.9 to 5.11 hold true only in the case when the axis of rotation is fixed, so that all the anguler vectors have the same diraction. Hence they can be manipulated as scalars. Example 5.1: An electric fan fotating at 3 tev s” is switched off. It comes to rest in 18.0 S. Assuming deceleration’ to ba uniform, find i's value. How many revolutions did it turn before coming to rest? 104Solution: In this problem we have =30revs', %=0, t=180s and 1=7, 8 From Eq. 5.4 we have 1 x =m _ (0-3.0)rave™ sa 18.05 and from Eq 5.11, we have = + 0.167 rev s* 1 ie tart at? = 9.0 revs" x 1800 +2(-0.167 revs) X(18.0 5) =27 rev The net a a which is constrained fo move ina circular path is quite interesting. it has direct bearing on the motion of such things as arlificial and natural. satellites, nuclear particles in accelerators, bodies whirling at the ends of the strings and flywheels spinning on the shafts. We all know that a ball whirled in a horizontal circle at the end of a string would not continue in a circular path if the string is snapped. Careful observation shows at once that if the stnng snaps, when the ball is at the point A, in Fig, 5.5 (b), the ball will follow the straight line path AB. The fact is that unless a tring or some other mechanism pulls the ball towards the centre of the circle with a force, as shown in Fig. 5.5 (a), bail will not continue along the circular path. : The force needed to bend the normally straight path of the particle into a circular path is called the centripetal force. If the particle moves from A to B with uniform speed v as shown in Fig. 5.6 (2), the velocity of the particle changes its direction but not its magnitude The change in velocity is shownin Fig. 5.6 (b). Hence, the acceleration of the particle is AV At 10s yom» / o> A Direction of motion changes -continuoustyin eitculer motion. Fp Sie) Fig. 55m)Fig. 58th) hee! Bankes wacks ate needed for tums that are taken so quickly that fricven aions cannot provide energy for centrpetal force. where 41 is the time taken by the particle to travel from A to 8. Suppose the velocities al A and B are y; and v, respectively. Since the speed of the particle is v, so the time taken to travel a distance s, as shown in Fig. 5.6 (a) is s Ata v so anv im ERS RNa) s Let us now draw a triangle POR such that PQ is Parallel and equal to v, and PR is parallel and equal to v:, as shown in Fig. 6.6 (b). We know that the radius of a circle is Perpendicular to its tangent, so OA is perpencicular to v, and OB is perpendicular to vs (Fig. 5.6 a). Therefore, angle AOB equals the angle GPR between v; and vs. Further, as M4 =v) = v and OA = OB, both triangles are isosceles, From geometry, we know "two isosceles triangles are similar, f the angles between their equal arms are equal’ Hence, the triangle OAB of Fig. 5.6 (a) Is similar to the triangle POR of Fig. 5.6 (b). Hence. we can write Av AB ve Ifthe pointB is close to the point A on the circle, as will be the case when 4t-> 0, the ars AB is of nearly the same length as the line AB. To that approximation, we can write AB = s, and after substituting and rearrangingterms, we have, Av=s% ; r Putting this value for ay in the Eg. 5.72, we get ge r where @ Is the instantaneous acceleration. As this acceleration is caused by the centripetal force, it is called the centripetal acceleration denoted by az, This acceleration is directed along the radius towards the centre of the circle. In Fig. 5.6 (a) and (b), since PO is perpendicular to OA and PR is perpendicular to OB, so QRis Perpendicular to AB, It may be noted that QR is parallel to the perpendicular bisector of AB. As the accoleraticn of the object moving in the circle is as 6.13) 106parallel to Av when AB -> 0, so centripetal acceleration is directed along radius towards the centre of the circle. It can, therefore, be concluded that: The instantaneous acceleration of an object travelling with uniform speed in a circle is directed towards the centre of the circle and is called centripetal acceleration. The centripetal force has the same direction as the centripetal acceleration and its value is given by mv? aaa cee 2 In angular measure, this equation becomes Fe= mrot (6.15) Example. §,2: A 1000 kg car is turning round @ comer at 10 ms” as it travels along an arc of a circle. if the radius of the circular path is 10 m, how large a force must be exerted by the pavement on the tyres to hold the car in the circular path? Solution: The force required is the centripetal force. So my? _ 1000kg «100 m2s* r 10m This force must be supplied by the frictional force of the pavement on the wheels. A= .Ox10%kgms*® =1.0x104N Example 5.3: A ball tied to the end of a string, is swung in @ vertical circle of racius r under the action of gravity as shown in Fig. 5.7. What will be the tension in the string when the ball is at the point A of the path and its speed is v at this point? Solution: For the ball to travei in a circle, the force acting on the ball must provide the required centripetal force. In this case, at point A, two forces act on the ball, the pull of the string and the weight w of the ball. Thase forces act along the radius at A. and so their vector sum must furnish the required centripetal force. We, therefore, have 107 Paar ‘Curved flight at high speed requires larga contrinelal fora thal makes the stunt dangerous: sive Ite ar planes are rt $0 9,aca ue FREE ‘Two cylinders of squal mas. The ‘one with the tanger diameter nas the greaterrotalicnalinertia. r Just equal to the weight. Consider a mass m attached to the end of a massless rod as shown in Fig. 5.8. Let us assume that the bearing at the pivot point O is frictionless. Let the system be in a hotizontal plane. A force F is acting on the mass perpendicularto the rod and hence, this will accelerate the mass according to F=ma In doing so the force will cause the mess to rotate about O Since tangential acceleration a, is related to angular acceleration « by the equation, @ = ro 50, F=mre ~AS tuming effect is produced by torque t, it would, therefore, be better to write the equation for rotation in terms of torque. This can be done by multiplying both sides of the above equation by r. Thus rE = t= torque = mra which is rotational analogue of the Newton's-second law of motion, F = ma. Here F is replaced by t, a by «and m by mr? The quantity mr’is known as the moment of inertia. and is represented by 1 The moment of inertia plays the same role in angular motion as the mass in linear motion. it may be noted that moment of inertia depends not only on mass m but also on 2 108Most rigid bodies have different mass concentration et different distances from the axis of rotation, which means the mass distribution is not uniform. As shown in Fig. 5.9(@), the rigid body is made up of n small pieces of masses Moments of inertia of various Dodias aboutAA a @) Fig. 59 Each small piece of mass within a large, rigid body undergoes: Al the same angular acceleration about the pivot point Tare octaee My Ma, My atdistances 1), .2....f,{rom the akis of rotation O Ny Lel the body Be rotating with the angular acceleration « so the magnitude of the torque acting on m, is © am mirfas a Similarly, the torque on my is re t= Meh ag and soon Since the body is rigid, so all the masses are rotating with = @) the same angular acceleration a, Total torque Tew is then given by Foetal = (tar? + Mate? +... HM Te) Daa is 109‘The sphere in (2) 8 votating in the Sense givan dy the gold arrove ts angular velocity and angular momentum are taken to be apwerd along Uie rotational axis, 8 shown by the right-hand rule in). or tm Fe (5.16) where J Is the moment of inertia of the body and ic expressed as Pest a2 6.17) 5.7. ANGULAR MOMENTUM We have already seen that linear momentum plays an important rolo in translational motion of bodies. Similer'y, another quantity known as angular momentum has important role in the study of rotational motion. A particle is said to posses an angular momentum about a reference axis if it So moves that its angular position changes relative to that reference axis. The angular momentum L of a particle of mass m moving with velocity ¥ and momentum p (Fig. 5.10) relative to the origin O is defined as L-rxp (5:18) where © is the position vecior of the particle at that instant relative to the origin O. Angular momentum is a vector Quantity. Its magnitude is L=1psind= mrvsing where 6 is the angle between r and P. The direction of L is Perpendicular to the plane formed by r and p and its sense 'S given by the right hand rule of vector product, SI unit of angular momentum is kg ms‘ or J s If the particle is moving in a circle of radius r with uniform angular velocity , then angle between rand tangential velocity is 90°, Hence L= mv sin 90° = mrv But vera 110,Hence Lema Now consider a symmetric rigid body rotating about a fixed axis through the centre of mass as shown in Fig 5.11 Fach particle of the rigid body rotates about the same axis in a circle with an angular velocity w. The magnitude of the angular momentum of the particle of mass mj is m, Vir; about the origin O. The direction of Li is the same as that of ©. Since ¥; = 7 @, the angular momentum of the ith particle is m,r*m. Summing this over all particles gives the {otal angular momentum of the rigid body. = (Some?) or Where / is the moment of inertia of the rigid body about the axis of rotation. Physicists usually make a distinction between spin angular momentum (L.) and orbital angular momentum (Lo) The spin angular momentum is the angular momentum of a spinning body, while orbital angular momentum is associated with the motion of a body along a circular path. The difference is ilustrated in Fig. 5.12, In the usual citcumstances concerning orbital angular momentum, the orbital radius is large as compared to the size of the body, hence, the body may he considered to be a point object. Example 5.4: The mass of Earth is 6.00 x 10 kg. The distance r from Earth to the Sun is 1.50 x 10 m. As seen from the direction of the North Star, the Earth revolves counter-clockwise around the Sun. Determine the orbital angular momentum of the Earth about the Sun, assuming that it traverses a circular orbit about the Sun once a ycar (3.18 *10’s). Solution: To find the Earth's orbital angular momentum we must first know its orbital speed from the given data. When the Earth moves around a circle of radius r, it travels a distance of 2nr in one year, its orbital spead y, is thus _ oear vo = Orbital angular momentum of the Earth = L. = mor Fig. 5:11 A » Fig. 542Fig. 5.13 ‘Aran diving from a diving board. Why does the Soaséng rotating sysiom slow down es water dros cat ak = 28(1.50%10" m)? x(6.00 x10"g) 3.16 x10"5. = 2.67 X10 kg m? 57 The sign is positive because the revolution is counter clockwise, OME! MO Rane as The law of conservation of anguler momentum states that if no extemal torque acts on a system, the total angular Momentum of the system remains constant. Drag = Ly + Ly +, constant The law of conservation of angular momentum is one of the fundamental principles of Physics. it has been verified from the cosmological to the submicroscopic level, The effect of the law of conservation of angular momentum is readily apparent if a single isolated spinning body alters ite Moment of inertia. This is illustrated by the diver. in Fig 513 The diver pushes off the board with a small angular velocity about a horizontal axis through his centre of has a large moment of inertia J, about this axis. ‘The moment of inertia is considerably reduced to a new value fa when the legs and arms are drawn into the closed tuck Position. As the angular momentum is conserved. so 1; = Lo, Hence, the diver must spin faster when moment of inertia becomes smaller to conserve angular momentum. This ‘enables the diver to take extra somersaults, The angular momentum is a vector quantity with direction along the axis of rotation. in the above example, we Discussed the conservation of magnitude of angular momentum. The direction of angular momentum along the nzaxis of rotation also remain fixed. This is illustrated by the fact given below Deas The axis of rotation of an object will not change its orientation unless an external torque causes eae epee oem ittodoso. Spore, perievieny in diving, ‘gymnastics andice-skating, This fact is of great importance for the Earth as it moves around theSun. No other sizeable torque is experienced by the Earth, because the major force acting on it is the pull of the Sun. The Earth's axis of rotation, therefore, remains fixed in one direction with reference to the universe around us, 5.9 ROTATIONAL KINETIC ENERGY if @ body is spinning about an axis with constant angular velocity «, each point of the body is moving in a circular path and, therefore, has some K.E. To determine the total KE. of @ spinning body, we imagine it to be composed of tiny pieces of mags 17, Mz, ..... If a piece of mass m. is at a distance 1; from the axis of rotation, as shown in Fig. 5.14, itis moving in a circle with speed wena Thus the K-E of this piece is KES ; my? 1 3 mln ay ee aca clas = 1 rtm? 3 mre “a, co, The rotational K.E of the whole body is the sum of the kinetic energies of all the parts. So we have ah fa (a) if K.Eyoe = ; (mre? + mario... 4 2 z = 5 Ur? tan + do* | -\s We at once recognize that the quantity within the brackets is the moment of inertia J of the body. Hence, rotetional (b) kinatic energy is given by Rotational calision the clutch 13‘AS the sphere tis to thebottom of the incline. its gravitational potential enérpy Ie changed. to kinatic energy of rotation and Wransiation, .19) Hf rolling or spinning bodies are Present in a system, their rotational kinetic energy must be included as part of the total kinetic energy. Rotational kinetic energy is put to Practical use by fly wheels, which are essential parts of Many engines. A fly wheel stores energy between the Power stokes of the pistons, so that the energy is distributed over the full revolution of the crankshaft and hence, the rotation remains smooth, Aopg? KE = zie inetic Energy of a Disc and a Later! 5) From equation §.19, the rotational kinetic energy of a disc is KEu= rot From page 109, for a disc 1 =1 mp f 2 m sigl wee so K.Evot gt mr oF therefore, =f mr oF since Pay KE a= 4 me (5.20) and fora hoop, since 1= mr’ (page 109) then K. Ea = ; to* = mr*o? page 109 KEu= 4 mv? (6.24) When both starts moving down an inclined plane of height 4, their motion consists of both rotational and translational motions (Fig. 5.15). If no energy is lost against friction, the total kinetic energy of the disc or hoop on reaching the 4bottom of the incline must be equal to its potential energy at the top. PE, = K.Evan + KE See 4 eee 3 Te Sone (6.22) For disc mah = 2 mv + 7 mv or ve See see and for hoop — mgh = ; met mv? or v= gn Sens (6.24) Example 5.5: A disc without slipping rolls down a hill of height 10.0 m. If the disc starts from rest at the top of the hill, what is its speed at the bottom? ‘ Solution: Using Eq. 5.23 veo z lax: are 10.0" 44.4 ms" 5.10 ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES Satellites are objects that orbit around the Earth They aie put into orbit by rockets and are held in orbits by the gravitational pull of the Earth, The low flying Earth satellites have acceleration 9.8 ms* towards the centre of the Earth. If they do not, they would fly off in a straight line tangent to the Earth. When the satellile is moving in a circle, it has an a acceleration = in @ circular orbit around the Earth, the centripetal acceleration is.supplied by gravity and we have, 2 v ore (6.25) Ws ‘As the wheat rolls, it has both rotational and translations! kinetic energies. 27,000 kewhr 30,000 ewe Ccrcular orbit cliptical obit ‘Satetites Orbits‘The moment you switch on your mobile phone, yourlocaion can be ‘Tacked immediately by glebai positioning system, Where v is the orbital Velocity and R is the radius of the Earth (6400 km). From Eq. 5.25 we get, v= Jon = ¥O8me"x64x10°m =7.9 kms* This is the minimum velocity necessary to put a satellite into the Orbit and is called critical velocity. The period 7 is given by 64 Be kale —- v 79kms = 5060s = 84 min approx If, however, a satellite in a circular orbit is at an appreciable distance h above the Earth's surface, we must take into account the experimental fact that the gravitational acceleration decreases inversely as the square of the distance from the centre of the Earth (Fig, 5.16). The higher the satelite, the slower will the required speed and longer it will take to complete one revolution around the Earth. Close orbiting satellites orbit the Earth at a height of about 400 km. Twenty four such satelites form the lobar Positioning System. An airline pilot, sailor or any other person Can now use a pocket size instrument or mobile phone to find his position on the Earth's surface to within 10m accuracy. 5.11 REAL AND APPARENT WEIGHT We offen hear that objects appear to be weightless in a Spaceship circling round the Earth. in order to examine the Cffect in some detail, let us first define, what do we mean by ‘the weight? The real weight of an object is the Gravitational pull of the Earth on the abject. Similarly the Weight of an object on the surface of the Moon is taken to be the gravitational pull of the Moori on the object Generally the weight of an object is measured by a spring Balance. The force exerted by the object on the scxie 12 16equal to the pull due to gravity on the object, ie. the weight of the object. This is not always true, as will be explained a little later, so we call the reading of the scale as apparent weight. To illustrate this point, let us consider the apparent weight of an object of mass m, suspended by a string and spring balance, in a lift as shown in Fig. 5.17 (a). When the lift is at rest, Newton’s second law tells us that the acceleration of the object is zero, the resultant force on it is also zero. If wis the gravitational force acting on it and Tis the tension in the string then we have, T-w=ma As a=0 hence, Tew (6.26) This situation will remain so long as a = 0. The scale thus shows the real weight of the object. The weight of the object seems to a person in the lift to vary, dapending on its motion. When the lift is moving upwards with an acceleration a, then T-w=ma or T=w+ma (6.27) the object will then weigh more then its reel weight by an amount ma. Now suppose, the lifl and henee, the object is moving downwards with an acceleration a (Fig. 5.17 b), then we have w-T=ma which shows that T=w-ma nao ie (5.28) ‘The tension in the string, which is the scale reading, is less than w by an amount ma. To @ person in the accelerating lif, the object appears to weigh less than w. \ts apparent weight is then (w - ma). 17Prats ‘8nd end of a ride, not dunng the rest ofthe nde whan that velocity ie ‘constant. Let us now consider that the lift is failing freely under. gravity. Then a = g, and hence, T=w-mg As the weight w of the body is equal to mg so T=mg—mg=0 The apparent weight of the object will be shown by the scale to be zero. 't is understood from these considerations that apparent weight of the object is not equal toils true weight in an accelerating system. It is equal and opposite to the force Tequired fo stop it rom falling in that frame of reference. 5.12 WEIGHTLESSNESS IN SATELLITES AND GRAVITY FREE SYSTEM When a satellite is falling freely in space, everything within this freely falling system will appear to be weightless. It does not matter where the object is, whether itis falling under the force of attraction of the Earth, the Sun, or some distant star An Earth's satellite is freely falling object. The statement may be surprising at first, but it is easily seen to be correct, Consider the behaviour of a projectile shot parallel to the horizontal surface of the Earth in the absence of air friction, Hf the projectile is thrown at successively larger speeds, then during its free fall to the Earth, the curvature of the path decreases with increasing horizontal speeds. If the Object is thrown fast enough parallel to the Earth, the curvature of its path will match the curvature of the Earih as shown in Fig. 5.78. In this case the space ship will simply circle round the Earth. -The space ship is accelerating towards the centre of the Earth at all times since it circles round the Earth. Its radial acceleration is simply g, the free fall acceleration. In fact, the space ship is falling towards the centre of the Earth at all the times but due to spherical shape of the Earth, it never strikes the surface of the Earth. Since the space ship is in free fall, all the objects within it appear to be weightless: Thus no force is tequired to hold an object falling in the frame of reference of the space crafl or satellite. Such a system is calied gravity free system. 8