Physics: Circular Motion Vocab

Circular Motion

any motion in which an object is moving along a curved path

Angular displacement

the change in the angle as an object rotates (theta =x/radius)

Angular velocity/speed

How quickly an object rotates ω rad/s, deg/s, rev/s

Angular acceleration

The rate of change of angular velocity

Relationship between linear displacement and angular displacement

x = theta * radius

Relationship between angular velocity and linear velocity

v = ω r

Rotation

An object turning within its own axis (the earth)

Revolution

An object revolving around another object (the earth revolving around the sun)

Radian

Unit of angular displacement (theta = arc length / ray)

Centripetal acceleration

acceleration toward the center of a curved or circular path

Newtons Gravitational law

The force of attraction between two objects depends on mass and distance. As you increase distance the force decreases.

Escape velocity

The velocity an object must reach to fly beyond a planet's or moon's gravitational pull.