Friction and Circular Motion

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to friction and circular motion, providing definitions for important concepts discussed in the lecture.

Friction

The force that opposes the motion of an object when it is in contact with another surface.

Kinetic Friction

The type of friction that occurs when two objects are in motion relative to each other.

Static Friction

The type of friction that prevents an object from starting to move when a force is applied.

Coefficient of Kinetic Friction (μk)

A unitless constant that represents the frictional force between two sliding surfaces.

Coefficient of Static Friction (μs)

A unitless constant that represents the maximum frictional force between two surfaces at rest.

Normal Force

The force perpendicular to the surfaces in contact that supports the weight of an object.

Centripetal Force

A force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed toward the center of the circle.

Centripetal Acceleration

The acceleration directed towards the center of a circular path, associated with circular motion.

Frequency

The number of complete revolutions an object makes per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Period

The time it takes for an object to complete one full revolution, measured in seconds.

Nonuniform Circular Motion

Motion in a circular path where the speed of the object is changing, resulting in tangential acceleration.

Radial Acceleration

Another term for centripetal acceleration, the acceleration directed towards the center of a circular path.

Tangential Acceleration

The rate of change of tangential velocity of an object moving in a circular path.

Microscopic Bumps

Imperfections on surfaces that create friction when two objects are in contact.

Vector Quantity

A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.