Unit 3: Circular Motion and Gravitation (copy)

What is uniform circular motion?

Motion of an object moving in a circular path at a constant speed.

Why is the velocity of an object in uniform circular motion constantly changing?

Because the direction of the object's motion is always changing.

What is centripetal force?

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

What is centripetal acceleration dependent on?

The object's speed and the radius of the circular path.

What is the formula for centripetal acceleration (a꜀)?

a꜀ = v²/r.

What does the formula F = mv²/r represent?

The centripetal force required to keep an object moving in a circular path.

What role does gravitational force play in the solar system?

It keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.

What is described by Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation?

The gravitational force between two masses.

What is the formula for gravitational force (F)?

F = G * (m₁ * m₂) / r².

What value does G represent?

The gravitational constant (6.674 * 10^-11 N * m² / kg²).

What type of force is electric force?

Attractive or repulsive force between two charged objects.

What is Coulomb's Law formula?

F = k * (q₁ * q₂) / r².

What does the symbol 'g' represent?

Gravitational acceleration.

What is the gravitational acceleration on Earth?

Approximately 9.81 m/s².

What does the formula g = G * M / r² calculate?

Gravitational acceleration experienced by an object due to gravity.

What happens to an object in free fall?

It is subject only to the force of gravity.

What is the effect of distance on gravitational force?

It is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between two masses.

What is an example of uniform circular motion?

The motion of a satellite orbiting the Earth.

What does the variable 'm' represent in the force formula?

The mass of the object.

What is the relationship depicted in F = m₁a?

The force acting on mass m₁ equals mass m₁ times its acceleration.

How does centripetal acceleration differ from linear acceleration?

Centripetal acceleration changes the direction of the velocity, not the speed.

What kind of force is gravity?

Attractive force between two objects with mass.

What dictates the strength of electric force?

The product of charges of two objects and the distance between them.

What does the radius (r) represent in the centripetal formulas?

The distance from the center of the circular path to the object.

How do the gravitational and electric forces differ?

Gravitational force is always attractive, while electric force can be attractive or repulsive.

What keeps planets in orbit?

The gravitational pull of the sun.

What happens when there is no net force acting on an object in space?

It will continue in its current state of motion, according to Newton's first law.

What does the law of universal gravitation imply about mass and distance?

The force is proportional to mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

In gravitational terms, what does 'r' indicate?

The distance between the centers of mass of two objects.

What type of values can gravitational field 'g' take?

It varies based on the planet and the object's location relative to the surface.

What is the significance of the gravitational constant G?

It quantifies the strength of the gravitational force in the formula.

What would happen if the velocity of an object in circular motion suddenly stopped?

The object would move off in a straight line due to inertia.

What is the effect of mass on gravitational attraction?

Greater mass results in a stronger gravitational pull.

How does the gravitational force manifest at cosmic scales?

Gravity dominates at large distances and mass scales.

What does the term 'centripetal' mean in physics?

Center-seeking; refers to the force that acts towards the center of a circular path.

What defines an object as being in free fall?

Only the force of gravity acting on it.