Circular Motion

Circular Motion

The movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or a circular path.

Uniform Circular Motion

Motion of an object traveling at a constant speed on a circular path.

Period (T)

The time required for an object to make one complete revolution around a circle.

Frequency (f)

The rate of rotation, or the number of complete rotations per unit of time.

Tangential Velocity

The linear speed of an object moving along a circular path, tangent to the circle at any point.

Centripetal Acceleration

The center-directed acceleration of an object in circular motion, always pointing toward the center.

Centripetal Force

The net force causing centripetal acceleration, directed toward the center of rotation.

Non-Uniform Circular Motion

Circular motion where the speed of the object changes along the path.

Tangential Acceleration

The measure of how the tangential velocity of a point changes with time.

Radius of Curvature

The radius of the circular path that best fits the curve at a particular point.

inertial frames - frames of reference where Newton's analysis works