Gravitation and Circular Motion (Page 1)

Vocabulary flashcards based on Page 1 notes about gravitation, centripetal force, and circular motion.

Straight line

A path with zero curvature; the shortest distance between two points.

Circle

A closed curve where every point is at a fixed distance (radius) from a common center.

Gravitation

The attraction between masses; for two masses m1 and m2 separated by distance r, F = G m1 m2 / r^2.

Centripetal force

The inward force toward the center of a circular path that keeps an object moving in circular motion.

Uniform circular motion

Motion of an object in a circle at constant speed, requiring a constant inward (centripetal) acceleration.

Newton's law of gravitation (F = GMm/r^2)

Gravitational force between two masses is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of their separation.