Circular Motion Lecture Notes

Flashcards about Circular Motion

Circular Motion

Two-dimensional motion in a plane, with a fixed radius.

Uniform Circular Motion

The motion of an object traveling at a constant (uniform) speed on a circular path.

Time Period (T)

The time required for the object to travel once around the circle.

Speed of uniform circular motion

Total distance covered to move around the circle once (i.e. the circumference) divided by the time period.

Centripetal Acceleration

The acceleration of an object moving with speed v on a circular path of radius r, always pointed towards the center of the circle.

If v = constant

As r increases, ac decreases

If T = constant

As r increases, ac increases

Centripetal Force

The net force required to keep an object of mass m, moving at a speed v, on a circular path of radius r.

Centripetal Force

The phrase that merely labels the net force pointing toward the center of the circular path.