Circular Motion

Describing Circular Motion

Uniform circular motion- the movement of an object at a constant speed around a circle with a fixed
radius. The length of the position vector, r, does not change as the object moves around the circle, but
its direction does. Velocity vectors are tangent to the circular path, at a right angle to the
corresponding position vector.
Average velocity for an object in circular motion:

Centripetal Acceleration
The direction of the acceleration vector is always pointed towards the center of the circle. The
acceleration of an object in uniform circular motion is called center-seeking or centripetal acceleration.
Magnitude of Acceleration
Centripetal acceleration always points to the center of the circle. Its magnitude is equal to the square of
the speed divided by the radius of motion.

. The variable a
c
stands for centripetal acceleration.
Period of Revolution

Where T is the period, the time needed for the object to make one complete revolution.
Centripetal Force
There must be a net force toward the center of the circle, because the acceleration of an object is
always in the direction of the net force acting upon it (circle). The net force toward the center of the
circle is called the centripetal force. First you must find the agent of the force that causes the
acceleration, then plug it into Newtons second law:

Centrifugal Force
There is no outward force. Instead it is just Inertia, you will continue mobbing with the same velocity
unless there is a net force acting on you.



Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation
The magnitude of the force, F
g
(gravity), is proportional to

.
The force of attraction between two objects must be proportional to the objects masses and is known
as the gravitational force.
The law of universal gravitation states that objects attract other objects with a force that is proportional
to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Universal Gravitation and Keplers Third Law

Keplers third law of planetary motion states that the square of the period is proportional to the cube of
the distance that separates the masses.
Measuring the Universal Gravitational Constant
Cavendish apparatus
Henry Cavendish, in 1798, used at apparatus to measure the gravitational force between two objects.
An experimental value for G, the universal gravitational constant, was found: