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Uniform Circular Motion

  • For an object to maintain the same speed while moving in a circle, its velocity must constantly be changing-the object has an acceleration.
  • The formula for acceleration if you have uniform circular motion (the same speed throughout the circle):
    |

    a
     
    | =
    |

    v
     
    |2

    r
    .
  • The acceleration vector always points from the object to the center of the circle.
  • The velocity vector is always tangential to the circle.
  • Remember: in the above equation, those are the magnitudes of the vectors, since the direction of both acceleration and velocity must constantly be changing.
  • A revolution is one complete circuit of the circle.
  • The circumference of a circle is 2πr and the speed is |v|, so the time it takes for one revolution is
    T = 2πr

    |

    v
     
    |
    .

Uniform Circular Motion

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Physics (Theory and Application)