Circular Motion Notes
Overview

Circular Motion Table of Contents:

(For a detailed list of expectations, see Terms and Objectives.)

Velocity vector (red) and position vector (blue) for an object executing uniform circular motion

• Concepts
  • Kinematics of Circular Motion
    • Rotation vs. Revolution
    • Linear (tangential) speed vs. rotational (angular) Speed
    • Centripetal Acceleration
  • Dynamics of Circular Motion
    • Centripetal Force
      • Work done by the centripetal force
      • Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Force
      • Rotating Reference Frames
      • Simulating Gravity in Space
      • Centripetal Force and the Rotation of the Earth
        • If the Earth is rotating, why don't we get dizzy?
          • How do we know that the Earth is actually rotating?
          • How can people on the Earth have a huge linear velocity and tiny rotational velocity at the same time?
        • What supplies the centripetal force to keep you rotating with the Earth?
  • Concept Summary (download the PowerPoint file)
• Applications
  • Turning a Car
    • An unbanked turn
    • A banked turn - no friction
    • A banked turn - with friction
• Practice Quizzes
  • Quiz on Circular Motion Concepts
  • Quiz on Circular Motion Numerical Problems
• Labs and Activities
  • Linear & Rotational Speed Activity
  • Activity - Centripetal force on a Motorized Cart
  • Activity - Centripetal force and acceleration using a kinesthetics cart
  • Experiment: Centripetal Force & Speed
    • Data & analysis sheet
• Demonstrations
  • Direction of the Acceleration Using an Accelerometer
• Supplements
• Links
  • CPSurf Learning Links - Circular Motion
  • The Physics Classroom - Circular Motion
  • Circular Motion & Centripetal Force (Java applet)

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last update February 2, 2008 by JL Stanbrough