Since the body describes circular motion, its distance from the axis of rotation remains constant at all times. ![]() In physics, uniform circular motion describes the motion of a body traversing a circular path at constant speed. Without this acceleration, the object would move in a straight line, according to Newton's laws of motion.The motion of an object in a circular motion along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path is called circular motion.įigure 3: (Left) Ball in circular motion – rope provides centripetal force to keep ball in circle (Right) Rope is cut and ball continues in straight line with velocity at the time of cutting the rope, in accord with Newton's law of inertia, because centripetal force is no longer there. Since the object's velocity vector is constantly changing direction, the moving object is undergoing acceleration by a centripetal force in the direction of the center of rotation. In circular motion, the distance between the body and a fixed point on the surface remains the same.Įxamples of circular motion include: an artificial satellite orbiting the Earth at a constant height, a ceiling fan's blades rotating around a hub, a stone which is tied to a rope and is being swung in circles, a car turning through a curve in a race track, an electron moving perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field, and a gear turning inside a mechanism. The equations of motion describe the movement of the center of mass of a body. The rotation around a fixed axis of a three-dimensional body involves circular motion of its parts. It can be uniform, with constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or non-uniform with a changing rate of rotation. Yet, with the inward net force directed perpendicular to the velocity vector, the object is always changing its direction and undergoing an inward acceleration.įor more information on physical descriptions of motion, visit The Physics Classroom Tutorial.In physics, circular motion is a movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. Without such an inward force, an object would continue in a straight line, never deviating from its direction. ![]() The net force is said to be an inward or centripetal force. The net force acting upon such an object is directed towards the center of the circle. The final motion characteristic for an object undergoing uniform circular motion is the net force. The animation at the right depicts this by means of a vector arrow. The direction of the acceleration is inwards. Nonetheless, it is accelerating due to its change in direction. An object undergoing uniform circular motion is moving with a constant speed. ![]() Accelerating objects are objects which are changing their velocity - either the speed (i.e., magnitude of the velocity vector) or the direction. The animation at the right depicts this by means of a vector arrow.Īn object moving in a circle is accelerating. Since the direction of the velocity vector is the same as the direction of the object's motion, the velocity vector is directed tangent to the circle as well. At all instances, the object is moving tangent to the circle. As an object moves in a circle, it is constantly changing its direction. Uniform circular motion can be described as the motion of an object in a circle at a constant speed. Multimedia Studios » Circular, Satellite, and Rotational Motion » Uniform Circular Motion
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