Circular motion Definition and 1000 Threads

In physics, circular motion is a movement of an object along the circumference of a circle or rotation along a circular path. It can be uniform, with constant angular rate of rotation and constant speed, or non-uniform with a changing rate of rotation. The rotation around a fixed axis of a three-dimensional body involves circular motion of its parts. The equations of motion describe the movement of the center of mass of a body. In circular motion, the distance between the body and a fixed point on the surface remains the same.
Examples 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.
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. Without this acceleration, the object would move in a straight line, according to Newton's laws of motion.

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  1. S

    Proportions in circular motion don't make sense.

    Alright, here's the problem I'm have been given: "A boy is riding a merry-go-round at a distance of 7.00 m from its center. The boy experiences a centripetal acceleration of 7.50 m/s2. What Centripetal acceleration is experienced by another person who is riding at a distance of 3.00 m from...
  2. C

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  3. C

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  4. S

    Direction of friction in the circular motion of a car

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  5. G

    Solving differential equations (circular motion)

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  6. S

    Special relativity- Uniform circular motion.

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  7. F

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  8. Feodalherren

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  9. B

    What happens in non-uniform circular motion?

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  10. E

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  11. J

    Need Help with Newton's equation and circular motion

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  12. S

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  13. Q

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  14. S

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  15. M

    How does an object undergo circular motion on a non-circular trajectory?

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  16. I

    Finding the Tension in a Rope (Circular motion)

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  17. J

    Circular Motion and Static Friction Problem The Wall of Death ride

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  18. N

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  19. D

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  20. T

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  21. P

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  22. A

    Radius as a function of Uniform Circular Motion

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  23. C

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  25. E

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  26. H

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  27. A

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  30. Z

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  32. S

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  33. Q

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  34. J

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  36. U

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  37. A

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  39. P

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  40. P

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  41. P

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  42. M

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  43. S

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  45. W

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  46. D

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  47. C

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  48. U

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  49. A

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  50. D

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