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. Vivan Vatsa

    Having difficulty in understanding vertical circular motion?

    I am having trouble understanding the concepts of vertical circular motion , though I solve all the numericals , but I think I am lacking the basic concepts of VCM. Explain how I can master this topic?
  2. V

    Circular Motion: What's the Source of Centripetal force in this?

    [Moderator's Note: Thread moved from forum General Physics hence no formatting template] I am trying to study Circular Motion for my exams and I'm kind of unsure about one question. The question asks what's keeping the truck in circular motion. It has to be gravity I know, but gravity being...
  3. V

    Applying work energy theorem to unifrom circular motion

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  4. F

    Circular motion of a bucket filled with water

    Consider a bucket filled with water in vertical circular motion. Why does there exist a contact force between water and the bucket when the bucket is at the top of center of rotation? What will happen if I remove the bottom part of the bucket when it is on the top?
  5. M

    Banked roads -- circular motion and gravitation

    Homework Statement If a curve with a radius of 88m is perfectly banked for a car traveling at 75km/h, what must be the coefficient of static friction for a car not to skid when traveling at 95 km/hr 75km/h = 20.8m/s 95km/h = 26.4m/s Homework Equations Fr=mv^2/r Fr=centripetal force m = mass r...
  6. O

    Can someone explain this quote about centripetal motion?

    Homework Statement In describing a wheel's circular motion: "Circular motion arises purely from the resistance of the ground upon which it is applied…this resistance is equal to the force which draws the wheel in the right line" Homework Equations F=m(v^2/r) The Attempt at a Solution Is this...
  7. R

    Using Kepler's 3rd Law to find Period of Venus

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  8. F

    Centripetal force and spinning discs

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  9. Vavi Ask

    Radial force in a circular motion

    Homework Statement Given- Mass of particle=m Radius of the circular path=r Magnitude of linear momentum= p Find the radial force acting on the particle. Homework Equations p=mv acentripetal=v2/r The Attempt at a Solution Fradial=macentripetal =mv2/r =mv2×m/r×m...
  10. Hardikph

    Is Δθ in a circle equal to the angle in a velocity vectors triangle?

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  11. F

    Understanding Circular Motion: The Relationship Between Force and Velocity

    If a force acts on an object perpendicular to its velocity, why does the speed remains unchanged? Wouldn't the force give rise to a vertical component of velocity on the object and thus increase the speed of the object?
  12. S

    Questions about understanding circular motion & the forces involved

    Hey, I'm having some difficulty in understanding circular motion and it's forces. Here is the situation I'm on: Imagine you are on a smooth turn-table with smooth shoes and the table starts spinning. Because of inertia, and because the frictional force is not nearly enough to keep you going in a...
  13. W

    Required conditions for vertical circular motion to occur?

    For the case of a particle attached to an inextensible string which is hanging at rest and then provided an impulse horizontally, what conditions must the system meet in order to allow for COMPLETE circular motion. I am well aware the tension at the apex of the motion must be satisfy one of the...
  14. N

    How Do You Calculate Acceleration in a Limacon-Shaped Path?

    Homework Statement The rod OA rotates clockwise with a constant angular velocity of 6 rad/s. Two pin-connected slider blocks located at B move freely on OA and the curved rod whose shape is a limacon described by the equation r = 200*(2-cosθ) mm. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of...
  15. N

    Circular motion -- Car on a circular track

    Homework Statement A car has an initial speed v0= 20m/s. It increases its speed along the circular track at s=0, at=(0.9s) m/(s2), where s is in meters. Determine the time needed for the car to travel 35m. The radius of curvature of the track is 40m. Homework Equations an = v^2/p a = dv/dtThe...
  16. E

    Can a Stone Remain in Circular Motion if Tension Equals Zero Before Velocity?

    Let's say I have a stone tied to a string and I'm spinning it vertically. Now, if I provide an initial velocity such that the velocity of the stone = 0 at an angle greater than 0 from the horizontal(visualize it in the "first quadrant") the eq of motion would be: T+mgsin (theta) = mv^2/r. If the...
  17. diazdaiz

    Kinematics and dynamic circular motion of conical pendulum

    Homework Statement [/B] find the period with only using L (for the long of the rope), R (for the radius), M (for the mass), and G (for the gravity) Homework Equations V=ωR Fcentripetal = ##\frac {MV^2} {R}## Fgravity = MG phytagoras basic trigonometry The Attempt at a Solution [/B] i have...
  18. physea

    Normal reaction in banked road circular motion

    Homework Statement Homework Equations ΣF=0 The Attempt at a Solution Basically I don't agree with this solution, I think it is R1 + R2 - mgcos5 + mv^2sin5/r = 0. Can you help me please? thanks!
  19. physea

    Normal reaction in banked road circular motion problem

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  20. RoboNerd

    Question on finding maximum magnitude of acceleration

    Homework Statement An object is moving in the xy-plane according to the equations x(t) = 3sin(3t) and y(t) = 4cos(3t). What is the maximum magnitude of the particle's acceleration? 1) 5 m/s22) 15 m/s23) 30 m/s24) 36 m/s2 [the accepted answer]5) 45 m/s2 Homework Equations x(t) =...
  21. RoboNerd

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    Homework Statement An object is in uniform circular horizontal motion at the end of a chord of length L. Its tangential speed is v. The chord is pulled into length 0.5L in such a way that the tension in the chord remains constant. As a result, the tangential speed: a) remains constant b)...
  22. RoboNerd

    Question kinetic energy in circular motion

    Homework Statement An object moves in uniform circular motion. Its kinetic energy is directly proportional to: I. centripetal force II. radius of the circle III. the period of circular motion Homework Equations I took the universal gravitational law G* m1 * m2 /r^2 = m2 * v^2/r and then I...
  23. UMath1

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  24. RoboNerd

    Question about circular motion of planets

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  25. A

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    Homework Statement He is running around a running track training for a 400m race. His velocity is 5.11m/s around the circular end of the track, which has a radius of 31.8m. I'm trying to find his acceleration which I know is 0.821ms-2 but I can't find out how to get it. Homework Equations v=rω...
  26. BiGyElLoWhAt

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  27. sushichan

    [Mechanics] Circular motion outside sphere

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  28. L

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  29. Oribe Yasuna

    Circular Motion in a Simple Mass Spectrometer

    Homework Statement In the simple mass spectrometer shown in the figure below, positive ions are generated in the ion source. They are released, traveling at very low speed, into the region between two accelerating plates between which there is a potential difference ΔV. In the shaded region...
  30. Abhijeet Verma

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    Since the latex is not appearing, I request you to please click https://brilliant.org/discussions/thread/time-period-of-vertical-circular-motion/ , to view with complete formatting. Please help. Thanks. P.S-This is not schoolwork or homework...
  31. popo

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    Hi, thanks for taking a look! A toy train rolls around a horizontal 1.4-m-diameter track. The coefficient of rolling friction is 0.12. (a) What is the magnitude of the train's angular acceleration after it is released? (b) How long does it take the train to stop if it's released with an...
  32. S

    Horizontal circular motion problem, what am doing wrong?

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  33. D

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    Homework Statement A roller coaster at the Six Flags Great America amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois, incorporates some clever design technology and some basic physics. Each vertical loop, instead of being circular, is shaped like a teardrop. The cars ride on the inside of the loop at the top...
  34. T

    Find the time for the string to break

    Hi all! I am currently working on an assignment for my dynamics course in which we need to create our own "real world" problems. I chose to do a problem which would solve the time at which the string of a lanyard would break when it is swung in a circle. My problem is with my end numbers. They...
  35. Neeps

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  36. R

    Uniform circular motion - finding velocity

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  37. Nikki1357

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  38. K

    Circular Motion and Energy Calculations

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  39. M

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  40. P

    Circular motion and acceleration

    If you are twirling a rock around your head with a rope (assuming it is uniform circular motion), then the only acceleration that is acting is radial. So if you take a look at the rock at any given instant, its velocity is perpendicular to its acceleration. My question is, why does the rock not...
  41. Dietrichw

    Projectile and Uniform Circular Motion

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  42. Priyadarshini

    Circular Motion and resultant force

    Homework Statement Homework Equations F= mv^2/r v = angular vel* r The Attempt at a Solution resultant force= ma-frictional force = mv^2/r - mg*meu = (angular vel)^2mx - mg*meu But then how do I get the angular speed when I don;2 know the resultant...
  43. NihalRi

    Circular motion , the loop the loop

    Homework Statement The loop-the-loop machine has radius R of 18m (a) What is the minimum speed at which a cart must travel so that it will safety loop the loop (b) what will the speed at the top be in this case Homework Equations Centipetal force = m*v^2/r Kinetic and potential energies =...
  44. S

    Equation for Simple Harmonic Motion?

    In Simple Harmonic Motion, can (k/m) = ω2 be expressed for all SHMs or only the ones in which the mass due to which the SHM is being executed is performing a circular motion? Since for example, in the case of spring, there is no circular motion involved, so omega should not be defined for...
  45. RoboNerd

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    Homework Statement If a roller coaster car enters the circular-loop portion of the ride and navigates it successfully, then the net force on the car at its topmost point is straight down. Then why does not the car fall down? So I am having issues understanding my textbook's solution to the...
  46. M

    Roller coaster - uniform circular motion

    Hi, I have been studying up on circular motion in the vertical plane and I am happy with all the math/theory that I have read explaining the normal force and weight force and the feeling of being "heavier" and "lighter". My question is about the top of the hill/ride, The forces acting on you at...
  47. K

    How Does Pulling the String Affect the Speed of a Ball in Circular Motion?

    Homework Statement Ball of mass=m on the frictionless table is connected to a string that passes in hole that is in table. The ball is set into a circular motion on a circle of radius = R. If the string pulled from the bottom, withe the force F, so that the radius of motion of ball would...
  48. D

    Calculating Revolutions for a Spinning Wheel | Circular Motion Problem

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  49. C

    How to Calculate Average Velocity on a Circular Track?

    Homework Statement A car travels on a circular track at 20m/s. The track has a circumference of 2.0km. What is the average velocity of the car over one lap? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Since the car is traveling at a constant speed of 20m/s, wouldn't the average velocity be...
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