What happens to circular motion when the radius changes?

In summary, when the radius of circular motion increases, the centripetal acceleration decreases, while the centrifugal acceleration increases. This is important for objects, like a toy car, to successfully complete a loop. The equations for centripetal acceleration involve velocity and radius. In uniform circular motion, there is constant energy. To speed up a spin, an ice skater will bring their arms closer to their body, reducing their radius and increasing their angular velocity.
  • #1
pharaoh
49
0
what will happen in circular motion if the radius increase, and if it decrease.

what effects and causes that will make an abject successfuly complete its circular motion in increasing radius (like car toy loop)

for the first question my answer is if the radius increase the centrpetal acceleration will get smaller and if the radius decrease the centrpetal acceleration will get bigger. but i don't know what roll does the centrpetal acceleration have on circular motion.
 
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  • #2
It's the centrifugal force (the reaction to the centripetal force) that enables the toy car to complete the loop. The centrifugal acceleration also increases when the radius of the circular motion decreases. So if the vectorial sum of the gravitational and the centrifugal acceleration doesn't point away from the "road" then the toy car will complete the loop.
 
  • #3
What are the equations for centripital acceleration (in terms of omega or velocity)? What is the energy in uniform circular motion? What does an ice skater do in a spin to speed up the spin?
 
  • #4
the formula that i know is centripetal acceleration (Ac)=v^2/r
 

FAQ: What happens to circular motion when the radius changes?

What is circular motion?

Circular motion is a type of motion in which an object moves in a circular path around a fixed point. This type of motion is characterized by a constant speed and a changing direction.

What are the factors that affect circular motion?

The factors that affect circular motion include the mass of the object, the radius of the circular path, and the speed of the object. These factors determine the amount of centripetal force needed to maintain the circular motion.

How is circular motion different from linear motion?

Circular motion differs from linear motion in that it involves a change in direction, while linear motion involves a change in speed or distance. In circular motion, the velocity vector is constantly changing, while in linear motion, the velocity vector remains constant.

What is centripetal force and how does it relate to circular motion?

Centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path. It is always directed towards the center of the circle and is necessary to maintain circular motion. Without centripetal force, an object would continue to move in a straight line.

What are some real-life examples of circular motion?

Some real-life examples of circular motion include the movement of planets around the sun, the rotation of a Ferris wheel, and the motion of a satellite in orbit around the Earth. Other examples include the circular motion of a ball in a game of basketball or the motion of a car around a curved track.

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