Circular Motion Flashcards
What is centripetal force?
a force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed towards the centre around which the body is moving.
How can an object in circular motion travel at a constant speed yet be accelerating?
The speed of an object in circular motion is constant, but the velocity vector is constantly changing, not in maginiude but in direction. This constantly changing velocity means that the object is accelerating (centripetal acceleration).
Where does the centripetal force come from?
an external force, such as the hand holding the string or the friction at a cars wheels as it goes around a corner.
What causes this centripetal acceleration?
the centripetal force. (in accordance with Newtons second law F = ma, an object experiencing an acceleration must also experience a force).
what direction is the acceleration, centripetal force, and velocity vector?
acceleration and centripetal force are directed radially toward the centre of the circle. The velocity vector is 90 degrees to the tangent of the centripetal force, in the direction of movement.
What happens when there is no longer a centripetal force? (aka there is no firction holding the car anymore, or the hand has let go fo the rope).
Since there is no longer a centripetal force, there is also no centripetal acceleration and the object will move in the direction of the velocity vector (tangential to the centripetal force).
What is the final equation for finding centripetal force, Fc?
Fc = m2”pi”r^3 / t (F = ma = mv^2 / r)
How can you find different values in centripetal motion? (Radius, force, acceleration etc.)
Rearranging or inputting values, putting formulas into each other.
