Lesson 498 of 1524
Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation
The units of angular velocity are radians per second (rad/s).
Practice this chapterThe units of angular velocity are radians per second (rad/s). The rotation angle Δ θ is defined as the ratio of the arc length to the radius of curvature: Δ θ = Δ s r , where arc length Δ s is distance traveled along a circular path and r is the radius of curvature of the…
The quantity Δ θ is measured in units of radians (rad), for which 2π rad = 360º = 1 revolution Centripetal acceleration a c is the acceleration experienced while in uniform circular motion.
uniform circular motion — the motion of an object in a circular path at constant speed. rotation angle — the ratio of the arc length to the radius of curvature on a circular path: Δ θ = Δ s r. angular velocity — ω , the rate of change of the angle with which an object moves on a circular path. centripetal acceleration — the acceleration of an object moving in a circle, directed toward the center.
Worked example
What does “uniform circular motion” mean in Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation?
- 1Use the wording this chapter gives for uniform circular motion.
- 2The book says: the motion of an object in a circular path at constant speed.
- 3Do not use the meaning of rotation angle. That term means the ratio of the arc length to the radius of curvature on a circular path: Δ θ = Δ s r.
Result: the motion of an object in a circular path at constant speed
Why. That is the meaning this chapter gives for uniform circular motion.
Do not swap uniform circular motion and rotation angle. uniform circular motion means the motion of an object in a circular path at constant speed. rotation angle means the ratio of the arc length to the radius of curvature on a circular path: Δ θ = Δ s r.
Practice margin
This chapter
A fresh set from this chapter only. Choose 10 or 20. Multiple choice and fill-in, with no repeat inside the set.