9. Circular Motion Kinematics

• Course Home
• Syllabus
• Introduction to Mechanics

  • 1. Units and Dimensional Analysis
  • 2. Problem Solving and Estimation
• Mathematics: The Language of Science

  • 3. Cartesian Coordinates and Vectors
• Translational Kinematics

  • 4. One-Dimensional Kinematics and Free Fall
  • 5. One-Dimensional Kinematics: Non-Constant Acceleration
  • 6. Two-Dimensional Kinematics
• Force and Newton's Laws of Motion

  • 7. Concept of Force
  • 8. Applications of Newton's Second Law
• Circular Motion

  • 9. Circular Motion Kinematics
  • 10. Circular Motion Dynamics
• Conservation of Energy

  • 11. Work and Energy
  • 12. Work and the Dot Product
  • 13. Potential Energy
  • 14. Application of Energy Conservation
  • 15. Mechanical Energy and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator
• Momentum

  • 16. Momentum and Impulse
  • 17. Systems, Center of Mass, and Conservation of Momentum
  • 18. Collision Theory
  • 19. Continuous Mass Flow
• Two-Dimensional Rotational Motion

  • 20. Two-Dimensional Rotational Kinematics
  • 21. Two-Dimensional Rotational Dynamics
  • 22. Torque and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator
  • 23. Static Equilibrium
• Angular Momentum

  • 24. Angular Momentum
  • 25. Conservation of Angular Momentum
• Rotation and Translation

  • 26. Two-Dimensional Rotation and Translation Kinematics
  • 27. Two-Dimensional Rotation and Translation Dynamics
• Central Force Motion

  • 28. Central Force Motion and the Kepler Problem
• Download Course Materials

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Learning Objectives

• Describe the kinematic quantities that describe the circular motion of an object.
• Be able to explain the meaning of analytic expressions for those kinematic quantities. using various physical quantities.
• Be able to explain the direction and magnitude of the acceleration of an object moving in a circle.
• Explain the direction and magnitude of acceleration of an object moving in a circle by vector subtraction of velocities.
• Be able to describe the motion of an object moving in a circular path using appropriate models: constant speed model or non-constant speed model.
• Constant speed model: Be able to describe the direction and magnitude of acceleration of an object moving at constant speed (v) in a circle.
• Non-constant speed model: Be able to describe the tangential component of the acceleration of an object moving in a circle with changing speed.

Preparation

Course Notes

Notes: Uniform Circular Motion (PDF - 4.5MB)

Suggested Textbook Reading (Optional)

Chapter 3.4. Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky's University Physics: with Modern Physics. 12th ed. San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley, 2007. ISBN: 9780805321876.

Lecture Video

Video Excerpts

Learning Activities

Guided Activities

Read through the class slides carefully. They explain all of the concepts from the module.

Slides: Circular Motion Kinematics (PDF - 1.7MB)

Self-Assessment

Do the Concept Questions first to make sure you understand the main concepts from this module. Then, when you are ready, try the Challenge Problems. If you are struggling with the Challenge Problems, watch the Homework Help Session videos, which will give you tips on how to tackle problems of this type.

Concept Questions

Concept Questions (PDF)

Solutions (PDF)

Challenge Problems

Challenge Problems (PDF)

Solutions (PDF - 1.3MB)

Problem Solving Help

In the following videos Prof. Walter Lewin explains how to approach the Challenge Problems.

Help Session 1

{'English - US': '/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/circular-motion/circular-motion-kinematics/help-session-1/U-k3m4cZKS0.srt'}

Help Session 2

{'English - US': '/courses/physics/8-01sc-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-2010/circular-motion/circular-motion-kinematics/help-session-2/ZUK8drpO4YY.srt'}

Related Resources

There are countless resources available online to help you learn physics. Try these:

• Try out the Ladybug Revolution interactive simulation from PhET.
• Read about circular motion and rotational kinematics on Connexions.
• Learn about circular motion and rotational quantities from HyperPhysics at Georgia State University.

 

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