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Force & Uniform Circular Motion
- For something to stay in a circle at a uniform speed, it must have an acceleration constantly pointing in to the center of the circle. The acceleration's magnitude is |→a | = [(| →v |2)/r]. This is called centripetal acceleration.
- To have an acceleration, there must be a force. We know →F = m→a, so we can combine that with our centripetal acceleration formula to get a formula for centripetal force:
F = m | →v|2 r. - The centripetal force on the object always points from the object to the center of the circle.
- Centripetal force must be supplied by something. It must come from something else: a string, the rails of a roller coaster, etc.
- Centripetal force is not a force in and of itself. It is a relationship that must be fulfilled by the net force on an object if the object is to remain in a circle.
Force & Uniform Circular Motion
Lecture Slides are screen-captured images of important points in the lecture. Students can download and print out these lecture slide images to do practice problems as well as take notes while watching the lecture.
- Intro
- Centripetal Force
- Where Does Centripetal Force Come From?
- Centrifugal Force
- Example 1: Part A - Centripetal Force On the Car
- Example 1: Part B - Maximum Speed the Car Can Take the Turn At Without Slipping
- Example 2: A Bucket Full of Water is Spun Around in a Vertical Circle
- Example 3: A Rock is Spun Around in a Vertical Circle

































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