AP Physics with Hansenator - Circular Motion and Gravitation

Circular Motion

We are not only going to talk about the motion in this lesson, but also the forces associated with the motion. There is certain geometry about circles that you need as well as a basic knowledge of Kinematics, so study up folks!

Today's Equations

Circles

Kinematics

Circular Motion

Gravitation

Kepler's Third Law

Many Examples

• Assume the moon orbits the Earth in a circular orbit with a radius of 3.84x10^8 meters. It takes 27.3 days to make a full orbit. What is the centripetal acceleration of the moon?
  
• A car is driven around a circular track with a radius of 3.5 meters at a speed of 15 km/h. (a) What is the force on an .18-kilogram object in the car? (b) When the car is headed due North, the object is thrown out of the car upward with a speed of 5.0 m/s from the car (no longer acted on by the car). Where must a person be to catch this ball, if it was thrown from the same distance from the ground it was thrown?
  (a)
  (b)
• A bicycle rides around a rounded track at a speed of 12.67 m/s. The radius of the track is 60.0 m. What is the centripetal acceleration of the car?
  
• Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, has a mean orbital radius of 1.22x10^9 m. The orbital period (T) of Titan is 15.95 days. Hyperion, another moon, orbits at a mean radius of 1.48x10^9 m. Use Kepler's third law of planetary motion to predict the orbital period of Hyperion in days.
  
• Two identical bowling balls are placed 1.0 m apart. The gravitational force between them is 3.084*10^-9 Newtons. (a) Find the mass of the bowling balls. (b) Compare the weight of the first ball with the gravitational force of the second ball.
  (a)
  (b)
  

"Example isn't another way to teach, it's the only way to teach" - Einstein. Thank you for your views Steemers! The support is much appreciated! Learn much and best wishes! Your pal ~ hansenator

Reference: Zitzewitz, Paul W. Physics: Principles and Problems. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2009.