UNDERSTANDING

CIRCULAR MOTION
An exploration of the dynamics and applications
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EXAMPLES

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 In physics, circular motion is a
movement of an object along the
circumference of a circle or
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rotation along a circular arc. It

can be uniform, with a constant
rate of rotation and constant
tangential speed, or non-uniform
with a changing rate of rotation.
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• A stone tied to a string.
• Motion of electron around
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nucleus.
• Rotation of Moon around
Earth.
• A car taking a turn at a
constant speed.
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 • UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION
Uniform circular motion describes the motion of a
body traversing a circular path at a constant speed.
Their velocities are not equal.
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 • NON-UNIFORM CIRCULAR MOTION
In non-uniform circular motion, an object's motion
is along a circle, but the object's speed is not
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constant.
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 • CENTRIPETAL FORCE
Centripetal force is the force that causes an object to
follow a curved or circular path. This force acts towards the
centre and keeps the body moving in a circular path.
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 • CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
Centrifugal force is a pseudo force in a circular
motion which acts along the radius and is directed
away from the centre of the circle.
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 • CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
Centrifugal force is a pseudo force in a circular
motion which acts along the radius and is directed
away from the centre of the circle.
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For better understanding

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of the concept….
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• First law of circular motion
The first law of circular motion
states that an object will continue to
move in a circular path at a constant
speed unless acted upon by an
external force.
• Second law of circular
motion
an object moving in uniform
(constant speed) circular
(constant radius) motion is still
accelerating because it is
constantly changing direction.
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Using Newton's 2nd law, F = ma, we can determine
the mass of the object in uniform circular motion if
we measure the acceleration and the force
responsible.
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