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 | The rings that surround the planet Saturn is a very good example of a circular motion |
CIRCULAR MOTION
With the subject of motion in more than one dimension broached, we can consider things other than simple linear motion. For example, many types of motion involve curved paths rather than linear ones. We have already seen one example in the parabolic shape of the trajectory of an object in free-fall. Another example is simply the motion of an object in a circular path. This includes motions as diverse as cars on a Ferris wheel to satellites in orbit around the earth. This kind of motion is somewhat special in that the object of interest maintains a constant speed as it goes around the circle (i.e. the magnitude of its velocity doesn't change.) However, the direction of the velocity does have to change continuously to maintain the circular path. Whenever the velocity magnitude, direction, or both is changed, there must be a non-zero acceleration acting to change the
motion.
An object that is in uniform circulation, will have a constant speed. For example, if a car is going around a circular track, at a uniformed rate of 90 km/h (55mi/h) had a constant speed. However, the velocity (speed+direction) of the car will not be constant, because the velocity in continually changing direction. Since there is a change in velocity, there is an acceleration.
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