Velocity And Acceleration In Circular Motion

Ever wondered what velocity does the Earth has in revolving around the sun? Or what can be the acceleration of your car finishing a roundabout? Every circular motion has three interlinked concepts. It is the speed, velocity, and acceleration. In a way, the velocity and acceleration make the circular motion measurable.

Motion stands for any kind of movement made by the object in due course of time. The velocity and acceleration of a particle or object in a circular motion help differentiate what kind of circular motion is. These velocity and acceleration notes will explore more on it. 

Before we understand what is the velocity and acceleration of a particle in a circular motion, we have to start from the basics. We will first know what circular motion is and the kinds of circular motions. We will then proceed to know the velocity and acceleration of particles in a circular motion.

What Is Circular Motion?

Circular motion is a motion that involves the object moving across a circular pathway. It is the measurement of the motion that revolves around the circumference of any circular path. Circular motion can be observed in our day-to-day life. Right from our throwing balls to the rotation of Earth from day to night, circular motion is everywhere. 

More specific examples of circular motion can be from various fields. The satellite that orbits around the Earth is in a circular motion. The planet’s rotation in the solar system is one more example of defining motion circularly. With this, the magnetic field, mechanical equipment, and various other objects exert circular motion. 

Circular motion can be classified into two kinds: uniform circular motion and non-uniform circular motion. Let us understand what these are. 

Types Of Circular Motion

Circular motion is of two types. This distinction of the circular motion is based on the uniformity of the circular motion. These are explained below.

• Uniform Circular Motion

When the object’s movement on the circular path is constant, it is known as uniform circular motion. In this type of circular motion, the object travels in a circular movement. The circular movement is constant, and it remains unchanged till the completion period or when it is stopped. 

A common example that exhibits uniform circular motion is the movement of the ceiling fans. When a fan is switched on, the blades of the fans will continue the circular motion with the same distance and at a constant speed. No blade of the fan would decrease in speed or surpass the equal distance.

• Non-Uniform Circular Motion

When an object is moving in a circular motion at varied intervals and speeds, it is called non-uniform circular motion. In this form of circular motion, the object is at the identical angle of movement, but the speed and time vary. In a non-uniform circular motion, there is not an entire change in special cases of angular acceleration and tangential acceleration. The angular velocity, however, fluctuates uniformly. 

A common example of non-uniform circular motion is the car jammed in traffic on a circular path. The driver may drive through the path with different acceleration and intervals. If the traffic gets light, the driver may accelerate at a higher speed. However, if the traffic is dense, the driver has to drive with lower velocity and acceleration. 

Velocity And Acceleration In Circular Motion

In the physics world, velocity and acceleration are the driving forces to explain various kinds of motion.  

Velocity refers to the speed at which an object is travelling. For instance, the speed at which the light travels is the velocity of the light. 

Acceleration is defined as the rate at which there are changes in velocity. This includes the changes in reference to speed as well as direction. For instance, if you turn your car and the speed is constant, there is an acceleration in terms of change in direction. 

Velocity and acceleration in circular motion refer the to same. However, in the two types of circular motion, these two determinants vary. Let us know what they are.

Velocity And Acceleration In Uniform Circular Motion

Velocity and acceleration in the case of uniform circular motion remain the same. You may argue that since the object travels in a constant manner, there is no acceleration. However, regardless of the object travelling at a constant speed, it is accelerating as it changes direction constantly. In a uniform circular motion, the velocity or the speed at which the object travels is constant. Acceleration also stays unchanged in a uniform circular motion. 

For example, 

The rotation of the Earth per day takes place in 24 hours. In these 24 hours, we experience day and night. The rotation of the Earth happens uniformly; therefore, the velocity here is constant. Similarly, we may say that the Earth has no acceleration. However, the direction of the Earth changes constantly, and therefore, we experience the day and night per day. 

Velocity And Acceleration In Non-Uniform Circular Motion 

In a non-uniform circular motion, the velocity and acceleration continue to change. This is because the object travels in a circular path with changed intervals and changed speed. Since the object’s speed changes, the velocity also continues to change. The acceleration changes both in turn of speed and direction. However, tangential and angular acceleration remains unchanged in a non-uniform circular motion. 

For example, 

A moving car on a circular pathway will experience different velocities and acceleration. The car might move at a higher velocity and change the acceleration faster if the road is clear. However, in terms of obstructions, the velocity and acceleration would decrease and more time would be required. 

This is how velocity and acceleration affect the circular motion and its kind.

Conclusion 

The above information discusses velocity and acceleration in a circular motion. There is a detailed explanation of velocity and acceleration in different kinds of circular motion. Through these notes on velocity and acceleration, the velocity and acceleration questions can be understood with clarity.