Vedatom Physics Mechanics / Circular Motion
◈ Simulations ▤ Full book
Reading circular motion right
Point the axis at the centre. The acceleration in circular motion is radial — resolve forces along the radius (toward the centre) and along the tangent, never along horizontal/vertical.
Centripetal is a role, not a force. Write ΣFradial = mv²/r and let tension, gravity, friction or the normal fill that role — do not add a separate "centripetal force".
Centrifugal only in a rotating frame. Sitting on the turning body, add the pseudo-force mω²r outward; in the ground frame it does not exist.
Uniform ⇒ speed constant, velocity not. Even at constant speed the direction turns, so there is acceleration v²/r toward the centre.
Speed changing ⇒ add a tangential kick. Then at = dv/dt runs along the path and the true acceleration tilts forward off the radius — see §04.
try the bench below · §01
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§01

Centripetal acceleration — the turning pull

signature bench

Watch the particle circle at steady speed. The velocity always points along the tangent, while the acceleration points dead at the centre — magnitude a = r = ω²r. Change the speed or the radius and read how the pull, the angular speed and the period respond.

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r a v
particle mass m = 1 kg · g not involved
speed v{{ cvVval }} m/s
radius r{{ cvRval }} m
accel a = r
{{ cvAcc }}
ω = vr
{{ cvOmega }}
period T
{{ cvPeriod }}
Uniform circular motion. {{ cvNote }}