Circular motion is when an object moves around a circle, with an internal force called centripetal force. Uniform motion is constant, while non-uniform varies in speed and distance from the center. Examples include a Ferris wheel and roller coasters.
In the field of physics, circular motion is a term that defines the motion of an object in a rotating manner. In this motion, an object moves around a circle, like planets moving around the Sun in each of their orbits. The object also moves around its center an equal distance, but accelerates as it spins to maintain a circular motion.
An important element that makes circular motion possible is an internal force; this is also called centripetal force. According to Newton’s law of motion, an object generally requires some force acting on it for the object to move, accelerate, and react. In circular motion, the absence of centripetal force will cause the object to move only in a straight line because there is nothing pulling the object inward. For example, a pebble tied to a string can be swung continuously because the string pulls the pebble towards the center. The pebble falls straight to the ground, however, when the string is cut.
A circular motion has two types: uniform and non-uniform. In uniform motion, the object moves at a constant speed. This doesn’t take into account the speed of the object, which is the change in speed or direction, because a rotating object always changes direction.
Non-uniform circular motion, on the other hand, causes an object to move at varying speeds. The distance between the object and the center of the sphere also changes. The speed of the object will increase if the distance is smaller, while a greater distance slows down the rotation of the object. For example, the pebble attached to the string will spin faster if the string is shorter, but spin slower if the string is longer. This is because the force acting on the object becomes weaker or stronger when the distance is greater or lesser, respectively.
Everyday situations in which uniform and non-uniform circular movements are applied can be found in the rides of a carnival. A Ferris wheel travels with uniform motion because the wheel moves at a constant speed and maintains the same distance from the center. Roller coasters, on the other hand, are a good example of uneven motion, where the carts rise more slowly than they are falling. The size of the circles along which the chariots travel also takes into account the change in speed.
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