Uniform circular motion

“When a body moves along a circular path with constant velocity then the motion is called ‘Uniform Circular Motion’ “.

EXAMPLE:

• Motion of satellites.

• Motion of electrons revolving around nucleus.

CENTRIPETAL FORCE:

“The force required to move a body along a circular path is called Centripetal force”.

It always directed towards the center of circular path. It is denoted by $F_c$.

Centripetal force depends on three factors: (i) the velocity of the object “$v$” (ii) the object's distance from the center “$r$” and (iii) the mass of the object “$m$”. It is given by relation:

$\boxed {F_c = m\frac{v^2}{r}}$

The velocity of the object is constant and perpendicular to a line running from the object to the center of the circle.

CENTRIFUGAL FORCE:

“A force that acts outward on a body which moves along a curved path is called centrifugal force”.

• It is always directed away from center of curvature.

• The magnitude of centrifugal force is equal but opposite in direction to centripetal force.