04/04/2024, 20:32 Topic 6: Circular motion and gravitation – IB Physics

IB PHYSICS

Topic 6: Circular motion and gravitation

See the guide for this topic.

6.1 – Circular motion

Period, frequency, angular displacement and angular

velocity

Uniform circular motion refers to circular motion at constant speed.

In a uniform circular motion, speed is constant while (angular) velocity and (angular) acceleration
are constantly changing.

While the magnitude of its velocity remains constant, the direction of its velocity is constantly
changing.
The acceleration causing this change in velocity is always directed towards the center of the
circular path.

The period is the time taken for the object to complete one full circle and is usually calculated in
seconds. The frequency can be calculated by 1/period and is usually measured in Hz.

Centripetal force

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Centripetal force is the corresponding force (resultant force) which causes the centripetal
acceleration.

Properties:

Direction: Pointing towards the center of the circle / perpendicular to the instantaneous
velocity
Magnitude:

Work done by centripetal force = 0

Centripetal force is not a type of force; rather, it is just the name we give to the net force
causing a circular motion. For example:

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Centripetal acceleration

The acceleration which gives rise to a circular motion is called the centripetal acceleration. Its
magnitude is given by

It is directed towards the center of the circular motion and is perpendicular to the instantaneous
velocity of the object.

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6.2 – Newton’s law of gravitation

Newton’s law of gravitation

The gravitational force between two objects can be calculated using Newton’s universal law of
gravitation

Gravitational field strength

The gravitational field strength at a point is the force per unit mass experienced by a test mass at
that point.

The gravitational field strength (g) due to an object is given by

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Gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet

The gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet can be calculated by using the
equation for gravitational field strength and substituting M and r by the mass and the radius
of the planet respectively.
If we calculate the gravitational field strength at the surface of the Each using the mass and
the radius of the Earth, we would obtain the value 9.81m/s^2, which is equal to the
acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Earth.
Different planets have different radii and masses. Consequently, different planets have
different gravitational field strengths.

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