Circular Motion and Centripetal Force
Helpful before this lesson
- Not completed: Acceleration
- Not completed: Force and Net Force
- Not completed: Newton's Second Law of Motion
- Not completed: Velocity
These topics can make this lesson easier, but you can start now.
Learning Objectives
- Students will understand circular motion and centripetal acceleration
- Students will calculate centripetal force required for circular motion
- Students will apply circular motion concepts to real phenomena
Core Concepts
- Centripetal acceleration: acceleration toward center of circle
- a_c = v²/r relationship
- F_c = mv²/r (centripetal force)