A plumb bob does not hang exactly along a line directed to the centre of the Earth's rotation. How much does the plumb bob deviate from a radial line at 35 degrees north latitude?
Doc Al said:Here's a hint: If the Earth weren't rotating, the plumb bob would point straight towards the Earth's center. Furthermore the bob would be in equilibrium. But, alas, the Earth rotates. Thus the bob is accelerating towards its axis of rotation. Figure out that acceleration and then apply Newton's 2nd law to find the angle that the bob must hang.
Circular motion is the movement of an object along a circular path around a fixed point or axis. This motion is characterized by a constant speed and a change in direction, as the object continuously moves in a circular pattern.
The two main forces involved in circular motion are centripetal force and centrifugal force. Centripetal force, directed towards the center of the circle, is responsible for keeping the object moving along the circular path. Centrifugal force, directed away from the center, is a perceived force that results from the object's inertia wanting to continue moving in a straight line.
Circular motion and linear motion are different in terms of the path of the object. Linear motion involves movement in a straight line, while circular motion involves movement along a curved path. Additionally, the forces involved in circular motion are different from those in linear motion.
In circular motion, the speed of the object is directly proportional to the radius of the circle. This means that as the radius increases, the speed also increases, and vice versa. This relationship is described by the equation v = ωr, where v is the speed, ω is the angular velocity, and r is the radius.
Circular motion is present in many aspects of everyday life. For example, the Earth's rotation around the sun, the movement of a Ferris wheel, and the swinging of a pendulum are all examples of circular motion. Understanding circular motion can also help explain concepts such as gravity and orbits in the solar system.