Circular motion is a type of motion in which an object moves in a circular path around a fixed point. This motion can be seen in phenomena such as the orbit of planets around the sun, the rotation of a Ferris wheel, or the swinging of a pendulum.
Circular motion is caused by a force directed towards the center of the circular path. This force is known as the centripetal force, and it is responsible for keeping the object in its circular path.
The speed of an object in circular motion can be calculated using the formula v = 2πr/T, where v is the speed, r is the radius of the circular path, and T is the time it takes for the object to complete one full revolution.
In uniform circular motion, the speed of the object remains constant while its direction changes. In non-uniform circular motion, the speed of the object changes along its path, resulting in a non-uniform circular path.
Circular motion can be explained using Newton's laws of motion. The first law states that an object will continue in its state of motion unless acted upon by an external force, which explains why an object in circular motion continues moving in a circular path. The second law states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration, which is the case for the centripetal force in circular motion. And the third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, which is evident in the centripetal force and the centrifugal force (the force that acts in the opposite direction to the centripetal force).