Uniform Circular Motion Background theory?

[antonio1997]

Hi Guys, new poster here.

I am currently doing a practical report on Uniform Circular Motion, where we had to swing a rubber stopper around attached to a length of string and mass.

I have to do a write up, including the background theory. I have searched everywhere but I have found no clear answers as to when the equations involved, such as a = v^2/r and F = mv^2/r, were discovered and derived. I am pretty sure Newton plays a big part, but I only find his 3 laws.

Please help :D

 

[Simon Bridge]

Welcome to PF;
Are you sure "background theory" means the historical background?

Have you tried googling for "history circular motion"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_classical_mechanics
... anyway, the reference you want is: Newton I. (1687) Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
The key background point is from Newton's laws of motion - look carefull at how the first applies to uniform circular motion. iirc PNPM has a derivation of centripetal force.

Apparently following from Huygens C. (1673) ... but cannot find the publication.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Huygens