Why is 'the velocity' in circular motion changing?

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In circular motion, velocity is not constant because it is a vector that includes both speed and direction, and any change in direction alters the velocity. Even if speed remains constant, changing direction results in a different velocity, as demonstrated by a car driving in a circle at a constant speed. For example, an airplane flying north at 100 mph has a different velocity when it turns south, despite maintaining the same speed. The change in velocity implies acceleration, which is present in uniform circular motion due to the continuous change in direction. Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping the principles of motion in physics.
Medicalboy
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Why is the velocity in circular motion changing, why not constant?
 
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Because velocity is a vector that has direction. The direction is changing so the vector is changing.
 
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Velocity is a vector that has components speed and direction.

Change speed or direction and velocity changes.

In addition any change to velocity implies an acceleration.
 
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CWatters said:
Velocity is a vector that has components speed and direction.

Change speed or direction and velocity changes.

In addition any change to velocity implies an acceleration.
As you said above 'Change speed or direction and velocity changes.
So, in constant speed or velocity, we can not change direction or If we change direction, the velocity would change? say, If we drive a car at a constant speed (40km/hr), can't we change the direction?
 
Medicalboy said:
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If we drive a car at a constant speed (40km/hr), can't we change the direction?
Certainly we can. And doing so will change the velocity.
 
A constant speed does not imply a constant direction (Because speed does not have a direction component).

Velocity has components speed and direction. Constant velocity implies both components are constant.

So a car driving in a circle can have a constant speed but not a constant velocity.
 
Consider an aeroplane flying north at 100mph. It's speed is 100mph. It's velocity is 100mph North.

If it turns around and heads South at 100mph it's speed is still 100mph. It's velocity has changed to 100mph South.
 
Medicalboy said:
Why is the velocity in circular motion changing, why not constant?

Draw an arrow representing the velocity of a particle and label it ##\vec{v}_1##. Then do it again, some time ##\Delta t## later, for that same particle and label it ##\vec{v}_2##. If the particle is moving with uniform circular motion your two arrows have the same length. But in general they point in different directions. Can you now draw on your diagram an arrow representing ##\Delta\vec{v}## such that ##\vec{v}_1+\Delta \vec{v}=\vec{v}_2##.

If you can see why ##\Delta \vec{v}## is not zero then you have shown that the acceleration ##\vec{a}## cannot be zero since ##\vec{a}\approx\frac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t}## for small ##\Delta t##.

You can see diagrams illustrating this, accompanied by explanation, in any introductory physics textbook. If the one you see is not to your liking, find a different textbook. There are lots of them out there, many of them are free.
 
Medicalboy said:
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As you said above 'Change speed or direction and velocity changes.
So, in constant speed or velocity, we can not change direction or If we change direction, the velocity would change? say, If we drive a car at a constant speed (40km/hr), can't we change the direction?
Say you are driving your car and your GPS indicates that you are going North at 40 km/h. If you do something so that the 40 km/h changes or the "North" changes, then you velocity has changed.
 
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