Circular Motion & Universal Gravitation

Front

What is circular motion?

Back

Circular motion is the motion of an object that moves along a circular path. It can be uniform (constant speed) or non-uniform (changing speed).

Front

Define centripetal force.

Back

Centripetal force is the net force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle.

Front

What is the law of universal gravitation?

Back

The law of universal gravitation states that every mass attracts every other mass with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

Front

What is the formula for gravitational force?

Back

F = G * (m1 * m2) / r^2, where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses, and r is the distance between the centers of the two masses.

Front

What does 'center seeking' refer to in physics?

Back

'Center seeking' refers to the concept of centripetal force, which is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path.

Front

Why does the Moon not fall to Earth?

Back

The Moon does not fall to Earth because it is moving fast enough to maintain a circular orbit, balancing the gravitational pull from Earth.

Front

How does distance affect gravitational force?

Back

Gravitational force decreases as the distance between two masses increases, following an inverse square relationship.

Front

What happens to gravitational force if the distance is tripled?

Back

If the distance between two masses is tripled, the gravitational force becomes one-ninth (1/9) of the original force.

Front

What is the difference between centrifugal and centripetal forces?

Back

Centrifugal force is an apparent force that acts outward on a body moving in a circular path, while centripetal force is the real force that acts inward towards the center.

Front

What is uniform circular motion?

Back

Uniform circular motion is the motion of an object traveling at a constant speed along a circular path.