Unit 8 - Fields and Forces

8-1 Centripetal Acceleration and Forces
Inertial Frame of Reference - an object travelling at a constant speed

Non-Inertial Frame of Reference - an object not travelling at a constant speed

Centripetal Force - a force that acts on a orbiting object making it accelerate towards the center

NOTE: NEVER DRAW A CENTRIPETAL FORCE ON A FREE BODY DIAGRAM!!!!!! tHE CENTRIPETAL FORCE IS THE TOTAL NET FORCE ON AN OBJECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

acentripetal = v2/r (centripetal acceleration = velocity2 / radius)

Fcentripetal = mv2/r (centripetal force = mass x velocity2 / radius)

Angular Speed = rads per second

Linear Speed = meters per second