University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Robert Katz Publications Research Papers in Physics and Astronomy 1-1958 Physics, Chapter 6: Circular Motion and Gravitation Henry Semat City College of New York Robert Katz University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/physicskatz Part of the Physics Commons Semat, Henry and Katz, Robert, "Physics, Chapter 6: Circular Motion and Gravitation" (1958). Robert Katz Publications. 146. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/physicskatz/146 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Papers in Physics and Astronomy at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Robert Katz Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 6 Circular Motion and Gravitation 6-1 Circular Motion Our earlier discussion of the kinematics of a particle was developed prin cipally from the point of view of being able to describe that motion easily within a rectangular coordinate system. Thus the most complex case with which we dealt was that of a projectile motion, in which the acceleration was constant and was directed along one of the coordinate axes. A more convenient framework within which to discuss rotational and circular mo tions is provided by a set of polar coordinates. In the present discussion we will restrict ourselves to motion +y in which the polar coordinate r is constant, or fixed; that is, //---- the particle is constrained to /' // move in a circular path. I I I I 6-2 Angular Displacement I I I When a particle is constrained I I \ I +x to move in a circular path, it is \ I \ I convenient to superimpose a \ I \ I , I coordinate system on the mo , I tion so that the x-y plane is in '....