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Circular Motion

Although no real orbit is ever a perfect circle, those of the inner planets aren't too far off and in any case it is a convenient idealization. Besides, we aren't restricted to planetary orbits here; the following derivation applies to any form of uniform circular motion, from tether balls on ropes to motorcycles on a circular track to charged particles in a cyclotron.10.1



 

Jess H. Brewer
1998-10-08