Circular Motion and Gravitation

Our Circular Motion and Gravitation unit represents an effort to apply Newton's laws to the explanation of why objects move in circles. Newton's law of universal gravitation is presented and explained in an effort to explain and analyze the motion of orbiting satellites, including the motion of planets and moons about their central bodies. The set of Video Tutorials below describe all sorts of applications of circular motion principles.

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Velocity and Acceleration

The Centripetal Force Requirement

Inertia and Moving in Circles

Mathematics of Circular Motion

Circular Motion and Newton's Second Law

The Physics of Roller Coasters

The Apple, the Moon, and Universal Gravitation

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

The Value of g

Kepler's Three Laws

Circular Motion Principles for Satellites

Satellite Motion Mathematics

Weightlessness in Orbit