Question

What is the difference between uniform circular motion and Non-uniform circular motion? Give examples.

Answer 1

Hint:Recall the concept of circular motion of an object. Also, recall the basic condition for the circular motion of an object to be uniform or non-uniform and hence the given the definition of these two motions using this condition. Depending on these conditions, give the examples of uniform and non-uniform circular motion.

Complete answer:
-The motion of an object along the circumference of a circle in which the speed of the object is constant throughout the motion of the object is known as uniform circular motion of the object.
-The motion of an object along the circumference of a circle in which the speed of the object is variable with time throughout the motion of the object is known as non-uniform circular motion of the object.
-The angular acceleration in uniform circular motion is zero but non-zero in non-uniform circular motion.
-The motion of the Earth around the Sun is an example of uniform circular motion.
-The vertical circular motion of an object in the vertical plane is an example of non-uniform circular motion.
-The work done by the tangential force on an object in uniform circular motion is zero but is non-zero for the object in non-uniform circular motion.

Additional information:
Circular motion is described as a movement of an object while rotating along a circular path. Circular motion can be either uniform or non-uniform. During uniform circular motion the angular rate of rotation and speed will be constant while during non-uniform motion the rate of rotation keeps changing.

A particle is said to execute circular motion when it moves along the circumference of a circular path. An important aspect of circular motion is that the direction of motion is changing continuously unlike in the case of linear motion. Hence circular motion can also be described in terms of angular variables.

Note: While defining the uniform circular motion, the students should keep in mind that the speed of the object in circular motion is constant and not the velocity of the object. This is because the direction of motion of an object is changing continuously. So, the velocity of the object in circular motion can never be constant.