Circular Motion

• Tangential acceleration: Meaning, and uniform vs non-uniform circular motion.
• Centripetal acceleration: Concept, and relationship with speed, a_R = v²/r.
• Frequency and period: Concepts, and relationships between them and with speed,

f = 1/T ,     v = 2r/T .

Gravitation

• Newton's law of gravitation: General form of the force of gravity,

F_G = G m₁m₂/r² .

• Near Earth's surface: Relating Newton's law of gravitation with F_G = mg.
• Gravity in space: Is it zero in an orbiting spacecraft? Why are astronauts "weightless"?
• Gravitational potential energy: In general, not necessarily close to the Earth's surface,

PE_G = –G m₁m₂/r .

Solving Problems

• String tensions and normal forces: Finding how they vary in vertical circular motion.
• Highway curves: Using friction in connection with radial acceleration.
• Gravity: Using vectors to calculate the force of gravity due to various objects.
• Satellite motion: Relating the period of its orbit to the orbit radius and the Earth's mass.