I have a question about UCM, as I am studying it in my Physics course. I understand that Non-UCM experiences a tangential acceleration component, which is the result of changing speed along its circular path.
My textbook gives an example of this in the form of a pendulum, which is given tangential acceleration when it rotates in a vertical plane due to the acceleration from gravity.
This makes sense to me. However, what doesn't make sense to me is a scenario under UCM, in which gravity does not affect tangential acceleration – because in UCM, tangential acceleration must equal zero. So is UCM just a fictitious scenario, or can circular motion really appear on Earth and experience a tangential acceleration of zero?
Thanks.
Best Answer
One example was already mentioned - a spinning wheel. Just a few more examples crucial for industry and everyday life: parts of car engines, such as shafts and axles, rotating parts of pumps and compressors, such as impellers and turbines, airplane engine turbines, rotors of electric motors - points of all these parts often rotate in vertical planes. Gyroscopes are another example, where rotation can take place in any plane. Let me note that balancing rotating parts of such equipment is often an extremely challenging task for high rotation speed.