Lecture 5: Circular Motion - Centrifuges Moving - Reference Frames - Perceived Gravity
recorded by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT
published: Oct. 10, 2008, recorded: September 1999, views: 65356
released under terms of: Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike (CC-BY-NC-SA)
See Also:
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec05_01.m4v (Video - generic video source 109.2 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec05_01.rm (Video - generic video source 110.8 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec05_01.flv (Video 109.9 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec05_01_352x240_h264.mp4 (Video 152.2 MB)
Download mit801f99_lewin_lec05_01.wmv (Video 435.7 MB)
Download subtitles: TT/XML,
RT,
SRT
Related content
Report a problem or upload files
If you have found a problem with this lecture or would like to send us extra material, articles, exercises, etc., please use our ticket system to describe your request and upload the data.Enter your e-mail into the 'Cc' field, and we will keep you updated with your request's status.
Description
>>PLEASE TAKE A QUICK SURVEY<<
1. Uniform Circular Motion and Centripetal Acceleration:
A particle travels in a circle of radius r with constant speed. The period of one rotation is T (sec); the frequency is f (the number of rotations/sec or Hz), omega is the angular velocity (radians/sec), omega=2pi/T, the speed v= omega*r. The velocity vector is constantly changing direction because of the centripetal acceleration (=v^2/r= omega^2*r). The centripetal acceleration for the rotor of a vacuum cleaner is estimated to be about 400 m/sec^2 which is 40 times larger than g. Note that the centripetal acceleration depends linearly on the radius.
2. There Must be a Pull or a Push:
Sitting on a chair bolted to a fast-rotating turntable, you'll feel a push in your back. Alternatively if you stand on the turntable and you hold onto a post mounted on the table, you will experience a pull in your arms. This pull or push is responsible for the change in velocity (centripetal acceleration).
3. What Happens if there is no Pull or Push?
Your velocity will not change. Thus you move along a straight line with constant speed.
4. Motion of Planets around the Sun:
The gravitational pull provides the centripetal acceleration which is inversely proportional to the distance squared.
5. Swirling Objects Around:
The idea behind a centrifuge and salad spinners.
6. Creating Artificial Gravity via Rotation:
Professor Lewin gives several examples of "perceived" gravity. A space station could rotate such that an astronaut perceives an Earth-like acceleration of 10 m/s^2. However, the direction will be changing all the time!
7. A Centrifuge in Action:
A glass tube filled with a liquid solution with fine particles is spun around in a standard laboratory centrifuge. The acceleration is about 20,000 m/s^2. Thus the particles perceive a "gravitational" force about 2000 times larger than normal, and they "fall" in the direction of this huge "gravitational field". Professor Lewin demonstrates this, mixing NaCl+AgNO_3 => NaNO_3+AgCl; this produces a milky solution. After spinning for a few minutes, the AgCl has precipitated at the end of the glass tube, and the remaining solution has become clear.
8. Swinging a Bucket of Water on a String:
In order to swirl a bucket around in a vertical plane, a centripetal acceleration is required. If you spin fast enough the water will stay in the bucket as the bucket is upside down. To be on the safe side ... bring an umbrella to class!
Link this page
Would you like to put a link to this lecture on your homepage?Go ahead! Copy the HTML snippet !
Reviews and comments:
I want physics video lessons
Great lecture! Outstanding demonstrations. I wish my physics classes in college were this good. I'm sending this link to my daughter.
Another outstanding lecture. I have so much respect for Professor Lewin. Great style of introducing new concepts and reinforcing ideas.
God bless professor Lewin, his lectures are obviously inspired and driven by his love for his subject and his students. I feel cheated that I did not have such an instructor when I took physics.
I realy want a professor like him
Nice one, i'm fortunate to come across this. It is indeed a great one.
God bless professor Lewin.
i like the way of teaching of lewin sir.very good demonstration of practical indeed matchless
hi. could you send me all videos of walter lewing in my email thank you very much
Hi all!
We have translated this entire course for you from English into 11 languages.
Check this video and give us some feedback in this short survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6DMBC3Q
Write your own review or comment: