Circular Motion

Velocity vs Speed Lab

An object circles at a constant speed. Its speed never changes — yet its velocity changes every instant, because velocity has direction.

velocity displacement Direction: counter-clockwise · |velocity| = speed

Watch the gold arrow: its length (the speed) stays fixed while its direction (the velocity) keeps turning.

4.0 m/s
2.0 m
Core check · constant Speed 4.0m/s
Velocity direction 90°
Centripetal accel. 8.00m/s²
Distance travelled 0.00m
Displacement 0.00m
Period T 3.14s