circular motion
Revolving around center
Circular motion is movement along a curved path that returns to its starting point, or continuously traces the same loop.
In physics, it describes objects moving in circles—planets orbiting stars, electrons around nuclei, a ball on a string.
The carnival ride's circular motion made her dizzy.
Uniform circular motion maintains constant speed; non-uniform varies.
Turn about an axis
- revolveTurn around center
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- twirlRotate rapidly, often playfully
- whirlRotate very quickly
gyrate · pivot · swivel · turn · roll · spiral · coil · orbit
Ballet turn on one foot
- dervishSufi order member
- waltzDance in three-quarter time
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- twirlRotate rapidly, often playfully
ballroom · figure skating · ballet · capoeira · breakdancing · folk dance
Rotating circular frame
- carouselRevolving platform with seats
- merry-go-roundRotating amusement ride
- turntableRotating music player
- potter's wheelRotating platform for ceramics
spinning top · gyroscope · centrifuge · record player · fan · rotor · pulley · sprocket
Violent rotating windstorm
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- vortexRotating fluid column
whirlpool · eddy · maelstrom · gyre · dust devil · waterspout · eye wall
Inward acceleration on curved paths
- centrifugal forceApparent outward push when turning
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- torqueRotational force measurement
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
Orbiting celestial body
- planetStar-orbiting spherical body
- moonNatural planetary satellite
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- ellipseConic section curve
gravity · solar system · spacecraft · geostationary · geocentric · heliocentric · slingshot maneuver · orbital decay
rotate
Turn about an axis
whirl · gyrate · pivot · swivel · turn · roll · spiral · coil · orbit · pirouette
pirouette
Ballet turn on one foot
twirl · ballroom · figure skating · ballet · capoeira · breakdancing · folk dance
wheel
Rotating circular frame
- carouselRevolving platform with seats
- merry-go-roundRotating amusement ride
- turntableRotating music player
potter's wheel · spinning top · gyroscope · centrifuge · record player · fan · rotor · pulley · sprocket · gear
tornado
Violent rotating windstorm
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
vortex · whirlpool · eddy · maelstrom · gyre · dust devil · waterspout · eye wall
centripetal force
Inward acceleration on curved paths
- centrifugal forceApparent outward push when turning
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- torqueRotational force measurement
satellite
Orbiting celestial body
- planetStar-orbiting spherical body
- moonNatural planetary satellite
- trajectoryPath of moving object
ellipse · gravity · solar system · spacecraft · geostationary · geocentric · heliocentric · slingshot maneuver · orbital decay · space station
- motionmovement, velocity, speed, momentum, acceleration
- mechanicsforce, turning, momentum, velocity, acceleration
- cleaning motionswiping, rubbing, scrubbing, brushing, sweeping
- spinningspin, rotate, revolve, whirl, twirl
- ancient astronomyepicycles, stars, deferent, celestial sphere, geocentric
- head and neck movementsnodding, head tilt, turning, looking up, looking down
circular motionrest
Cessation of activity
stillness · stasis · immobility · motionlessness · equilibrium
circle, motion, motive, revolution, rotation, circular, circulate, encircle, semicircle