Enter the tangential velocity and the radius into the calculator to determine the circular velocity.

Circular Velocity Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Circular Velocity.

Vc = Vt / R
  • Where Vc is the circular velocity (rad/s)
  • Vt is the tangential velocity (m/s)
  • R is the radius of the circle (m)

To calculate the circular velocity, divide the tangential velocity by the radius.

What is a Circular Velocity?

Definition:

A circular velocity is defined as the total angular speed of a rotating object relative to the circle’s radius.

How to Calculate Circular Velocity?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate Circular Velocity.

First, determine the tangential velocity. In this example, the tangential velocity is found to be 50 m/s.

Next, determine the radius of the circle. In this case, the radius of the circle is measured to be 25m.

Finally, calculate the Circular Velocity using the formula above:

Vc = Vt / R

Vc = 50/25

Vc = 2 rad /s

FAQ

What is tangential velocity and how does it relate to circular velocity?

Tangential velocity is the linear speed of an object moving along a circular path. It relates to circular velocity in that the circular velocity can be calculated by dividing the tangential velocity by the radius of the circle the object is moving around.

Why is the radius of the circle important in calculating circular velocity?

The radius of the circle is crucial because it directly influences the circular velocity. A larger radius means that for the same tangential velocity, the circular velocity will be lower, indicating that the object takes more time to complete a revolution.

Can circular velocity be measured in units other than radians per second?

Yes, circular velocity can also be expressed in other angular velocity units such as degrees per second or revolutions per minute (RPM), depending on the context or preference. However, radians per second is the standard unit in physics due to its direct relation with the radius and the arc length.