Tangential speed

Tangential speed (v) and angular speed (ω) on a spinning disc of radius r.

Tangential speed is the speed of an object undergoing circular motion, i.e., moving along a circular path.[1] A point on the outside edge of a merry-go-round or turntable travels a greater distance in one complete rotation than a point nearer the center. Travelling a greater distance in the same time means a greater speed, and so linear speed is greater on the outer edge of a rotating object than it is closer to the axis. This speed along a circular path is known as tangential speed because the direction of motion is tangent to the circumference of the circle. For circular motion, the terms linear speed and tangential speed are used interchangeably, and is measured in SI units as meters per second (m/s).

  1. ^ Hewitt 2007, p. 131

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