Tangential speed

Angular speed and tangential speed on a disc

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 both use units of m/s, km/h, and others.

  1. ^ Hewitt 2007, p. 131

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