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Velocity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
 | | In polar coordinates, a two-dimensional velocity can be decomposed into a radial velocity, defined as the component of velocity away from or toward the origin, and transverse velocity, the component of velocity along a circle centred at the origin, and equal to the distance to the origin times the angular velocity. |
 | | Angular momentum in scalar form is the distance to the origin times the transverse speed, or equivalently, the distance squared times the angular speed, with a plus or minus to distinguish clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. |
 | | If forces are in the radial direction only, as in the case of a gravitational orbit, angular momentum is constant, and transverse speed is inversely proportional to the distance, angular speed is inversely proportional to the distance squared, and the rate at which area is swept out is constant. |
| en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Velocity (766 words) |
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