Gamow on Newton: Another Look at Centripetal Acceleration

Abstract

Presented here is an adaptation of George Gamow's derivation of the centripetal acceleration formula as it applies to Earth's orbiting Moon. The derivation appears in Gamows short but engaging book Gravity,1 first published in 1962, and is essentially a distillation of Newton's work. While TPT contributors have offered several insightful derivations of the formula,2,3 students might find this “real world” version more accessible. In addition, this particular derivation requires a durable understanding of both the Galilean equations and Newtonian laws of motion, and therefore serves as review of these key concepts.