Lessons on Circular Motion
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
Centripetal Force vs. Centrifugal Force |
This lesson examines Centripetal Force and compares it to the fictitious force, centrifugal force. | Explanation & Animation |
| Ball-on-a-Rope Lab |
This simulation is of a ball on a rope. IT allows changed to be made in mass. velocity, and rope length and displays the proper centripetal acceleration and force. • Download an Interactive Physics 3.0 file which simulates the same thing. This can be used for the lab exercise in the physics work books. |
Simulation Lab (HTML5) |
| Motion in Horizontal Circles | This lesson looks at motion in horizontal circular paths. It focuses specifically on curves. Car on a Track Simulator. (Shockwave, not local) | Explanation & Animation (not local) |
| Motion in Vertical Circles | This lesson looks specifically at things moving in vertical circular paths. Roller coasters are used as examples | Explanation & Animation (not local) |
| Simulated Gravity |
This lesson examines how centripetal force (not centrifugal) can be used to create artificial gravity. | Explanation & Animation |
| The Sphere of Fear |
This lesson exposes the physics behind riding a motorcycle inside a giant steel sphere. | Explanation & Movie (QuickTime) |
| Rotational Inertia Lab (Moment of Inertia) |
This interactive lab allows you to experiment with the concept of rotational inertia. Created by Raman Pfaff. |
Interactive Lab (Shockwave) |
| Kepler's Laws |
This lesson explains Kepler's three laws of planetary motion. Interact with Kepler experiments (Shockwave, not-local) Kepler's 2nd law (Java, not local) |
Explanations & Animations (HTML5) |
| Satellite Orbits | These two lessons both examine the concept of satellite motions around a planet, or a planet around the sun. Experiment with satellites around the Earth (Shockwave, not local) The Satellite Site a great site for learning more about satellites. (not local) |
Explanations (not local) |
| Space Shuttle Orbit |
This lesson which is actually the end of an earlier Motion lesson, illustrates how a space shuttle can orbit the Earth if its velocity is just right. Adjust the initial velocity of the space shuttle and see what happens. | Animations & Explanation |
| Orbit of the Moon |
This lesson addresses the idea of the Moon being in orbit around the Earth and also shows the cause of the phases of the moon. | Animations & Explanations (Shockwave) |
| Planetary Orbits Lab | This interactive lab allows you to experiment with many aspects of planetary motion. Created by Raman Pfaff. |
Interactive Lab (Shockwave) |
| Motion in a Plane Review |
A collection of multiple choice questions providing immediate feedback. | Multiple Choice Practice |
