Pre Lab
Recall that acceleration is the change in velocity over a given time and that velocity is a vector including both speed (magnitude) and direction. Thus acceleration occurs when either the magnitude or direction of the velocity changes. When an object moves in a circle, it is constantly changing direction towards the middle of the circle. This is call centripetal (center seeking) acceleration. As Newton's 1st and 2nd Laws tell us, an outside force is required for any acceleration to happen. Centripetal acceleration is no exception. The force required to move an object in a circle is called centripetal force and is pointed toward the center of the circle as well.
In addition to centripetal force and acceleration, physicists can describe rotational motion in several more ways. This can be confusing as the terms are similar to those of linear motion, but with new (Greek) symbols. The good news is that the relationships between these quantities are completely analogous to linear motion. Check out the formulas below.
We will be exploring these relationships as well as revisiting friction in this weeks video analysis lab. Prior to this week's lab be sure to 1) Watch my Pre Lab video below, 2) Explore the simulation as described in the video, and 3) Complete the pre-lab quiz on Blackboard.
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Khan Academy Video on Centripetal Acceleration
Crash Course on Uniform Circular Motion
Circular Motion
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Prelab Video
Simulation
Explore the Circular Motion simulation embedded at the following link to see how different factors impact circular motion. You may use the simulation to answer the pre lab quiz questions as well.
Simulation: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Circular-and-Satellite-Motion/Uniform-Circular-Motion/Uniform-Circular-Motion-Interactive
Pre-Lab Quiz is available at the course Blackboard website
Simulation: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Circular-and-Satellite-Motion/Uniform-Circular-Motion/Uniform-Circular-Motion-Interactive
Pre-Lab Quiz is available at the course Blackboard website
Lab
This week you will be completing the Circular Motion lab (page 59) from your lab manual.
We will be using the Vernier Logger Pro software for the video analysis.
We will be using the Vernier Logger Pro software for the video analysis.
Post Lab
Please post a reflection on the lab experience on the Circular Motion Lab Reflection discussion board on the course Blackboard site.
Be sure to include:
Be sure to include:
- What you did
- Why you did it
- Any interesting observations
- What you learned from doing the lab