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2. Circular Motion Activity - Google Docs

circular motion activy physics HL IB
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2. Circular Motion Activity - Google Docs

circular motion activy physics HL IB
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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‭Uniform Circular Motion‬

‭ urpose:‬
P
‭The purpose of this activity is to explore the characteristics of the motion of an object in‬
‭a circle at a constant speed.‬

‭Navigate to the‬‭Uniform Circular Motion Interactive‬‭.‬‭Experiment with the on-screen buttons‬


‭in order to gain familiarity with the control of the animation.‬

‭After gaining familiarity with the program, use it to answer the questions below.‬

‭ .‬‭Velocity is a vector quantity which has both magnitude‬‭and direction. Using complete sentences, describe‬
1
‭the object's velocity. Comment on both the magnitude and the direction.‬

‭ . TRUE or FALSE?‬
2
‭If an object moves in a circle at a constant speed, its velocity vector will be constant.‬
‭Explain your answer.‬

‭ .‬‭In the diagram at the right, a variety of positions‬‭about a‬


3
‭circle are shown.‬

‭a)‬ D ‭ raw the velocity vector at the various positions; direct‬


‭the v arrows in the proper direction and label them as v.‬
‭b)‬ ‭Draw the acceleration vector at the various positions;‬
‭direct the arrows in the proper direction and label them‬
‭as a.‬

‭ .‬‭Describe the relationship between the direction‬‭of the velocity vector and the direction of the acceleration for‬
4
‭a body moving in a circle at constant speed.‬

‭ .‬‭If an object is in uniform circular motion, then‬‭it is accelerating towards the center of the circle; yet the object‬
5
‭never gets any closer to the center of the circle. It maintains a circular path at a constant radius from the‬
‭circle's center. Suggest a reason as to how this can be. How can an object accelerate towards the center‬
‭without ever getting any closer to the center?‬
‭6.‬‭Suppose that an object is moving in a clockwise circle (or at least trying to move in a circle).‬

‭a)‬ S ‭ uppose that at point A the object traveled in a straight line at constant speed towards B'. In what‬
‭direction must a force be applied to force the object back towards B?‬‭Draw an arrow on the diagram‬
‭in the direction of the required force‬‭.‬
‭b)‬ ‭Repeat the above procedure for an object moving from C to D'. In what direction must a force be‬
‭applied in order for the object to move back to point D along the path of the circle?‬‭Draw an arrow on‬
‭the diagram‬‭.‬
‭c)‬ ‭If the acceleration of the body is towards the center, what is the direction of the unbalanced force?‬
‭Using a complete sentence, describe the direction of the net force that causes the body to travel in a‬
‭circle at constant speed.‬

‭ .‬‭Thinking Mathematically: Explore the quantitative‬‭dependencies of the acceleration upon the speed and the‬
7
‭radius of curvature. Then answer the following questions.‬

‭ . For the same speed, the acceleration of the object varies _____________ (directly, inversely) with the radius‬
a
‭of curvature.‬

‭ . For the same radius of curvature, the acceleration of the object varies _____________ (directly, inversely)‬
b
‭with the speed of the object.‬

‭ . As the speed of an object is doubled, the acceleration is __________________ (one-fourth, one-half, two‬
c
‭times, four times) the original value.‬

‭ . As the speed of an object is tripled, the acceleration is __________________ (onethird, one-ninth, three‬
d
‭times, nine times) the original value.‬

‭ . As the radius of the circle is doubled, the acceleration is __________________ (one-fourth, one-half, two‬
e
‭times, four times) the original value.‬

f‭. As the radius of the circle is tripled, the acceleration is __________________ (onethird, one-ninth, three‬
‭times, nine times) the original value.‬
‭ onclusion:‬
C
‭Write a conclusion to this activity in which you describe the characteristics of an object that is traveling in‬
‭uniform circular motion.‬
‭Give attention to the quantities speed, velocity, acceleration and net force.‬

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