(WORK IN PROGRESS: OBTAIN STOPPER LAB INFORMATION) Uniform Circular Motion

Activity Information

Learning Goals

  • Identify the relationship between force of tension and centripetal force
  • Apply the model for centripetal force and centripetal acceleration
  • Express the motion of an object using narrative, mathematical, and graphical representations

Prior Knowledge Required

  • Newton's Second Law
    • $F=ma$
  • Rotational kinematics

Code Manipulation

  • copying/pasting lines of code
  • translate physical equations into code

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Activity

Handout

Uniform Circular Motion

Prior to coding, complete the “Circular Motion of a Stopper on a String” lab. This lab entails the student analyzing the relationship between mass, radius, and period of an object in uniform centripetal motion. The student will be provided with a string, a stopper, and some washers. After affixing the stopper to the end of the string, the student is to rotate the mass in a steady circle such that the stopper remains horizontal. Using a scale, ruler, and stopwatch, students will then record the mass of the stopper plus the mass of any added washers, the length of the string when in motion, and the time it takes for the stopper to complete 1 full revolution. Record the results below:

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Stopper Mass (kg)
Washers Mass (kg)
Radius (m)
Period (s)
Coding Questions
  1. Input your data from Trial 1 into the code. What do you expect to see when the program runs? Record your observations.
  2. Repeat Question 1 for Trials 2 and 3. What are similarities and differences between trials.
  3. There are 12 missing comments in the code. Fill them in to explain what the code is doing and what physics concepts are related.
  4. Create a graph for the motion of the stopper. What variables will you use? Potential variables include:
    1. Stopper position
    2. Net force
    3. Acceleration
    4. Velocity

Code

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Answer Key

Handout

Code

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See Also

  • repository/uniform_circular_motion.txt
  • Last modified: 2020/10/08 17:45
  • by porcaro1