Essential Questions

Force 1. What acts centripetally and centrifugally?

2. What is gravity; where is gravity?
3. Can a small force overpower a larger force?
UCM and Gravity 4. What's the pattern between successive graphs
of motion?
Honors
UCM Lab
Enduring Understanding - A net force is required to change an object's velocity; no force is Learning Targets: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
required to explain constant velocity.

Purpose - Investigate the vector relationship between velocity, acceleration and position vectors for an
object in uniform circular motion.

Materials – Computer, http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/ladybug-motion-2d

http://www.stmary.ws/highschool/physics/home/animations3/centripShoot.html

Directions:
1. Go to GravityKills.net, Regs and PreAP Links and launch UCM Vector Investigation.
2. Set the simulation control panel along the left side of the simulation to the following settings:
i. Vectors – Hide Vectors
ii. Choose Motion – Manual
iii. Trace – Line
3. Place the curser on top of the ladybug. Left click and hold. Drag the ladybug around into a path of
a circle.
4. Pause the simulation when you are satisfied with your circle.
5. Adjust the simulation control panel to the following settings:
i. Vectors – Show both
ii. Choose Motion – Manual
iii. Trace – Line
6. Place the curser on top of the ladybug. Left click and hold. Drag the ladybug around into a path of
a circle.

Question - Do the velocity and acceleration vectors point in the same direction?

7. Pause the simulation when you are satisfied with your circle.
8. Adjust the simulation control panel to the following settings:
i. Vectors – Show both
ii. Choose Motion – Circular
iii. Trace – Line
9. The ladybug will automatically begin to move in a circle.
+
Question - What is the relationship between the Counterclockwise
orientation of the velocity, acceleration and position
vectors? Make two sketches on the circles to the right of
the relationship. Draw one sketch when the ladybug is
traveling counterclockwise and one when traveling
clockwise.

10. Go to GravityKills.net, Regs and PreAP Links and

launch UCM Game.
11. How many UFOs did you hit?
+
Clockwise
Post Activity

1. Draw an object moving in UCM. Illustrate the tangential speed, centripetal acceleration and net
force (do NOT label it centripetal force, Fc).

2. Define UCM – Motion at a constant speed around a circle with a fixed radius.

3. Complete the chart below. Write yes or no in each box.

Magnitude Direction
Quantity
Constant Changing Constant Changing
Displacement Yes No No Yes
Velocity Yes No No Yes
Acceleration Yes No No Yes
Net Force Yes No No Yes

dis tan ce circumfere nce 2r

4. Derive the equation for speed in a circle. v   
time period T
Define period – Time to complete one revolution.
Define frequency – The number of revolutions in one second.

Calculate your speed about the Earth’s axis at the equator.

rEarth = 6.4 X 106 meters,

You are moving relative to the center of the earth.

v
dis tan ce 2r
 

2 6.4 X10 6 m 
time T 86,400 sec onds
Vequator = _465_ m/s
This is the speed at the equator.

How does your speed change as you move towards the poles? Decreases

5. Work CFU letter A on the problem bank.

 Ms = 0.40

✓= 3.5M

if
f
Ac

FIA
'
÷6¥ Ac Hr
IF
=
Ma

Fa,=MAc
TLORZ .
e-

T =
2¥
2
X

rt 't = m tf ZII
=

"""
EI f=¥n

Tiff
'
""

ay -_ O eeFu= Fg
@)=m/g
-

Fn

s.ve#uff--Iis?ETT.ss.xFg=m8s:v=
-
u

-i

#
Hz
f= 0.43
x= 9.35%
NC VT = 20

Plano West Senior High

131
 Essential Questions

Force 1. What acts centripetally and centrifugally?

2. What is gravity; where is gravity?
3. Can a small force overpower a larger force?
UCM and Gravity 4. What's the pattern between successive graphs of motion?

Honors
Rotor
Enduring Understanding - A net force is required to change an object's velocity; no force is Learning Targets: 2, 4, 5, 6
required to explain constant velocity.
Even some seasoned roller-coaster riders fear the thought of riding the Rotor, which is essentially a large, hollow cylinder that rotates rapidly
around its central axis. The ride begins with the riders entering the cylinder through a door on the side and standing up against inside wall of the
cylinder. The door is closed and the cylinder begins to turn. The riders, wall and floor all spin together until the ride reaches a predetermined speed
at which time the floor abruptly and alarmingly falls away. The riders do not fall with the floor but instead are pinned to the wall while the cylinder
rotates. The ride ends with the floor returning to its original position and the cylinder coming to rest. Suppose that the coefficient of static friction is
s between a rider’s clothing and the wall is 0.40 and that the cylinder’s radius is 3.5 meters.

G: s = 0.40 Parts I – What minimum speed must the Part II – Calculate the frequency of the
R = 3.5 m rider have if the rider is not to fall when the rotating cylinder.
floor drops?

U: velocity U: frequency
Sketch – Top View v 2 2r 1
E: F  Fnet  ma ac  E: v  T
r T f
v Ff riction  FN Fg  mg
2r
T
ac F  Ff  Fg  ma  0 v
1 2r
Ff  Fg 
f v
FBD – Side View FN  Fg v
f
 v2  2r
 m   mg
Ff
 r  9.26 m / s
FN v  gr  S: f 
2(3.5 m)
Fg S: v  (9.8 m / s 2 )(3.5 m) /( 0.40)
S: f = 0.42 Hz
S: v = 9.26 m/s

Related Problem Bank Problems # 2 – 5

 §
✓ = 2.7M

Xt XT

'T'
"
Tia If
'

¥1 .sk#-.a
.

+ t .
¥,

T IT IF-_ ma
SMALL Fy=2Fg
2-Fema
Fu → Fn, -

Fg=ma
I,tFg=MAc Free zfg -

Fg=mAe
otFg=m Fg m 't
-_

m/g=mXYr
Xg=m¥
xtgrx-r@ocT.s
v2=gr →

×Z=gr→*=rgr 'i ' REGIS

'#"=5i4%¥÷i÷÷÷¥¥÷na sd -15
-
45/219.8 )
'

Plano West Senior High

132
.

= 1.35M
 Essential Questions

Force 1. What acts centripetally and centrifugally?

2. What is gravity; where is gravity?
3. Can a small force overpower a larger force?
UCM and Gravity 4. What's the pattern between successive graphs of
motion?
Honors
Dare Devil
Enduring Understanding - A net force is required to change an object's velocity; no force is Learning Targets: 2, 4, 5, 6
required to explain constant velocity.

In a 1901 circus performance, Allo “Dare Devil” Diavollo introduced the

stunt of riding a bicycle in a loop-to-loop. Assume the loop is a circle
with radius R = 2.7 meters.

G: r = 2.7 m
g = 9.8 m/s2

Parts I – What is the least speed Diavolo could

have at the top of the loop to remain in contact
with the track.? Part II – How fast would Diavolo have to be
traveling to feeling twice his weight at the
U: velocity bottom of the loop?

Sketch FBD U:
v Sketch FBD
ac Fg
FN

ac Fg

v2 v
E: F  Fnet  ma ac  Fg  mg v2
r E: F  Fnet  ma ac  Fg  mg
Fnet  ma  ma c r
Fnet  mg Fnet  FN  Fg  ma  ma c
mg  ma c FN  2Fg

v2 Fnet  2Fg  Fg  ma  ma c
ac 
r v2
Fg  ma c  m v  gr
v2 r
mg  m
r v  gr

v  gr S: v  (9.8 m s 2 )( 2.7m)

S: v  (9.8 m s 2 )( 2.7m) S: v = 5.14 m/s

Can he reach the top of the loop traveling at this

S: v = 5.14 m/s speed? Explain No.
How high could an object be shot straight v 2 5.14 m / s
2

upwards with and initial velocity of 5.1 m/s? Answer: h    1.35 m

2g 2(9.8 m / s 2 )

NOTE

UCM is defined as moving in a circle at a constant radius and speed.

Is the dare devil moving in UCM? No.

The speeds at the top and bottom are equal but the dare devil is not in UCM. The speed is changing as
the dare devil ascends and descends the loop.

The speed at the top and bottom produce a net force equal to the weight of the dare devil

An object in UCM will experience a net force of constant magnitude.

The magnitude of the net force at the top and the bottom of the loop are equal to the weight of the dare
devil.

If a speed of 5.14 m/s produces a net force equal to the dare devil’s weight at the top of the loop, what
speed is needed to produce a net force equal to his weight at the bottom of the loop? A speed of 5.14 is
needed at the bottom.

http://www.sideshowworld.com/13-TGOD/2011/Loop/Divaolo.html

Related Problem Bank Problems # 6, 7

O O O O

0
÷ a Fri

M,

Mz
=

=
,
90 kg
8
¥÷÷÷÷÷÷ ..

D= Im l lbs = 0.45kg

?
un, it
Fg

*
×E#*t
⑧ xi
6¥
Plano West Senior High
133
 Essential Questions

Force 1. What acts centripetally and centrifugally?

2. What is gravity; where is gravity?
3. Can a small force overpower a larger force?
UCM and Gravity 4. What's the pattern between successive graphs
of motion?
Honors
NLUG
Enduring Understanding - A net force is required to change an object's velocity; no force is Learning Targets: 2, 7, 8, 9
required to explain constant velocity.

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

Quantitative Understanding
The popular 1975’s song by The Captain and Tenille states “love will keep us together”. Calculate the
gravitational force of attraction between you and one of your classmates. Speculate the validity of the
song’s title.

G: G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2/kg2 Sketch FBD

1 lb = 0.454 kg

FN
FN
Fg Fg
U: Fg on you from your classmate 1, S
1, 2 2, 1

Gm1m2 Fg Fg
E: Fg  1, E 2, E
d2 r

Students will need to weigh themselves

and covert their weight into kilograms. 1
lb = 0.454 kg

Students will need to measure the

distance between themselves. Distance
is measured from center to center.

Unit Justification
2
Nm
S: 6.67 X10 11 (m y ou )(mclassmate )
kg2
Fg  Nm 2 kg kg 1
dis tan ce between 2 x x x 2 N
kg 2 1 1 m

Reasonable answer are in

S: the order of 10-6 N
 Related Problem Bank Problem # 8
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
Qualitative Understanding
Go to http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Gravity_Force_Lab and click “Run Now!”.

m1 m2
Draw a sketch and label m1, m2 and d. d

Adjust the masses and distance to the given values in the table below. Record the force on each of the
masses and the ratio of F1 to F2. The BOLDLY outlined column will be completed later.

F1 F2 F1 F1
m1 m2 d Express the force in Express the force in
scientific notation. scientific notation. F2 1st F1
10 kg 10 kg 4 m 4.2x10-10 N 4.2x10-10 N 1 1
20 kg 10 kg 4 m 8.3x10-10 N 8.3x10-10 N 1 2
20 kg 30 kg 4 m 24.9x10-10 N 24.9x10-10 N 1 6
5 kg 10 kg 4 m 2x10-10 N 2x10-10 N 1 ½
10 kg 10 kg 2 m 16.5x10-10 N 16.5x10-10 N 1 4
10 kg 10 kg 8 m 1x10-10 N 1x10-10 N 1 ¼
1. Does the force of gravity attract, repel, push or pull?
Attract

2. What does the ratio of F1/F2 equal? Round all ratios to whole number fractions. Give a reasonable
explanation why.
The ratio of F1/F2 equals one. Action-reaction pairs are always equal in magnitude.

3. Calculate the ratio of F1 divided by the FIRST F1? Round all ratios to whole number fractions.
a. Write a proportionality that describes the relationship between the masses and the
gravitational force of attraction.
Fg  m
b. Write a proportionality that describes the relationship between the distance and the
gravitational force of attraction.
1
Fg 
d2

4. Produce the following ratios given in the table below by selecting values of m1, m2 and r. You MUST
vary at least two out of the three original values of m1 = 10 kg, m2 = 10 kg and r = 4 m.

F1 F1
m1 m2 d F1 F2
F2 1st F1
8 1 4 3.36 x10-10 N 3.36 x10-10 N 1 8/1
5 10 8 0.525 x10-10 N 0.525 x10-10 N 1 1/8
30 5 4 6.3 x10-10 N 6.3x10-10 N 1 3/2
80 30 12 11.2x10-10 N 11.2x10-10 N 1 8/3
70 50 20 5.88 x10-10 N 5.88x10-10 N 1 7/5
90 70 28 5.4 x10-10 N 5.4 x10-10 N 1 9/7
 7=12 hrs
= 43200 see € a,

d
X=
ZF=ma,Tz=6mI
I 2

at v=
+ =

FG MA 43200

GM¥M€mµc +=
3869%

GME
=
→ r
'

r= It re am=Ct r

Gm=4t
r=3a?
I
F
r=¥4"ooT
⇐

y IZ
>
M re
2.66×10
-

r=
>
M
✓ = 2.02×10

Plano West Senior High

135
 Essential Questions

Force 1. What acts centripetally and centrifugally?

2. What is gravity; where is gravity?
3. Can a small force overpower a larger force?
UCM and Gravity 4. What's the pattern between successive graphs of motion?

Honors
GPS Satellites
Enduring Understanding - A net force is required to change an object's velocity; no force is Learning Targets: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
required to explain constant velocity.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a network of 24 earth orbiting satellites. GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day
while continually transmitting information to earth via radio waves. The 24 satellites carry synchronized atomic clocks. Your
GPS receiver receives the transmitted information for each of the satellites and calculates the distance to each satellite. Each
calculated distance places you somewhere on the surface of a sphere centered on each satellite. The intersection of the
spheres then determines your location. Calculate the height and speed above the surface of the earth as a multiple of the
earth’s radius.

G: rm = 60 E Part I – Calculate the height above the Part II – Calculate the speed of the
TS = 0.5 days = 43,200 s surface of the earth. rE = 6.37 X 106 m satellites.
RE = 6.37x106 m = 1 E
mE = 5.97 x1024 kg U: height above the surface U: speed

Sketch Gm1m 2 v2 2r

E: F  ma, FG  , a c  E: v 
d2 r T
F  FG  ma c
v “r” replaces the “d” in NLUG since
ac the distance is a radius
E s
Gm 1m 2
 m
v2
m
2r T 2

r2 r r
GM earth T 2
r3
FBD 4 2
r = 2.66 X 107 m
height above the surface = r – 6.37 X106 m
2(2.66 X10 7 m)
S: v 
S: h = 2.66 X 107 m - 6.37 X106 m 43,200 s
Fg
S: h = 2.02 X 107 m S: v = 3869 m/s

Related Problem Bank Problem # 9 - 10