CHAPTER 3 Investigations

Investigation 3.3.1 OBSERVATIONAL STUDY SKIllS MeNU

• Questioning • Planning • Observing 

Simulating Uniform Circular  • Researching 
• Hypothesizing
•  Controlling 
Variables
• Analyzing
• Evaluating
Motion • Predicting • Performing • Communicating

You have learned about the principles related to objects in

uniform circular motion. In this investigation, you will use 6. Determine the period and frequency for each speed
a simulation program to verify the relationship between used in Step 5, and record the results in your table.
centripetal force and variables such as mass, speed, radius, SKILLS
frequency, and period for a mass attached to a rope Analyze and evaluate HANDBOOK A5.5

swinging in a circle with uniform circular motion. (a) Examine all your graphs. Calculate the slope of each
graph that produces a straight line. How is the slope
SKILLS
Purpose HANDBOOK A2.4 of each graph related to mass, speed, and/or radius?
To verify the relationship between centripetal force and Explain your reasoning.  K/U T/I C
variables such as mass, speed, radius, frequency, and (b) What is the eff ect of increasing the following on the
period in uniform circular motion centripetal force? Explain your reasoning.  T/I
(i) radius
equipment and Materials
(ii) mass
• access to a computer with an Internet connection
(iii) speed
• graph paper or graphing soft ware mv 2
(c) What would a graph of centripetal force versus
r
Procedure look like? What would the slope of this graph equal?
1. Go to the Nelson Science website and start the Explain your reasoning.  K/U T/I C A
simulation.  (d) How is the speed of the mass related to the frequency
2. Display the vectors for force, acceleration, and and the period?  T/I
velocity in your simulation. Determine net force (e) What happens to the centripetal force when the
(centripetal force) for diff erent values of the radius, frequency increases? When the period increases?  T/I
keeping the mass and speed constant. Record all
information in a table, and use at least fi ve diff erent Apply and extend
values of the radius.
(f) How would you use this simulation to describe the
3. Graph the centripetal force versus the radius and the
1 motion of a satellite in orbit?  T/I C A
centripetal force versus separately.
radius
4. Repeat Steps 1 and 2, but change the mass and keep WEB LINK
the speed and radius constant. Graph the centripetal
force versus the mass.
5. Repeat Steps 1 and 2, but change the speed and keep
the radius and mass constant. Graph the centripetal
force versus the speed and the centripetal force
versus the square of the speed.

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 Investigation 3.3.2 CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT SKIllS MeNU

• Questioning • Planning • Observing 

• Researching  •  Controlling  • Analyzing
Analyzing Uniform Circular Motion • Hypothesizing Variables • Evaluating
• Predicting • Performing • Communicating
You have learned that while an object is in uniform
circular motion at a constant speed, its velocity is also
constantly changing direction. Th is causes the object to equipment and Materials
accelerate toward the centre of its circular path. In this • eye protection
investigation, you will build an apparatus to observe a • electronic balance or scale
small object in uniform circular motion and collect data
• 3 small rubber stoppers with centre holes
to describe relationships between the object, its mass,
and the radius of its path. • hollow tube
• 50 g, 100 g, 200 g, 250 g masses
Testable question SKILLS
HANDBOOK A2.2 • metre stick
How do the magnitude of the force, the radius of a circular • 1.5 m string or fi shing line
path, and an object’s mass aff ect the frequency of the • paper clip or masking tape
revolution of an object in uniform circular motion? • graph paper or graphing soft ware

Prediction Procedure
Predict the relationship between the frequency of revolution 1. Create a data table for each of the following
and each variable in the Testable Question. Explain your observations: three sets of values for changing the
reasoning. force of tension, three sets for changing the radius,
and three sets for changing the mass.
variables 2. Measure and record the mass, in kilograms, of each
Read the Testable Question, Experimental Design, and rubber stopper.
Procedure, and identify the dependent, independent, 3. Tie one rubber stopper tightly to one end of
and controlled variables. the string.
4. Th
read the string through the tube, hang the 200 g
experimental Design
mass on the other end (Figure 1), and put on your
Figure 1 shows a simple setup that can be used to perform eye protection. 
this investigation. You will hold a hollow tube vertically in
your hand while you twirl the rubber stopper around in a Wear eye protection. Be sure the area around you is clear 
horizontal circle. A string is tied to the rubber stopper and from material hanging from the ceiling that you may 
then passed down through the hollow tube, where it is accidentally hit while swinging the stopper. Be careful not to 
tied to the mass. Th e force of gravity provides the tension drop the masses on your feet. Do not wear open-toed shoes. 
required to make the rubber stopper move in a circle. Ensure no one can be hit by the stopper.
5. Practise swinging the stopper around your head with
r
a constant speed and constant radius. Make sure you
are comfortable and profi cient with this step before
FT rubber stopper proceeding to the next step.
6. Lay the equipment on the fl oor, and measure a 75 cm
hollow tube distance from the centre of the stopper to the top of
the hollow tube. Fix this radius by placing the paper
clip at the bottom of the tube (Figure 1).
This space should remain 7. Swing the stopper at a constant speed at a radius of
paper clip constant while twirling. 75 cm. Try to keep the paper clip slightly below the
string bottom of the tube to ensure that it is not pushing
on the tube and increasing the tension.

Figure 1

136    Chapter 3 • Uniform Circular Motion NEL

8160_CH03_p135-157.indd 136 4/26/12 9:55 AM

 8. Complete 20 cycles, and record the time in your table. (d) Th e equation Fc 5 4p2mrf 2 gives the magnitude of
To obtain a reasonable average value, you will need to the net force causing the acceleration of an object in
repeat this step several times. uniform circular motion.  T/I A
9. Calculate the frequency of revolution, and record it in (i) Manipulate the equation to solve for frequency.
your table. How does this compare with your results
10. Repeat Steps 6 to 9 using a diff erent tension force by from (c)?
changing the mass at the end of the string to 150 g (ii) What are the most likely causes for any
and then to 100 g. discrepancies?
11. Measure the time for 20 complete cycles when the (e) To obtain the best accuracy, the tension force acting
radius is 60 cm and when the radius is 45 cm, with on the stopper should be horizontal. What happens
the same mass of stopper and the tension force due to the accuracy as the frequency of revolution of the
to the 100 g mass. Calculate all the frequencies and stopper increases?  T/I A
record them in your table. (f) What sources of error did you encounter and how did
12. Add another stopper and measure the time for 20 you minimize them?  T/I A
complete cycles at a constant radius of 75 cm and
a constant tension force due to the 100 g mass. Apply and extend
13. Repeat the process with a third stopper and the other (g) Explain how this investigation illustrates all three of
masses. Calculate the frequencies and record them in Newton’s laws of motion.  T/I C
your table. (h) How might you apply your fi ndings to a sports
SKILLS
activity that involves circular motion?  T/I A
Analyze and evaluate HANDBOOK A5.5
(i) If you look carefully at the swinging stopper, you
(a) What variables were measured and/or manipulated will notice that the string tied to the stopper is not
in this investigation? What type of relationship was completely horizontal.  K/U T/I C
being tested?  T/I (i) What eff ect, if any, will this have on the accuracy
(b) Graph the relationships between the frequency of of your results?
revolution and each of the following: (ii) What happens to the orientation of the string as
• the magnitude of the tension force the speed of the stopper increases? Explain your
• the radius of the circle reasoning.
• the mass of the object in motion  T/I C
(c) Derive an equation for the frequency in terms of the
tension, the radius, and the mass by combining your
results from (b).  T/I

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