Notes:
The Uniform Circular Motion Interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays nicely on smart phones, on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with smart phones, iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.
Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:
This Interactive is intended for use near the early stages of a learning cycle on circular motion. The Interactive provides a very strong foundation for understanding circular motion concepts. The concept of an inward force and acceleration are foundational to the construction of free-body diagrams and problem-solving exercises. The use of numerical values for the various quantities provides a rich environment for investigating exactly how variations in one quantity might affect another quantity. The provided exercise that accompanies this Interactive presents several thought-provoking questions that target common student difficulties.
Our Uniform Circular Motion simulation is now available with a Concept Checker. Do the simulation. Then follow it up with the
Concept Checker.
Related Resources
There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Uniform Circular Motion Interactive. These include:
- Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Assignments CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4 and CG5 of the Circular Motion and Gravitation module provide great complements to this Interactive. They are best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.
- Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating their understanding, most notably ...
Speed and Velocity
Acceleration and Circular Motion
Circular Motion and Inertia
The Centripetal Force Requirement
Mathematics of Circular Motion
Visit the Curriculum Corner.
- Labwork:
Simulations should always support (never supplant) hands-on learning. The Laboratory section of The Physics Classroom website includes several hands-on ideas that complement this Interactive. Two notable lab ideas include ...
Making the Turn Lab
Loop-the-Loop Lab
Visit The Laboratory.
- Science Reasoning Activities:
Science classrooms should be filled with reasoning activities. There is one related activity in the Circular Motion section of the Science Reasoning Center that will challenge students to employ close reading, data analysis, and logical reasoning. The activity is named ...
Roller Coaster Loops
Visit the Science Reasoning Center.
Additional resources and ideas for incorporating Uniform Circular Motion into an instructional unit on circular motion can be found at the
Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website. Visit
Teacher Toolkits.
Credits
The Physics Classroom would like to extend a special thanks to Nerd Island Studios for the creation of this HTML5 Interactive. Visit
http://www.nerdislandstudios.com to see more great stuff by Nerd Island Studios.