Chapter 16 - Circular Motion

Question 1

Angular velocity

Answer 1

Rate of change of angle for object moving in a circular path.

Question 2

Centripetal force

Answer 2

Force that keeps a body moving with a constant speed in a circular path.

Force has no component in the direction of motion so contant v.

Question 3

Investigating circular motion

Answer 3

• String passed through tube with bung at one end and load at the other.
• Stopwatch to measure time period.
• Whirl bung with constant frequency and radius.
• Measure time for several time periods.
• Measure radius using either cord markers or stopping cord at tube and measuring with ruler.
• Vary frequency and new radius.

Plot graph of v squared against r or r against T squared. Both should give straight line through origin.