Centripetal Force
Overview
Link to Experience: https://play.phenomena.app/player/3SO5ZmphUWA1CBZHJ67Z
Topics: physics, forces, circular motion, centripetal force, free-body diagrams
Grades: 11-12
Standards:
Duration to complete: 10-15 minutes
Learning outcome: Students will understand that centripetal force is a center-seeking force that causes objects to move along a circular path; that it depends on an object’s velocity, mass, and spin radius; and how to calculate it.
In the Classroom
Pre-Experience (Things to Look Out For):
Have you ever taken a pail of water or a bag of groceries, and spun it in a loop overhead? Did everything fall out? Why do you think this might be?
Have you ever heard of centripetal force? What do you think it refers to?
If a car is driving in circles, which direction does its velocity arrow point at any given moment?
What factors do you anticipate affecting centripetal force?
Post-Experience (Things to Think About):
Which variables affect centripetal force?
What happens when centripetal force is weaker than the force of gravity?
How does centripetal force change as you increase or decrease velocity?
If you decrease the radius of an object moving on a circular path, what factors can you change to keep centripetal force the same?
If you increase the mass of an object moving on a circular path, what factors can you change to keep centripetal force the same?