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written by Michael R. Gallis
The Simple Circular Motion Model explores amusement park rides like a Merry-Go-Round.  The rotational speed and radial distance are controlled with sliders at the bottom of the applet.  The controls are "lagged" to reduce the unphysical results of "slamming" the simulation controls. The net horizontal force on the riders is monitored in the accompanying graph in terms of "g's", that is, in terms of multiples of the rider's weight.

The Simple Circular Motion Model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java (JRE).
View the source code document attached to this resource
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Motion in Two Dimensions
= 2D Acceleration
- Newton's Second Law
= Force, Acceleration
- Rotational Dynamics
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Middle School
- Instructional Material
= Activity
= Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- Educators
- application/java
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Access Rights:
Free access
License:
This material is released under a GNU General Public License Version 3 license.
Rights Holder:
Michael Gallis
Keywords:
amusement park, angular velocity, centripetal acceleration, centripetal force, circular motion, free body diagrams, rotational energy
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created January 15, 2012 by Wolfgang Christian
Record Updated:
November 12, 2012 by Caroline Hall
Last Update
when Cataloged:
January 9, 2012
Other Collections:

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4E. Energy Transformations
  • 6-8: 4E/M4. Energy appears in different forms and can be transformed within a system. Motion energy is associated with the speed of an object. Thermal energy is associated with the temperature of an object. Gravitational energy is associated with the height of an object above a reference point. Elastic energy is associated with the stretching or compressing of an elastic object. Chemical energy is associated with the composition of a substance. Electrical energy is associated with an electric current in a circuit. Light energy is associated with the frequency of electromagnetic waves.
4F. Motion
  • 6-8: 4F/M3b. If a force acts towards a single center, the object's path may curve into an orbit around the center.
  • 9-12: 4F/H8. Any object maintains a constant speed and direction of motion unless an unbalanced outside force acts on it.

11. Common Themes

11B. Models
  • 6-8: 11B/M4. Simulations are often useful in modeling events and processes.
  • 9-12: 11B/H3. The usefulness of a model can be tested by comparing its predictions to actual observations in the real world. But a close match does not necessarily mean that other models would not work equally well or better.
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
M. Gallis, Computer Program SIMPLE CIRCULAR MOTION MODEL (2012), WWW Document, (http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Gallis, Computer Program SIMPLE CIRCULAR MOTION MODEL (2012), <http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529>.
APA Format
Gallis, M. (2012). Simple Circular Motion Model [Computer software]. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529
Chicago Format
Gallis, Michael. "Simple Circular Motion Model." http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529 (accessed 25 May 2013).
MLA Format
Gallis, Michael. Simple Circular Motion Model. Computer software. 2012. Java (JRE) 1.5. 25 May 2013 <http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Michael Gallis", Title = {Simple Circular Motion Model}, Month = {January}, Year = {2012} }
Refer Export Format

%A Michael Gallis
%T Simple Circular Motion Model
%D January 9, 2012
%U http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529
%O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program
%A Gallis, Michael
%D January 9, 2012
%T Simple Circular Motion Model
%8 January 9, 2012
%U http://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11641&DocID=2529


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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

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Simple Circular Motion Model:

Is Based On Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool

The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the Simple Circular Motion Model.

relation by Wolfgang Christian
Is Supplemented By Physics Classroom: Motion Characteristics for Circular Motion

An in-depth interactive tutorial on kinematic concepts of circular motion, centripetal force and acceleration, and related problem sets with answers.

relation by Caroline Hall

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