Simple Circular Motion Model

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Computer Program Detail Page

written by Michael R. Gallis

This simulation is a simple model of rides like an amusement park Merry-Go-Round. The rotational speed and radial distance are controlled with sliders at the bottom of the applet, while net horizontal force on the riders is monitored in the accompanying graph in terms of g-force experienced by riders.

See Related Materials for an interactive tutorial on circular motion, appropriate for high school and lower-level undergraduate studies.

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).

Editor's Note: The 3D formatting is very useful for viewing the motion from a variety of vantage points. Kids discover for themselves how rotational speed and radial distance interact to create a more thrilling ride. Don't miss the page link to "Physiological impact of g-forces". Students will learn that setting the speed and radial distance at the highest points will result in g-forces that exceed space shuttle re-entry and fighter jets at high speed.

.jar

download 1678kb .jar
Last Modified: January 15, 2012

View the source code document attached to this resource

.zip

Simple Circular Motion Source Code
The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Simple Circular Motion Model. Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run… more...
download 519kb .zip
Last Modified: January 15, 2012

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

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physical Science - Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
Format:: application/java
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:: The Open Source Physics

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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.

This resource is part of 2 Physics Front Topical Units.

Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Circular Motion

Can an amusement park Merry-Go-Round be designed to be dangerous? This simple model lets kids discover for themselves how rotational speed and radial distance interact to create a more thrilling ride. Don't miss the page link to "Physiological impact of G-forces". Setting the speed & radial distance at the highest points will result in g-forces that exceed space shuttle re-entry and high speed fighter jets!

Link to Unit:

Topic: Kinematics: The Physics of Motion
Unit Title: Circular Motion

Link to Unit:

ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link

<a href="http://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=11641">Gallis, Michael. "Simple Circular Motion Model."</a>

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 June 19, 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 19 June 2013).

MLA Format

Gallis, Michael. Simple Circular Motion Model. Computer software. 2012. Java (JRE) 1.5. 19 June 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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