AP Physics B Objectives

Circular Motion

A. Student should understand the uniform circular motion of a particle so they can:

  1. Relate the radius of the circle and the speed or rate of revolution of the particle to the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration.

  2. Describe the direction of the particle's velocity and acceleration at any instant during the motion. (Velocity is tangent to the circle and acceleration is toward the center of the circle.)

  3. Determine the components of the velocity and acceleration vectors at any instant, and sketch or identify graphs of these quantities.

  4. Students should be able to analyze situations in which a body moves with specified acceleration under the influence of one or more forces so they can determine the magnitude and direction of the net force, or of one of the forces that makes up the net force, in situations such as the following:

    1. Motion in a horizontal circle, (e.g., mass on a rotating merry go round, or car rounding a banked curve)

    2. Motion in a vertical circle, (e.g., mass swinging on the end of a string, cart rolling down a curved track, rider on a Ferris wheel)
Made 25 July 2006
by Lori Andersen.
Document made with Nvu